T-R PHOTO BY LANA BRADSTREAM CAPS Associate Director Nikki Hartwig and Executive Director Linda Havelka show the new change to the organization’s name - Child, Adolescent and Parent Support. The name on the sign in front of the building is still Child Abuse Prevention Services, but will be changed. The change was implemented to better reflect the organization’s services.

Things change — even names of well-known Marshalltown organizations.

For a long time CAPS stood for Child Abuse Prevention Services. To better reflect the services now offered, the new name is now Child, Adolescent and Parent Support.

Anna Hargrave, CAPS director of community relations, said multiple people — board members and staff — developed the new name.

“We collectively came together and brainstormed ideas,” she said.

CAPS Associate Director Nikki Hartwig said the change is something staff have discussed off and on during the last couple of years.

“Sometimes we would tell people our name, and they would react in a negative way,” she said. “A family we would work with heard ‘child abuse’ in our name, and thought ‘We don’t abuse our child.’ It sent the wrong message. ‘Child abuse’ prevents families from participating in our programming. We wanted our name to reflect how we support families.”

The programming at CAPS ranges from family support to crisis services, from school-based to The Nest. The latter is an incentive program which allows families to obtain essential baby items, such as diapers, wipes, pack and plays and formula, through earning points. Hartwig said income-eligible families with children younger than two earn Nest points by participating in other CAPS programs.

The other programs focus more on interaction.

“Our school-based services focus on healthy relationships and boundaries,” Hartwig said. “We help families in crisis situations by accommodating their needs and getting them back on their feet.”

CAPS also helps families struggling with a variety of crises. Hartwig said they can help a family with housing troubles, such as facing eviction or severe disrepair. They also help families find employment, assist those who suffered a death or help families caught in domestic violence situations.

“We do not define the crisis for them,” she said. “We help keep the parents stable, and the children who are with them. We provide the best help any way we can.”

Because of the range of their services, it can be difficult to determine how many families are impacted by CAPS every month, especially when considering the school-based programs.

“We reach thousands every year,” Hartwig said. “In our home visit program, it is an easy 150 to 200 families per month we contact.”

To celebrate the name change and spread word of services, CAPS will host an open house on Oct. 24. There will be ribbon cutting, food and drinks.

“We hope the community will celebrate with us,” Hargrave said.

OPEN HOUSE:

Location: CAPS, 306 S. 17th Ave.

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 24

Time: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

—–

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.