Mother's Awareness on School-age Kids (MASK) is a nonprofit organization founded by three stay-at-home moms in Phoenix. Kimberly Cabral was adamant about having open communication with her young children about the battles that kids face on a regular basis at school. She wanted to be able to talk comfortably with them about bullying, eating disorders, Internet safety, self-esteem and drugs and alcohol in hopes that they wouldn’t feel judged or fear getting in trouble. 

 

After gaining insight on what some of her children’s friends were doing at such young ages, Cabral knew something needed to be done—so she teamed up with fellow moms, Pam Baumann and Michelle Cardini, to formulate a plan. They researched counselors, police departments and nonprofits to find a program that might benefit their families and schools and realized quickly that there were no programs designed for students as young as elementary-age and as old as college-age that addressed and educated kids on such topics. 

 

In August 2007, they planned a MASK meeting. Fifty parents showed up for the first meeting, and the moms knew they were onto something. “You can educate the kids, but you have to educate the climate as well. And get the reinforcement educated,” Cabral says. MASK soon became a 501c3, created a logo, and before they knew it, 250 people were attending their meetings. 

 

MASK’s mission is “to educate both parents and children about the issues facing our youth and to empower children to make safe, healthy choices.” Cabral, Baumann and Cardini became educated in bullying, sex crimes, eating disorders and other troubling issues on the rise with young people and integrated them into age-appropriate groups. By speaking to kids in schools, holding private group meetings for parents and their children, and a variety of E3 programs and summer camps (Engage, Educate, Empower), MASK allows for a plethora of resources and opportunities for parents to learn to successfully communicate with and empower their children.