Missouri Network Against Child Abuse

10/09/2026

Join us for our next virtual Stewards of Children training on Wednesday, October 14th! This training is FREE for Missouri residents.

REGISTER HERE ➡️ https://d2l.coalitionmanager.org/eventmanager/trainingevent/details/4382

⭐ Missouri residents - please use code MOKIDSV23 at checkout. ⭐

WHAT IS STEWARDS OF CHILDREN®?
Stewards of Children® is an evidence-informed, award-winning two and a half hour training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child s*xual abuse. Through interviews with a very diverse group of people with lived experience, experts, and treatment providers, Stewards of Children® teaches adults practical actions they can take to reduce instances of child s*xual abuse in their organizations, families, and communities.

WHAT SETS STEWARDS OF CHILDREN® APART?
Stewards of Children® is one of the only evidence- informed, adult-focused child s*xual abuse prevention trainings in the United States proven to increase knowledge and change behavior.

HOW YOU CAN INFLUENCE REAL CHANGE AS A STEWARD OF CHILDREN?
Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children® provides actionable behaviors that create prevention-oriented communities.
Participants will exit the training being able to engage in conversations about child s*xual abuse prevention with other adults and enact prevention policies where children live, learn, and play. They will also be able to recognize and react to boundary violations as well as suspected child abuse and disclosures. Participants will transfer the skills they learn into their communities, helping to embed prevention practices into their communities and help embed prevention practices within their spheres of influence to help proactively prevent child s*xual abuse.

❓ Questions? Contact Randi by emailing [email protected].

10/04/2026

Children under age 4 are at a higher risk of serious physical injury or death as a result of child maltreatment. It is imperative that adults who work with kids or are around kids are educated on the common warning signs of child abuse. One way to remember some of these warning signs is the “TEN-4- FACESp Bruising Rule.”

TEN-4-FACESp is an acronym that is used to help screen children under 4 years of age with bruising to identify when a bruise is more likely to be caused by abuse than accidental injury. TEN-4-FACESp stands for bruising to the Torso, Ears, Neck, Frenulum, Angle of the jaw, Cheeks, Eyelids or Subconjunctivae, “4” represents infants 4 months and younger with any bruise, anywhere, and “p” represents the presence of patterned bruising (“TEN-4-FACESp”).

MO-NACA, in partnership with the Department of Health and Senior Services, oversees the state-funded SAFE-CARE program, coordinating a comprehensive medical response to child abuse and neglect across Missouri. This October 4th, we aim to create discussion and awareness around the TEN-4-FACESp Bruising Rule so the general public understands these signs of abuse, along with the importance of preventing child maltreatment and supporting families.

Bruising is the most common and most visible sign of physical abuse. In toddlers and pre-school aged children, bruises are not uncommon, however, the location of the bruise can be helpful to distinguish accidental injuries from ones caused by physical abuse.

SAFE-CARE Network Providers are physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners committed to providing quality forensic evaluations to maltreated children in their communities. They encompass a wide range of experience, including urban to rural settings and from small private practices to large children’s hospitals.
Medical Resource Centers are strategically situated at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. These centers serve as the foremost authorities in Child Abuse Pediatrics, setting the standard of care for the SAFE-CARE program. Board Certified Child Abuse Pediatricians affiliated with these centers play a pivotal role in providing training, mentorship, and consultation services to ensure the highest quality of expertise within the SAFE-CARE initiative.

10/01/2026

We’d like to give a big shout out to the incredible faculty of the ChildFirst training, happening in Springfield this week!

You can learn more about ChildFirst by visiting our website: https://mo-naca.org/training/child-advocacy-center-professionals/

Nope, we didn’t sneak away to a tropical resort. We’re still in Missouri! 🌴☀️

Four members of the STL CAC team are in Springfield this week helping train the next group of Missouri ChildFirst forensic interviewers and our mutlidisciplinary team members — and we couldn’t be more excited to be part of it!

ChildFirst is about so much more than learning how to conduct a forensic interview. It’s about building a stronger, more coordinated response for children and families across our state.

A BIG thank you to:
✨ Zero Abuse Project for the ChildFirst curriculum and trusting us to train the model.
✨ Missouri Network Against Child Abuse for coordinating this incredible week.
✨ The Child Advocacy Center, Inc. for sharing your staff this week. ✨ Our MDT partners from the Missouri Statewide Technical Assistance Team and St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office for joining us and sharing their expertise!

We love getting to learn, train, collaborate, and grow alongside professionals from across Missouri.

And honestly…if Missouri wants to keep adding palm trees to our training locations, we’re not complaining. 🌴😎

09/21/2026

Missouri Network Against Child Abuse proudly offered our first MDT Train-the-Trainer Academy last week. This two-day academy included adult learning theories, facilitation techniques, and hands-on learning opportunities that provided participants with tools and knowledge to successfully facilitate MDT trainings, facilitated by Angela Hirsch, MO-NACA MDT Program Specialist.

09/13/2026

Missouri Network Against Child Abuse (MO-NACA) is excited to share that Jessica Seitz, Executive Director of MO-NACA, has been appointed to the Missouri Child Welfare Task Force by Governor Mike Kehoe.

“Every child in Missouri deserves the opportunity to grow up safe, supported, and surrounded by people who are committed to their success," said Governor Kehoe. "This task force brings together the right voices to take an honest look at the challenges facing our child welfare system and, with those in mind, develop meaningful solutions. Our goal is simple: better protect Missouri children, strengthen families, and give those on the front lines the tools they need to do their jobs well."

Jessica Seitz was named Missouri Network Against Child Abuse Executive Director on August 1, 2021 after serving as the agency’s Director of Public Policy for four years.

Jessica joined Missouri Network Against Child Abuse after spending more than six years in federal government relations in Washington, DC with YMCA of the USA and the National PTA. She began her career in politics at the state-level as a lobbyist for the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Jessica has BA in Politics from Brandeis University and a Master’s in Public Affairs with a focus on nonprofit management from the Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri.

Read more about the Missouri Child Welfare Task Force here ➡️ https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-kehoe-announces-appointments-missouri-child-welfare-task-force

09/06/2026

Missouri Network Against Child Abuse staff wish you a safe and rejuvenating Labor Day weekend. ☀️

Our offices will be closed on Monday, September 7th. We will reopen on Tuesday, September 8th at 8am.

08/31/2026

Join us for our next virtual Stewards of Children training! This training is FREE for Missouri residents.

REGISTER HERE ➡️ https://d2l.coalitionmanager.org/.../trainin.../details/4382
Missouri residents - please use code MOKIDSV23 at checkout.

WHAT IS STEWARDS OF CHILDREN®?
Stewards of Children® is an evidence-informed, award-winning two and a half hour training that teaches adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child s*xual abuse. Through interviews with a very diverse group of people with lived experience, experts, and treatment providers, Stewards of Children® teaches adults practical actions they can take to reduce instances of child s*xual abuse in their organizations, families, and communities.

WHAT SETS STEWARDS OF CHILDREN® APART?
Stewards of Children® is one of the only evidence- informed, adult-focused child s*xual abuse prevention trainings in the United States proven to increase knowledge and change behavior.

HOW YOU CAN INFLUENCE REAL CHANGE AS A STEWARD OF CHILDREN?
Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children® provides actionable behaviors that create prevention-oriented communities.
Participants will exit the training being able to engage in conversations about child s*xual abuse prevention with other adults and enact prevention policies where children live, learn, and play. They will also be able to recognize and react to boundary violations as well as suspected child abuse and disclosures. Participants will transfer the skills they learn into their communities, helping to embed prevention practices into their communities and help embed prevention practices within their spheres of influence to help proactively prevent child s*xual abuse.

Questions? Contact Randi by emailing [email protected].

08/20/2026

☀️ MO-NACA’s future is looking bright! ☀️
Corey Brodsky, Program Manager of Chapter Development & Partnerships at Midwest Regional Child Advocacy Center, recently joined MO-NACA staff and Board members as we worked to identify priorities and establish goals through strategic planning efforts.

We remain focused on our mission to empower adults with solutions to support the safety of children, and look forward to sharing what is yet to come!

07/17/2026

07/13/2026

Missouri Network Against Child Abuse would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the James G. Davis Construction (DAVIS)Foundation for their contribution of $1,000 to our organization. We are humbled by the nomination from Ms. Harahus and thrilled to have been selected for a Builder Grant. This gift reflects an exceptional commitment to our mission to empower adults with solutions to support the safety of children.

DCF’s contribution strengthens MO-NACA as the statewide expert in training, community education, and child advocacy. In the past year, MO-NACA offered a record number of professional development opportunities to child abuse professionals, including over sixty trainings to the Missouri Child Advocacy Center (CAC) network, SAFE-CARE medical providers and multi-disciplinary team members. We also reached nearly 30,000 adults with our trainings on mandated reporting of child abuse, child s*xual abuse prevention and more. MO-NACA also continues to be a leading voice for children in Missouri’s capitol and 2026 was a powerful year as lawmakers passed our top priorities, including legislation to strengthen our laws surrounding child s*x trafficking and the creation of the Missouri Crime Victims Fund which will support local agencies who do on the ground work to serve victims of abuse.

Because of DCF's support, we can expand our reach—ensuring more adults have the tools they need to protect children, and more young people can access safety, justice, and healing.