Prevent Child Abuse New York's Blog

Stand Up for Kids and Others Organize for Walk for Children

What do youth homelessness and child abuse have in common? Everything, according to Lil, executive director of New York’s chapter of StandUp For Kids, a national organization committed to helping homeless and street kids.

“So many kids are on the street because of abuse,” said Lil. (Stand Up for Kids doesn’t publish last names in order to protect the safety of the kids they serve.) “They either leave because it gets bad or parents just throw them away. Abuse is the main cause.”

Lil and a team from Stand Up for Kids plan to travel to Albany from New York City to take part in the Walk for Children on October 15. “Participating in the walk is important because our mission is to end the cycle of youth homelessness, and we can’t do that without ending the root of the problem,” said Lil.

Like many of our walkers, Lil shares our hope to end child abuse. Our walkers know we all have a role to play in stopping abuse before it starts. They turn their passion into action, make a difference for a cause that’s important to them, and inspire others to take action, too. “We want to get the word out abuse and abuse prevention: Raise awareness, raise money, raise empathy and educate. Prevention is better than cure.”

The Walk for Children is Saturday, October 15, at Washington Park in Albany. The event includes free food and refreshments, prizes, kids’ games, arts and crafts, Halloween activities, a bounce house and safety demonstrations. Registration starts at 10 a.m. and the walk kicks off at 11.

For information about registration and volunteer opportunities, please call 518-445-1273 or visit the Walk for Children Albany page of our web site.

Walk for Children, Albany! October 15, 2011

Step up to prevent child abuse at our annual fundraiser! The Walk for Children is an event for the whole family, featuring children's games, activities, arts, crafts, and a walk through the park in honor of the leaders of tomorrow—our kids. Registration and kids' activities open at 10 a.m. at Albany's Washington Park Lake House. The walk kicks off at 11 a.m., winds through the park, and ends back at the Lake House for a celebration of food and prizes. Please visit our web site for information about registration, fundraising and volunteering.

Step Up to Prevent Child Abuse at the Walk for Children

Imagine a world without child abuse - a world where all families live in prosperous communities that value kids and support parents in the important job of raising their children. You can take a step toward creating that world by joining us at the 2011 Walk for Children on October 15 at Washington Park in Albany.

The walk is an event for the entire family that features games, activities, prizes, free food and refreshments and a short walk around the park to honor the leaders of tomorrow - our kids. You can learn more about the event on our web site, where you'll find information about registering, organizing your own team [pdf], and creating a personal fundraising page.

Please register today. Every step you take and every dollar you raise will benefit PCANY's child abuse prevention programs!

Community Campaign: Promises for Prevention

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and it is important for all of us as a community to be active participants. Promises for Prevention is a pledge campaign that does not solicit money, but instead solicits promises. Individuals are encouraged to pledge to do something tangible to help, support or ease the job of parents. These are concrete steps that can be taken by members of the community to reach the common goal of preventing child abuse and neglect from ever happening. Primary prevention strategies have many benefits including, creating supportive environments, empowering parents by helping them access the tools necessary to raise happy, healthy children in loving, nurturing homes.

As with other pledge campaigns, participants complete pledge cards indicating what their commitment will be. There are many ways that pledge cards can be distributed, for instance, at speakers’ presentations, at community meetings, at informal gatherings among parents and friends, at public display sites, or through the print media. Once filled out, pledge cards can be returned to Promises for Prevention campaign leaders for counting and publicizing.

Examples of pledges include:

• Offer to baby-sit free of charge, so parents can get a break.
• Arrange an on-going weekly or bi-weekly meeting with another mother (or a small group of mothers) so that mothers can talk over experiences or problems, while children play together.
• Canvas members of a social club and seek people available to provide babysitting for children under two years of age.
• Be a good listener for the parents you have contact with. Let them talk about their trials and triumphs.
• Work with the PTA to bring a parenting class to school and offer babysitting for parents who may otherwise be unable to attend.
• Offer rides to neighborhood children’s activities.
• Volunteer as a big brother or club leader to help out kids and allow parents to catch up with what they need to do.

For a sample pledge card and other pledge ideas visit our website.

Child Abuse Prevention Month: Making a Difference in Your Community

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and now more than ever it is crucial that we all participate for the betterment of our communities. It is no secret that children are our future, but raising a happy, healthy child is not a one-person effort – it requires the support of a whole community of people. In a time when social networks are becoming less personable and more reliant on technology, it is time to work towards building stronger community ties and neighborhoods where parents and families feel connected in a real way.

The following ideas include simple ways to build a strong environment that allows children to grow into healthy, productive members of society who will in turn give back to communities.

• Talk to your neighbors: be willing to look out for one another’s children. Encourage a supportive spirit among parents in your community.
• Mentor a new parent in your neighborhood: sometimes families go from receiving a lot of support when a baby is first born to getting little or no support just a few months later. This can be very overwhelming. Make an effort to check in often with new parents. Offer to help them and relieve some of the stress they may be under.
• Distribute materials to educate and support families in public places: parenting is tough work! It is important for parents to know that they are supported by their community, and one way to do this is to offer information and tips about parenting and child development. You can find information about this on our website.
• Plant a pinwheel garden in a community gathering place: pinwheels are a sign of happy, carefree childhoods. Host a public event to launch the garden. Invite local media or take photos and send them to your local newspaper along with a statement of your support.
• Host an event for children: inspire them to color pinwheels and post them in a public place. Arrange for the activity to be led by a childcare provider, allowing parents a break and the chance to enjoy conversation with other adults.
• Decorate and sell $1 paper pinwheels: Post them in a visible location within public buildings or local stores. Challenge neighboring communities in a friendly contest to post the most!

For more information on purchasing Pinwheel Prevention products and other ideas on how to get involved visit our website.

5 Reasons to Join the Walk for Children

Our Walk for Children team leaders and participants are a source of inspiration to me. Their support for our work leaves all of us at PCANY feeling renewed in our promise to create safe and supportive communities for kids and their families. As I've listened to stories about why people join the Walk for Children, I've noticed some common themes that I want to share.

Our Walkers:

1. Want to spread awareness that we all have a role to play in preventing child abuse.
2. Believe that children are our future and their health and well-being are the foundation of a prosperous and sustainable society.
3. Envision a world where all children live in families that love, nurture and protect them.
4. Enjoy the opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family at a kid-focused event.
5. Are making a difference and want to inspire others to take action too!

I hope you'll join us in celebrating children on October 17th! Funds raised in the Walk for Children will benefit Prevent Child Abuse New York. Register here.

Walk for Children Details:

When: Saturday, October 17

Registration: 9 a.m. Walk: 10 a.m.
Rain or shine

Where: Washington Park Lake House, Albany, NY

At the Walk: Children's arts and crafts, a bounce house, face painting, free food and refreshments, prizes, and a walk through the park in honor of kids! Funds raised will benefit Prevent Child Abuse New York.

Register here.

Hope to see you there