Agency Details:

The San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect, the promotion of healthy families, and the mental health of children. SFCAPC is composed of two programs: the SF Child Abuse Council and The TALK Line Family Support Center. Education, training and advocacy programs are provided through the San Francisco Child Abuse Council. Early intervention services designed to reduce parental stress, enhance parenting skills, and provide ongoing support to families are offered through the TALK Line Family Support Center.

Description:
The TALK Line Family Support Center (TLFSC) provides ongoing support to families through a range of early intervention services designed to reduce parental stress, enhance parenting skills, and provide ongoing support to families. One of the services provided by TLFSC is the TALK Line, a 24-hour parental stress and counseling line. The entry point to services for many low-income families, the TALK Line receives a high volume of calls reflecting the damaging effects of emotional abuse, substance abuse, fragmented families, relationship violence, and poverty. Eighty to Ninety volunteers, who receive professional training and supervision, put in 11,000 volunteer hours annually, offering ongoing support to the distressed families who call in.

History:
The San Francisco Child Abuse Council was established in 1973 to support advocacy, education, and training to mandated reporters (anyone who in their work capacity comes into contact with children). Each year the Council offers prevention training to some 5,000 professionals - child care workers, law enforcement officers, teachers, medical personnel and homeless shelter staff. Awareness training for 3,000 preschool and elementary school students is offered through the Child Safety Awareness Program. The Council also maintains an information and referral service and does an annual awareness campaign on child abuse.

The Telephone Aid in Living with Kids (TALK) Line was created in 1974 as San Francisco's only 24-hour crisis and counseling line for parents and caregivers. Over the next two decades the TALK Line developed a range of comprehensive services in response to the unmet needs of the thousands of families who called the Line. With the acquisition of a renovated 1890's firehouse on Waller Street in 1987, it became possible to centralize and expand our services to families even further through the establishment of the TALK Line Family Support Center. Today the TALK Line Family Support Center supports families through a range of early intervention services designed to reduce parental stress, enhance parenting skills, and provide ongoing support to families, fielding 13,000 calls to the TALK Line and serving approximately 8,000 parents and children at the Center each year.

In July 1997, the TALK Line Family Support Center separated from the Family Service Agency of San Francisco, its fiscal sponsor. In cooperation with the San Francisco Child Abuse Council, the TALK Line Family Support Center and the Council formed the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center, a two-division organization offering both direct and indirect services out of one facility. A board of professionals who bring a range of knowledge related to law, health, and public policy, as well as fundraising and management expertise, governs the organization. Our programs are staffed by professionals with expertise in working with children and families and the issues of child abuse. The staff oversees a highly trained volunteer corps that averages 90 members who donate over 11,000 volunteer hours per year.

Contact people:

Claudia Arrighi, Volunteer Manager, (phone), (email) Daniel Sapoznick, TALKLine Director, (phone), (email)

Address:

1757 Waller Street San Francisco, CA 94117 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.sfcapc.org

Directions:

We are located on Waller Street between Stanyan and Shrader, near Haight Street and Golden Gate Park.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: N Judah,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5   Nearest Bus Stop: 7, 71, 33, 43, 66, 5 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Besides English, which languages are spoken at your agency?
	Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog
What is the minimum age for volunteers at your agency?
	18 for Playroom and 25 for TALK Line
Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
	No
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 10?
	Yes
Does your agency have the capacity to host groups of more than 20?
	No

Last updated on March 12, 2010