Marshfield Clinic recognizes Child Abuse Prevention Month

Posted: April 28, 2026

While child abuse rates in Wisconsin and Michigan have dropped in recent years, according to state reports, Marshfield Clinic's Child Advocacy Center is committed to a future where that number is zero.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The governors of Wisconsin and Michigan issued proclamations highlighting the importance of positive childhood experiences and enhanced parental knowledge on child development, both of which are linked to better health outcomes and safety.

The Marshfield Child Advocacy Center is the only medical and forensic child advocacy center model in central and northern Wisconsin, and partners with other advocacy centers in the Upper Peninsula. The center serves children who have experienced various forms of abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, drug endangerment, teen dating violence, neglect and witnessing violence.

"The ideal model of a child advocacy center is to provide trauma-informed care to children who have been through unthinkable things," said Dr. Margaret Link, Marshfield Child Advocacy Center physician. "Our center can provide a 'one-stop shop' for children, enabling them to have a forensic interview and medical exam in the same day, as well as access valuable community resources."