Few things are as heartwarming as seeing a child truly happy. A joyful child’s eyes shine, and their smile is wide and free from the worries often carried by adults. At Children Trust Michigan, our mission is to help keep those smiles

bright. Every day, we work to make sure no child has their happiness dimmed by abuse or neglect.

For more than 40 years, we have known that stopping abuse before it happens is not only possible — it’s essential. By helping families grow stronger, we can break the cycle of abuse before it begins. We make sure every program we support is backed by research shaped to fit each community’s needs. Working with our Prevention Partners in all 83 Michigan counties, we help families build strength, find hope and succeed on their own.

A Revolutionary Vision:

One of the earliest, most impactful authorities on child abuse prevention was Dr. Ray Helfer, a longtime professor at Michigan State University. In 1968, he co-wrote The Battered Child, a groundbreaking book about child abuse that later become a documentary.

Dr. Helfer believed that simply reacting after abuse happened was not enough. He knew that real change would only come from preventing abuse before it happened.

In the 1970s, he worked to promote prevention programs that focused on kindness and helping families. But he saw that most funding went to helping children after abuse had already happened. He wanted a better system — one that would provide steady funding for prevention in every state. By the early 1980s, he came up with the idea of special trust funds, created by law, to pay for prevention programs. Over time, all 50 states adopted some version of his idea.

CTM's Early Days:

In 1982, Michigan became the second state to establish a prevention-oriented trust fund. State Representatives Debbie Stabenow and Curtis Hertel Sr. joined forces to sponsor legislation that created the Children’s Trust Fund of Michigan. This powerful act authorized the state treasurer to place a line item on the Michigan income tax form so taxpayers could donate directly to the fund. It also established a governing board to administer the fund and guide statewide prevention activities. In its early years, the trust fund primarily focused on supporting four types of programs:

• Neighborhood centers offering short-term respite for caregivers.
• Aid to expecting mothers and partners with newborns.
• Education directly engaging with children and providing them with knowledge to safeguard themselves against abuse.
• After-school care.

These programs showed clear, positive impacts and continue to receive support to this day.

Modern Prevention Efforts:

In 2023, the Children’s Trust Fund rebranded as Children Trust Michigan. This seemingly small change represents our enduring commitment to securing smiles for all Michigan children. Today, we work with more than 100 Prevention Partners to offer programs such as:

• Parent education and support groups to help caregivers build stronger, healthy relationships with their children.
• Home visiting programs where trained professionals guide and encourage families during the early years.
• Community-based family activities that bring people together, reduce loneliness, and build support networks. 
• School-based personal safety education for children that teach them how to spot unsafe situations, set boundaries, and ask trusted adults for help. 
• Period of PURPLE Crying program, which teaches ways to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome. 

Plans for the Future:

At CTM, we know that the work of prevention is never finished. Creating a culture of support and care requires constant effort. As we continue to uphold our mission, we have a few key focus areas.

One of our main goals is to grow Michigan’s Family Resource Center Network. We currently partner with 11 centers across the state. These centers are a “one-stop shop” for families, offering many kinds of help in one place.

In 2026, we will also give more funding to Prevention Partners so they can start or expand child sexual abuse prevention programs in grades K–12. These programs will use proven lessons that fit each community’s needs.

We will keep focusing on strengthening families because strong families are the best way to prevent abuse and neglect. By supporting parents, caregivers, and communities, we are building a Michigan where every child can grow up safe, supported and free to shine. CTM is committed to continuing these efforts to because we know the power of strong families and the positive impact on children.

The work of prevention is not done by one organization alone. It’s a collective effort. Whether you volunteer, advocate, donate or simply share our message, you are part of the movement to protect Michigan’s children.

Together, we make prevention possible.