The CAPC’s mission is…
The Child Abuse Prevention Council protects children and strengthens families through awareness and outcome driven programs delivered with compassion.
…yet few know the origins of the Council itself, and the story of a three-year-old child named Latanya Smith.
Latanya’s Story
Our history started on December 7, 1973, Latanya Smith was born to 15-year-old Bernice Wiley. For the first three years of her life, Latanya lived happily with her grandmother. In December 1976, her grandmother brought her to the hospital with bruises and other injuries. After an investigation, authorities placed Latanya back with her grandmother while Bernice went through counseling. However, Charles Johnson, Bernice’s boyfriend who had abused Latanya, did not receive any counseling. On January 17, 1977, after Bernice completed her counseling, she regained custody of Latanya.
The Tragic Loss of Latanya
Although we cannot fully understand Latanya’s pain, we know that on February 14, 1977, she died from abuse. Over three weeks, Charles Johnson and Bernice Wiley inflicted unimaginable cruelty. The grand jury revealed that Charles had beaten, burned, and bitten Latanya. He pinched her fingers with pliers and beat her with a broom until it broke. An autopsy showed severe internal bleeding caused by the abuse. At just three years old, Latanya had lost the will to live. Bernice, too afraid of losing her boyfriend, failed to protect her daughter, while Charles took pleasure in the suffering he caused.
The Formation of the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC)
Latanya’s death shocked the community. Three members of the grand jury, along with other concerned citizens, took action and formed the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) to prevent other children from “slipping through the system.” Today, CAPC provides a lifeline for families in crisis. It offers parents the tools to become better caregivers, helps children heal from abuse, and works to improve the quality of life for families in need.