Exchange Club Center for Family Unity

Mission

The Exchange Club Center for Family Unity is dedicated to working with families who are abusive or determined to be "at high risk" to abuse their children. Because parenthood is one of the most demanding jobs there is, we need help developing the skills necessary to make it a joy for ourselves and our children. The Exchange Club Center's mission is to educate and support families and communities in the prevention of child abuse. Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Centers work with families where abuse has occurred, as well as with families considered "at-risk" for abuse. The Center's services are aimed at helping the whole family. We truly believe it shouldn't hurt to be a child! Child Abuse ........There is an Answer!

Programs

The Center Serves the families of Dodge, Rice, Steele, and Waseca Counties The goal of the center is to break the cycle of abuse by providing parents with a mentor who can help them with life's daily challenges and replace negative behavior with positive pareting skills. The professionally trained and supervised Family Advocate commits to working with a family for at least one year and visits them at home on a weekly basis to provide friendship, support and guidance. The Center strives to help parents and children deal with abuse when it has already occurred, to prevent further abuse, and to provide support and training to families where a potential for abuse exists. Our Program Goals To educate the community about positive parenting and improving parenting skills. To provide assistance to parents feeling stressed or overwhelmed with the care and discipline of their children. To match a mentor with each family providing positive role-modeling, consistency, genuine caring and nurturance, as well as education. To work closely with other agencies to identify and address parenting issues to ensure preservation of the family. All programs and services are provided at no cost to our clients. Our services are often provided in the home of the family in order to address the problem in the setting in which it occurs. The Exchange Club Center's office is located at 285 18th Street S.E, in Owatonna, Minnesota.