The mission of the Exchange Center is to prevent child abuse and neglect and to promote healthy family functioning among Dane County families. Using a blend of staff and volunteers, the Center's services are provided with sensitivity to the unique needs of individuals and families and with recognition and respect for the cultural context in which participants are parenting. The Exchange Center's programs are open to all regardless of race, religion, culture, disability and sexual orientation.

Description:
The Exchange Center provides home visitation support and parent education services to families residing in Dane County.





PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER PROGRAM (PACT)

The PACT program provides intensive, supportive, home-based services for families where at least one parent has a cognitive disability.

The mission of PACT is to provide the needed services to enable parents to raise their children at home and to keep their family together. The PACT Program is one of just a few supportive parenting programs in the country and it has received a national recognition for its innovation.

WELCOME BABY PROGRAM

Welcome Baby was designed to support first-time parents of infants by providing regular home visits through the baby's first critical years.

Family support staff from the Welcome Baby Program assist the parents in creating a strong bond with their baby, help them adjust to their new role, teach early child growth and development and connect them with community resources. This special program has earned the distinction of being a model prevention program.

COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS

It was also during 2000-2002 that the Exchange Center strengthened its collaboration with three newer partners in the community. Our partnering with St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center and Early Head Start has optimized our opportunities to reach and involve parents during the prenatal period or shortly after the birth of their first child. The First Steps Family Support Program is available to all families in the Wisconsin Heights community who are expecting a baby, have a newborn, and/or have young children. Through the program, a public health nurse and a family visitor provide information to families in their own homes, and at the Family Resource Centers.

These collaborations promote primary prevention through home visitation by providing quality and coordinated services to families of young children living in Dane County.

Families are the critical element in the healing of healthy, competent, and caring children. However, families - all families- cannot perform this function as well as they might unless they are supported by a caring and strong community, for it is community support that provides the informal and formal supplements to families' own resources.

• Carl J. Dunst
  
  



History:
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EXCHANGE CENTER IN DANE COUNTY- A COMMITMENT TO THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE

The National Exchange Club, a federation of hundreds of local Exchange (service) Clubs located throughout the country, is comprised of membership from primarily the business and professional communities. In 1979, National Exchange adopted the prevention of child abuse as its national priority and authorized the creation of a foundation to guide the effort.

In the spring of 1982, Dr. Norman Fost, a pediatrician and child abuse expert from the University of Wisconsin Hospital and clinics, was invited to speak about child abuse and neglect. Dr. Fost reviewed and endorsed the parent aide model of child abuse prevention promoted by the National Exchange Club Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.

On August 1, 1984, the doors to the Exchange Center opened. Thereafter, the first group of volunteers was recruited, screened, and trained to become volunteer parent aides for Dane county parents who were at risk for child abuse or neglect. The first match between volunteers and family was made in late January 1985.

We are thankful for all those who provide or have provided time, energy, resources and financial backing to a vision of what the Exchange Center could and has become - a nonprofit parenting support agency committed to preventing child abuse and neglect and strengthen families throughout Dane County.



Contact person: Teresa Van Den Wildenberg, (608) 241-3434, (email)
Office fax number: (608) 241-2224

Address:


2120 Fordem Avenue Suite 200 Madison, WI 53704 (See a map)


Web Site: http://exchangecenterdanecounty.org

Directions:

We are located on the corner of Fordem Avenue and Mcguire St across from Webcrafters. Take Johnson Street to Fordem Ave.   Nearest Bus Stop: In front of building

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