OCFS Announces Family Violence Prevention Grants

NY State Gov, Jan 16, 2008

New York State Office of Children & Family Services Commissioner Gladys Carrión, Esq., today announced grants totaling more than $3 million to 27 programs across the state to fight child abuse, domestic violence and elder abuse. The grants are administered by OCFS through the William B. Hoyt Memorial Children and Family Trust Fund.

"We have the duty to protect and champion our most vulnerable residents, including children and the elderly. These grants will support prevention programs that assist struggling families and senior citizens. They will help give children the opportunity to succeed, and fragile adults the support they need to live in safety and dignity," Commissioner Carrión said.

New York's Trust Fund is a longstanding initiative, created in 1984, to assist family violence prevention efforts. The Trust Fund emphasizes early and comprehensive support for all families, and seeks to reach children and families before abuse and maltreatment occur. Programs funded are designed in collaboration with other services.

The Trust Fund fosters innovative programs and services that show promise for effectiveness, and supports proven programs that emphasize primary prevention and the multi-generational nature of family violence.

The latest grant recipients were selected through the Strengthening Families request for proposals (RFP) process. Funds totaling $3,036,419 were awarded for child abuse prevention, domestic violence and elder abuse prevention, family resource centers, and shaken baby syndrome prevention education. Trust Fund grant awards and program descriptions follow: Child Abuse Prevention Initiatives:

• Gateway-Longview – Buffalo, $145,009. The program increases parenting and support services in an at-risk neighborhood on Buffalo's east side through the delivery of the Parenting Wisely Program, with an emphasis on engaging fathers. The program seeks to improve parenting skills and enhance family communication, mutual support, supervision and discipline. It will target children 9-18 years old and their parents.


• Women's Prison Association – Brooklyn, $145,500. The program will provide twice-weekly home visits to model positive parenting techniques and promote literacy among families living in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn and the contiguous communities. The project replicates the Parent Child Home Program (PCHP), an established program model that has been used across the country with success in increasing protective factors in families at high risk of abuse and neglect.