Replacing Risk with Resilience

Each April, as we observe Child Abuse Prevention Month, we are reminded not only of the challenges children and families face but also of the powerful role we each play in creating environments of safety, healing, and hope.

In 2022, Colorado received more than 109,000 referrals for child abuse and neglect. Nearly 10,000 children were identified as victims—and over 77% of those cases were due to neglect. These numbers reflect more than incidents; they reveal systems under stress, families in need of support, and communities seeking connection and care.

At Nebula, we believe child abuse is preventable. One of our most powerful tools isn’t just intervention—it’s protection through positive experiences and community well-being.

The HOPE Framework: Shifting from Trauma to Strength

At Nebula, we use the HOPE Framework (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) to guide our work with children, families, and providers. HOPE focuses on four building blocks of healing and resilience:Nurturing, supportive relationships Safe, stable, and equitable environments to live, learn, and grow Engagement in community and cultural activities Opportunities for social and emotional development By intentionally creating access to these positive experiences, we don’t just reduce harm—we help families and professionals thrive.

Well-being as a Protective Factor

We believe that supporting the wellbeing of caregivers, educators, and families is one of the most effective ways to prevent abuse and neglect. Wellbeing isn't an extra—it’s a protective factor. 

Nebula offers professional development, reflective consultation, and programming rooted in trauma-informed care, emotional awareness, and relational safety. When adults are regulated, supported, and connected, they are better able to care for children in meaningful, consistent ways. 

We are also committed to growing HOPE-Centered and Thriving Communities—places where well-being and relational care are part of the daily fabric of life, not reserved for times of crisis.

Language Justice Is Prevention

Our commitment to language justice is core to prevention. Families and providers deserve access to support, learning, and connection in the language that speaks to their heart. At Nebula, our services are offered in Arabic, Dari, Spanish, and English and are facilitated by culturally responsive educators and coaches. Language is more than communication—it’s a connection. It ensures that families and providers feel safe, heard, and understood as they grow in confidence and care.

Nurturing Parenting: A Proven Approach to Prevention

Nebula offers the Nurturing Parenting Program, a nationally recognized, evidence-based curriculum proven to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect. Grounded in empathy, respect, and understanding, this program teaches families to:

Set developmentally appropriate expectations 

1. Build emotional bonds with their children 
2. Replace punitive practices with nurturing guidance 
3. Reflect on their own childhood experiences and rewrite the narrative

These parenting programs, offered in multiple languages, build protective factors and restore trust in the caregiving relationship—one family at a time.

Reflective Supervision and Provider Support

At Nebula, we believe that early childhood professionals deserve the same care, reflection, and support that they offer children and families every day. That’s why we offer Reflective Supervision—a relational, trauma-informed space for educators, coaches, and caregivers to pause, process, and grow in community. 

When we care for those who care for children, we don’t just prevent turnover—we build a more sustainable, compassionate early childhood system rooted in wellbeing.

If you feel called to support Nebula’s work financially, your gift will make a lasting difference:

$15 provides wellness kits for providers and families $25 supplies a book for families in the Nurturing Parenting program                                                             $75 funds language interpretation for family sessions or professional development                                               $100 offers a professional development session on wellbeing and HOPE                                                      $250 brings a HOPE-centered workshop to programs in our community                                                                      $1,000 sponsors a full year of Reflective Supervision for up to six early childhood professionals

Learn more about Nebula and its Child Abuse Prevention Efforts