Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa Inc

Child Abuse Prevention Services of Tuscaloosa, Inc. was established in 1977 (as Parents Anonymous of Tuscaloosa, Inc.) to provide services for the prevention and treatment of child abuse/neglect for parents, children and the community-at-large.  The organization utilizes a two-fold approach:  1) to provide services to families who have experienced child abuse problems, and 2) to provide services for the community to prevent abuse problems in families where none exist.  CAPS charges no fees for services provided to the community.

CAPS offers the following programs:

1. A self-help support/education group for parents who abuse or fear they may abuse their children, to help them learn positive parenting skills and non-abusive ways for dealing with their angry feelings.

2. A structured therapeutic activities group for children who accompany their parents to weekly meetings; the purpose of the group is to build children’s self-worth and teach appropriate interaction skills, so that the children will not perpetuate the “abuse cycle” when they become parents. 

3. A violence prevention programs for children at select schools. The  program aims to reduce children’s aggressive and impulsive behavior by teaching them empathy skills, problem-solving strategies, and anger management skills.

4. Public education regarding the problems of child abuse and neglect and available treatment and prevention resources in our community.

5. Nurturing Baby® is a collaborative effort between CAPS of Tuscaloosa and SIDS of Pennsylvania. The goal of the Nurturing Baby® program is to provide safe sleep education and safe sleeping environments for infants in need which will reduce the infants rate of mortality due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.