Back-to-School in Full Swing

Back-to-school season isn’t just about sharpened pencils and new sneakers—it’s also when things kick into high gear here at The Crawford Child Advocacy Center.

Our Safety Smarts, abuse prevention team, is already deep into classrooms across Larimer County, teaching kids how to recognize, refuse, and report unsafe or unwanted touches. On top of that, they’re helping students navigate the ever-changing digital world, with lessons on internet safety and how to spot red flags online.

Here’s the part that always amazes me: their schedule completely resets every five weeks. That means re-coordinating with dozens of schools, adapting to surprise fire drills, assemblies, and last-minute calendar changes—all while keeping lessons fun, engaging, and age-appropriate for kindergarten through 5th grade. Their flexibility and dedication are something to be proud of.

Meanwhile, our Forensic Services team sees a bump in interviews as kids return to school and more adults—teachers, coaches, youth leaders, and others—recognize potential warning signs and make a report. We also provide training for adults in the community to build this awareness and confidence.

And here’s something I want our community to know: we’d much rather conduct an interview and find nothing concerning than let a child slip through the cracks. Families cannot call us directly to schedule—referrals must come through law enforcement or the Department of Human Services. If you ever suspect abuse, please report it here. From there, we provide children (as well as adults with disabilities) the safe, trauma-informed space to share their story.

Behind the scenes, it’s a lot of moving pieces, a lot of juggling, and a lot of heart. Every member of our team—from prevention educators to forensic interviewers to family advocates—is united by the same mission: to protect kids and stand beside families when they need it most.

I couldn’t be more grateful—or more proud—of the work they do every single day.

With appreciation,

Travis Hitt – Executive Director