Paula Yakubik sees herself working for free in the near future instead of as managing partner of a large Southern Nevada public relations firm.

Her new project -- prompted by the abuse of her son, Ryan Kuckler, by a nanny in December 2004 -- is to prevent the growing number of child abuse cases. Yakubik, with some colleagues and community partners, plans to launch the Southern Nevada Child Abuse and Neglect Center in April to educate parents about child abuse.

Many mothers are afraid to call Child Protective Services for help, fearing their child will be taken from them. Yakubik said her organization will appeal to mothers because it's not part of the government.

Initially, the center will send social workers and volunteers to educate new mothers and help them cope with the stresses of being a mother.

But Yakubik said her goal is for the organization to eventually become the first place for mothers to turn when they need help with their children.

The idea came to Yakubik last year on a trip to Southern California, where she learned of a similar program.

"Even if we save one child from abuse, it's worth it," Yakubik said.

At least six children have died from child abuse in Southern Nevada this year.

After only two weeks of fundraising, the organization has collected about $100,000.

"No one has said no," said Yakubik, the managing partner of MassMedia, a public relations firm.

Yakubik said she has received much of her support from clients.

Clark County Manager Thom Reilly will speak at a launch party for the group. He said Southern Nevada has had a void in resources addressing child abuse since a group called WE CAN, Working to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect, went under in the early 1990s.

"They really did their homework and looked at other organizations," Reilly said of Yakubik and her colleagues.

"We are going to do everything at the county to partner with them, and I believe the state is going to do so as well," Reilly said.

Susan Klein-Rothschild, director of Clark County Family Services, said the county lacks an educational approach to the problem of abuse and the center could fill that niche.

"They want to make a difference in the community and that's great," she said. "We need more people in the community like them."

Yakubik said her son is doing better, although he might have a device called a shunt inserted into his skull to drain fluid that has built up. If the child is fitted with the device, he would have to use it for the rest of his life.

Bethany Ford, the family's former nanny, pleaded guilty to one count of felony child abuse in January. She faces a sentence ranging from two to 20 years in prison, but could receive probation.

Ford was scheduled to be sentenced today, but her attorneys asked that the hearing be delayed until April 28.

"I've been really, really frustrated," Yakubik said, although she is optimistic about her son's future.

"Something tells me Ryan's going to be fine," said Yakubik, a former reporter for the View, a community newspaper published by the Review-Journal.

She said her husband, Jason Kuckler, recently told her Ryan's situation might have happened so the Southern Nevada Child Abuse and Neglect Center could be founded to help other children.

Her husband told her: "Look at all the good things that will come out of it."