What is Kidpower?

Kidpower of Colorado Springs is the local center of Kidpower International, a 501 (c)(3), not-for-profit, charitable organization, founded in 1989 in Santa Cruz, California. The Colorado Springs Center was established in 1994 to provide comprehensive safety education and confidence-building skills to children ages 3-18 and their families. Kidpower’s mission is to teach young people to use their own power to stay safe from abuse, assault and abduction. Our programs are known worldwide for being positive, practical, safe and age-appropriate.

What is the need?

Caring adults often feel helpless in the face of today’s alarming news. Rape crisis center experts estimate that one in three girls and one in four boys will be sexually assaulted by the time they are 18 years old. A recent National Victim’s Center study indicates that 1/3 of all rapes occur before the victim is 11 years old. Studies show that about 85 percent of all abuse happens with people the victim knows. Fortunately, there are some very simple, effective skills that we can teach children to help them be safe in most situations.


Why does Kidpower work?

Our approach is based on the understanding that people learn more by doing than by talking about doing. Students successfully practice each idea presented. This experience builds confidence and competence and develops skills in students’ bodies as well as their minds. Kidpower also works because the skills are taught in a way that is not scary or overwhelming but that is matter-of-fact and fun.

What is our track record?

Kidpower has trained thousands of young people in the Colorado Springs area. Our students report feeling much more confident and prepared. We have dozens of reports of students who have used these skills to keep themselves physically and emotionally safe in many threatening situations. We are always happy to provide references from graduates of our classes and school administrators.

Who are we?

Staff

  • Center Director - Jan Isaacs Henry
  • Program Director - Natalie Yungner
  • Administrative Assistant - Heather Guerrero

Instructors

  • Kelly Church
  • Kenya Cruzat
  • Angela Hamilton
  • Jared Hayes
  • Maryjane Hayes
  • Deputy Karl Herndon, El Paso
    County Sheriff's Office
  • Meredith Henry
  • Jan Isaacs Henry
  • Chris Knoepke
  • Brian Kurtz
  • Amanda Larsen
  • Linda Schafer
  • Natalie Yungner

Board of Directors

  • President - Nancy Saltzman, Ph.D., Principal, Broadmoor Elementary School, Retired
  • Vice President - Carla Lemmon, PsyD., Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice
  • Secretary - Wynde Stinson, LCSW, Private Practice
  • Rita Burns, Vice President, Communications and Marketing, Memorial Hospital, Retired
  • Brett Fouss, D.O., Psychiatrist, Private Practice
  • John Henry, Executive Director, Corporate Communications, USAA, Retired
  • Paul Isenstadt, Director of Programming and Residential Services, ComCor
  • Ann-Marie Manning, Director of Development, Colorado College
  • Amy Mullaney, Assistant County Attorney, El Paso County
  • Lt. Clif Northam, Swing Shift Watch Commander, Criminal Justice Center,
    El Paso County Sheriff's Office
  • Darcell Palmer, School Administration Consultant
  • Jim Stinson, Officer, Colorado Springs Police Department

Advisors

  • Local Co-Founder and Advisor - Debra Campeau, Managing Attorney,
    Office Guardian-ad-Litem
  • Local Co-Founder and Advisor - Jan DeBoer, LCSW, Private Practice
  • Past - President and Advisor - Sandra Johnson, Community Leader
  • Financial Advisor - Robert D. Johnson, CPA, P.C.
  • Advisor - Sgt. Michele Hodges, El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Retired

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