STOPPING THE CYCLE - Staff members from the Exchange Club Center for Family Unity were presenters at a recent Waseca Exchange Club meeting. Waseca club president Mikhail Rostislavovich presented Center executive director Beth Hortop with a certificate of gratitude. Pioneer photo by Deb Bently
Center for Family Unity combats child abuse
Thu, 05/14/2026 - 1:30am
Beth Hortop, executive director of the Exchange Club Center for Family Unity, spoke to the Waseca Exchange Club in observance of April being named “child abuse prevention” month.
Hortop attended the April 14 meeting to tell local members about the Owatonna-based agency which serves a large circle of southern Minnesota counties, including Waseca.
“Abuse is happening all the time,” stated Hortop.
“It creates costs for taxpayers, it leads to trauma and loss for families, and it hurts innocent children.
“We need to save the children and stop the cycles of abuse.”
Hortop explained the Center exists thanks to the National Exchange Club’s central goal of preventing child abuse. She said she and her staff provide a wide variety of services aimed at supporting both children and parents.
Among them, she mentioned, is “parent mentoring.” Hortop said the stresses and demands of being a parent are ongoing and relentless, so the Center offers the help of trained individuals to serve as “mentors,” that is, to be available for questions and support. “We’re like your sister or your best friend,” she said.
“We’re not going to judge you.”
The mentors’ priorities, she described, include listening, helping parents identify issues they would like to work on, answering questions, and helping select goals or targets for change.
For anyone dealing with stressed family relations, she said the Center for Family Unity, located at 1820 Hartle Avenue, is one place to begin. “We’re here for people who feel they can’t get help, or who don’t know where to get help,” claimed Hortop.
“Our goal is doing whatever we can within reason to reduce stress on the family and protect children’s safety.”
No referral, insurance coverage, or even appointment is necessary, Hortop said. As a private agency, the Center works under different sets of parameters than public entities. The agency does collaborate with government agencies, though–including providing services like supervised visits.
Hortop invites anyone who feels at a loss when it comes to children’s safety to contact her agency, either by visiting in person or calling 507-455-1190.