Our Mission:
Our mission is to prevent and treat all forms of child abuse by creating changes in individuals, families and society that strengthen relationships and promote healing. The Child Abuse Prevention Association helps children and their families overcome the traumatic effects of child abuse, especially in child molestation. CAPA also provides educational programs designed to increase awareness of abuse and how to prevent it as well as providing case management and other support services to help create strong families and decrease the chances of abuse/neglect.
Nationally, over 2 million reports of abuse or neglect are made each year, and 1500 die from their injuries. Every day, across the country, the very people children rely on for protection and comfort subject them to abuse or neglect. Children in our own community face these same risks. In Missouri, there are over 60,000 children involved in the child protection system each year. Approximately 10,000 of those children are confirmed as abused or neglected.
Where abuse was confirmed, 45% were neglected, 24% were victims of sexual abuse and 25% were physically abused. Missouri has one of the highest child abuse mortality rates in the nation. Department of Social Services data indicates that 46 children died in Missouri in one year, 11 of those deaths were in Jackson County.
25 - 50% of all children will experience some form of abuse during childhood. One of every three girls will be sexually abused before the age of 18; and one out of every five to seven boys will be sexually abused by 18. Only a small percentage of child abuse is ever reported. CAPA helps families with the legal process and provides support for families involved with the Kansas City area courts.
At CAPA for every $100 spent on prevention education, $3,600 could be saved on treatment for one abused child. Help prevent child abuse. Help prevent child abuse.