Beyond the Classroom: How Prevent360 Is Reaching Unexpected Corners of the Community
When you think of child abuse prevention training, you might imagine school classrooms, social service organizations, or youth centers. But this summer, Prevent360 took a bold step outside those traditional spaces and straight into the homes of our community.
Well, not quite into homes—but into the lives of the professionals who are invited into them every day: tradespeople. You know, those in homes every day fixing air conditioners, rewiring appliances, and unclogging drains.
And it’s making a bigger impact than you might think.
We sat down with Kim Yoder, our dedicated Prevent 360 Coordinator, to learn more about this new and impactful approach.
“They’re in the home. They see things, most of us never would.”
Kim explains:
“Most people would wonder why these businesses would need a training in Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse, but these are organizations that are going into homes of families with children… They may encounter situations of abuse during their work there.”
A Training Idea That Just Made Sense
The idea came from a conversation Kim had with other prevention trainers. Someone shared that a plumbing company had once asked for help. One of their staff didn’t know what to do after seeing a child in what seemed like an unsafe home.
That stuck with Kim.
“These workers are often walking into homes during stressful times,” she said. “They have the chance to see things that might not be visible to teachers or daycare staff. They can be an extra set of eyes and ears for kids who may not have many safe adults in their lives.”
What They’re Learning
During these trainings, Kim focuses on helping tradespeople spot the more visible signs of child neglect and physical abuse. They talk about things like:
- Unsafe home conditions – including hoarding, unsanitary environments, or drugs in reach of children.
- Physical signs – like bruises in unusual places or patterns that don’t seem accidental.
- Behavioral concerns – emotional abuse can sometimes be overheard in the way adults speak to children.
And most importantly, Kim reminds them that in Indiana, all adults are mandated reporters. It’s a law many aren’t even aware of.
“So many people are surprised when they hear that,” Kim said. “But once they understand what that means—and that they can report without fear of getting in trouble—they’re grateful. They want to help.”
It Hits Home for Many
After nearly every session, Kim hears stories. People come up and say, “I wish I’d known this sooner,” or “There was a time I saw something and didn’t know what to do.”
One man’s comment especially stuck with her:
“I’ve been in hundreds of homes where I felt like something was wrong… but I never thought to really look at the kids.”
That’s the shift Prevent360 is hoping to make. Awareness. Responsibility. Empowerment.
Looking Ahead
Kim hopes to keep expanding this effort. She wants to train staff at:
- Campgrounds
- Dental and medical offices
- Cable and internet installation companies
- Grocery stores and other places where families go every day
Because preventing child abuse isn’t just a school issue, it’s a community issue.
“We all know kids. We all see kids,” Kim said. “And every adult has the power to protect them. That’s what this training is about.”
The goal of these trainings is to help professionals recognize safety concerns that could put a child in danger. Most families are doing their very best and Prevent 360 is working to make sure that if something is wrong, there’s someone who knows what to do.
Want to bring this training to your workplace or community group?
Prevent360 currently serves Elkhart County, Marshall County, and St. Joe County, Indiana.
Contact Kim Yoder at [email protected]
Or sign up for a training here
Prevent 360° is a comprehensive child abuse prevention education, training and consultation approach, giving both adults and children the skills they need to prevent abuse. CAPS partners with early childcare centers, schools, youth-serving organizations, faith-based groups, and community members to train children and adults.
Want to bring this training to your workplace or community group?
Prevent360 currently serves Elkhart County, Marshall County, and St. Joe County, Indiana.
Contact Kim Yoder at [email protected]
Or sign up for a training here