Child's Place

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Child’s Place is a children’s advocacy center that provides services to children who are victims of crime or witness significant violence.

10/09/2026

When life feels uncertain, knowing what happens next can be a really big deal for a child.

Who is picking me up from school? Are we still going to Grandma's Saturday? Is bedtime going to be the same tonight?

Those things can seem pretty ordinary to us. But when other parts of life feel uncertain, the ordinary things can be something a child knows they can count on.

We can't make everything predictable. Plans change and life happens.

But keeping a few familiar routines, and letting kids know when something is going to be different, can help.

Sometimes feeling safer starts with simply knowing what happens next.

10/07/2026

Thank you to Minnwest Bank for their generous $5,000 gift to Child’s Place and for continuing to support our work year after year.

Every day, children and caregivers walk through our doors during circumstances they never expected to face. Having strong community partners helps make sure Child’s Place can continue to be here when they need us.

We’re grateful for the organizations and people throughout our communities who believe this work matters and choose to be part of it.

Thank you, Minnwest Bank, for continuing to invest in Child’s Place and in the children and families we serve.

10/03/2026

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

When violence happens in a home, children can be affected even when they aren't the direct target. They may hear arguments, notice changes in routines, worry about the people they love, or simply know that something doesn't feel right.

Children don't need to understand everything happening around them to be affected by it.

Throughout October, we'll share practical information for caregivers, resources that may be helpful, and some of the ways adults can help children feel supported when life around them feels uncertain.

To learn more or find support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline offers information, safety-planning resources and confidential support 24/7:

Call: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text: START to 88788
Online: thehotline.org

10/01/2026

October’s Pieces That Matter is here.

This month, we’re talking about how violence at home can affect children, even when they aren’t the ones being physically harmed or don’t see what happens.

Children may hear things from another room, notice when a caregiver is afraid, or live with the uncertainty and changes that can follow. And what they’re carrying may show up in ways adults don’t immediately connect to what has happened.

This month’s newsletter looks at what children may experience, the small things that can help them begin to feel safer, and ways adults can support them without expecting them to have the right words or feelings.

We’re also sharing resources for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, practical guidance for parents and caregivers, and our Community Spotlight on WRAP – WoMen's Rural Advocacy Programs, Inc.

Read October’s Pieces That Matter. Link in the comments.

Want Pieces That Matter delivered to your inbox each month? You can sign up on our website while you're there.

09/29/2026

Kids sometimes tell us things about friends, classmates or teammates that leave us wondering what to do next.

Maybe a friend told them something troubling about home. They heard someone say they were afraid to go home. Or they know something is happening to another child but aren't sure exactly what.

Your first instinct may be to start asking questions so you can figure out what really happened.

You don't have to.

Listen to what your child wants to tell you. Take the concern seriously, but don't ask them to get more information or question the other child yourself.

If you're concerned about a child's safety, you don't need to know the whole story before asking for help.

Making a report isn't the same as conducting an investigation. Share what you know and let the professionals responsible for responding determine what happens next.

You don't have to have all the pieces before sharing a concern about a child's safety.
If you believe a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect, we've gathered Minnesota reporting information on our website.

Report Abuse information ↓
Link in the comments.

09/25/2026

A few weeks into the school year, the newness has worn off. Friend groups are taking shape, activities are underway, and families are settling into routines.

If you want to know how things are really going, “How was school?” may not get you very far.

Instead, try making the question smaller:

What was the best part of today?
What was the hardest part?
How was lunch/the bus/practice?
Who did you spend time with today?
What's something happening at school that adults probably don't know about?

You don't need to ask them all. Try one while you're in the car, eating dinner or doing something together.

And remember, school isn't only what happens in the classroom. Friendships, lunch, the bus, activities and even what happens on their phones can be a big part of a child's day.

The goal isn't to get information out of them. It's to keep making room for conversation.

09/23/2026

The school day ends. The group chat doesn't.

A disagreement that starts in the hallway can continue through texts that afternoon. Kids can be left out of a group chat, removed from an online game, or have something embarrassing shared about them.

That can make friendship problems pretty hard to get away from.

Not every online disagreement is cyberbullying. Friendships can be messy, online and off. But when behavior becomes repeated, harmful, threatening or intentionally humiliating, it's important to take it seriously.

If your child comes to you about something happening online:

Listen before reacting. A big reaction may make them worry that telling you means losing their phone or access to their friends.

Save what's happening. Screenshots, messages, usernames and dates may be helpful if the behavior needs to be reported.

Decide what happens next together. That might mean blocking or reporting an account, involving the school, or getting additional help if there are threats or safety concerns.

Find the NetSmartz resource ↓
Link in the comments.

09/20/2026

What resource should more families know about?

Part of what we do at Child’s Place is help connect caregivers with resources that can make a difference for their family. And in rural communities, some of the best resources aren't always the easiest to find.

Help us build our community resource list.

Maybe it's a local food pantry, a church that provides clothing or household supplies, a mobile program that visits smaller communities, a place where kids can find free books, or another service that people might not discover until they really need it.

We can only connect families with the resources we know about, so we'd love your help.
What resource in your community do you wish more people knew about?

Or, what do you wish was available locally? It might already exist, and someone else may know where to find it.

Share it in the comments, tag the organization or program if you can so we know we have the right one, or send us a private message if you'd rather not post publicly.

We'll look into the suggestions and add appropriate resources to our Community Resources so more caregivers can find them when they need them.

Please share organizations, programs and community resources rather than personal offers of assistance. We'll verify resources before adding them to our website.

09/18/2026

MYTH: If there are no physical injuries, nothing happened.

It's easy to assume that if a child has been physically harmed, there will be something we can see.

But many forms of child abuse leave no visible injury.

Even when an injury does occur, it may heal before anyone knows what happened. Sexual abuse often leaves no visible physical injury, and emotional abuse or neglect may not leave physical marks at all.

When professionals respond to concerns about possible abuse, they look at much more than whether there is a bruise or other visible injury.

A child doesn't need to have a physical mark for what happened to them to matter.
The absence of an injury should never be used as a reason to dismiss a concern.

Learn more in Separating Fact From Fiction: Common Myths About Child Abuse ↓
Link in the comments.

09/15/2026

When a child is having a hard time, it doesn't always look like sadness.

Sometimes it looks like getting angry over something that normally wouldn't be a big deal. Not wanting to go somewhere they used to enjoy. Arguing about everything. Shutting down when you ask what's wrong. Having trouble concentrating. Or seeming completely fine until one little thing sends everything sideways.

Behavior doesn't always tell us what is wrong. But it can tell us that something may be harder for a child right now.

We don't have to know exactly what's going on to notice that something has changed and make a little more room for connection.

And support doesn't have to wait until things reach a crisis.

Maybe it's starting a conversation about whether talking with a therapist might help. Maybe it's checking in with a school counselor or your child's healthcare provider. Or maybe you, as the caregiver, could use someone to talk to while you're trying to support your child.

Caring for a child who is struggling can be hard, too.

If you're not sure where to start, we've gathered local mental health providers and other supports in our Community Resources to help families find options close to home.

Find local mental health resources ↓
Link in the comments.

Address

302 E 3rd Street
Redwood Falls, MN
56283

Telephone

+15076166140

Website

https://childsplacecac.org/

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