Against Child Abuse & Neglect (HACAN) strengthens families, empowers youth, and prevents child abuse and neglect through culturally competent education, intervention, and community advocacy with a focus on the Hispanic/Latino Community.

Description:
Hispanics Against Child Abuse & Neglect (hacan) provides the two following programs:

(1) “Strengthening Families” (Fortaleciendo la Familia) is a parenting program in Spanish. It is offered in ten weekly sessions, for two hours every session, and it is free, including snacks and babysitting. This program covers topics such as improving communication, positive discipline, and developing the self-esteem of children. It enables parents to become effective listeners and to establish loving, trusting relationships within the family.

This program has been successfully implemented in Arlington, Fairfax, and Washington D.C. for the past 18 years. Since 1989, more than 800 parents have graduated from our classes and more than 200 children have participated in our children’s program. When appropriate, we conduct the “Good Touch-Bad Touch” child sexual abuse prevention program to the children whose parents attend the classes.
We also provide a training of instructors in the curriculum: “Strengthening Families”. Since 1992, more than 130 bilingual professionals have participated in trainings to prepare them to conduct the Strengthening Families parenting classes in different communities.

(2) “Morning Star” a program for young girls and adolescents, ages 8 and older. At weekly meetings, Morning Star provides participants with a safe environment that empowers and educates them to make wise decisions during their adolescence.

Presently we have two groups: (a) Ages 8 – 12 at the Woodrow Wilson Library on Saturday mornings. (b) Ages 13 and older at the Culmore Family Resource Center on Fridays (after school).

History:
Hispanics Against Child Abuse and Neglect Inc. (HACAN) was formed in 1985.

Since 1989, HACAN has promoted parenting classes in Northern Virginia helping more than 800 parents graduate from the classes, and more than 120 instructors have been trained to conduct parenting classes using the El Fortalecimiento de las Familias curriculum (“Strengthening Families”).

HACAN has also developed an after school program for children in the area of Culmore in Baileys Crossroads, Virginia. “Morning Star” provides a safe environment for girls (ages 8 to 12) who attend our program at the Woodrow Wilson Library on Saturday mornings. Girls, ages 12 and older, attend Teen Morning Star, an after school program at the Culmore Family Resource Center on Fridays between 4 and 6:30 pm.

Contact person: Marissa Yzita, Program Coordinator, (703) 208-1550, (email)
Main office number: (703) 208-1550
Office fax number: (703) 208-1540

Address:

C/o Childhelp USA - 11230 Waples Mill Road, Suite 105 Fairfax, VA 22030 (See a map)

Directions:

Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Vienna/Orange line