The Exchange Club Family Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse is a valuable resource within the Lafayette-Oxford-University community.

Since 1997, the center has set its mission on preventing and treating child abuse and neglect in North Mississippi, while at the same time breaking the cycle of child abuse and neglect through prevention, intervention and education services.

The primary goal of the center is to replace abusive behavior with effective skills for responsible parenting without dissolving the family unit, as long as the child’s life is not endangered.

“It is the belief of this agency that most parents want to be good parents,” said Executive Director Fred Johnson. “Therefore, the center provides services to abusive and high-risk families, and educates the public regarding child abuse and neglect. “

The center organizes parent support groups, parenting classes, counseling, advocacy and multi-disciplinary team participation.

Programs such as the Adolescent Opportunity Program provides services to teens involved in the youth court system. To Love a Child (TLC) is a first-time teen mom’s program geared to keep them on track toward graduation. Stop the Abuse Now (STAN) is a child abuse prevention bear that visits schools to promote good touch, bad touch, say no, get away and tell somebody.

To fund these valuable programs, the center is hosting a benefit golf tournament and crawfish boil on Monday. The four-person scramble tees off at noon at the Country Club of Oxford. Entry fee is $125 per person and includes the all-you-can-eat crawfish from 4-6 p.m. For non-golfers, tickets to the crawfish boil are $20 per person.

There also will be a silent auction from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the country club.

For more information on the golf tournament and the Exchange Club Family Center, contact Johnson at 662-234-4255 or email him at fajohnson411@gmail.com.