Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia (PCA-WV) is a state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, a national leader in building awareness, providing education, and inspiring hope in everyone involved in the effort to prevent child abuse and neglect. By supporting effective community programs, public engagement activities and sound public policy, PCA-WV seeks to attain its mission to eliminate child abuse and neglect in WV.
The guiding principle for the programs is that preventing child abuse is everyone’s business and success depends upon having as many organizations, agencies, community groups and individuals working together as possible.
PCAWV is particularly looking for innovative, collaborative approaches to prevention and if you or your organization intend to apply for this grant opportunity, it is suggested that you review resources about new trends and research in prevention and take some time to familiarize yourself with what is already happening in West Virginia.
The Good Beginnings Mini-Grant Program will provide up to 10 grants of up to $1,000 per year for community-based programs that have creative strategies for preventing or reducing the occurrence of child abuse and neglect. Applications for these grants may be submitted by public or private institutions and/or by faith-based communities for the mini-grant program Click here for more information and application forms for the Good Begnnings Mini-Grant Program. Application Deadline is October 16, 2009.
All projects are required to focus on primary prevention (activities aimed at the general population to prevent the occurrence of abuse and neglect). Information about various evidence-based research findings and strategies that build family protective factors and prevent the occurrence of child abuse and neglect is available here to help applicants design their proposed projects.
Other information on protective factors is available here and here. Additional funding support for the grant programs is provided by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the WV Department of Health and Human Resources.
Good Beginnings Mini-Grants Program
The goal of the program is that the Mini-Grants will support one-time projects and serve as a catalyst for additional community-based prevention activities in communities throughout the state. The guiding principle for the program is that preventing child abuse is everyone’s business and success depends upon having as many organizations, agencies, community groups and individuals working together as possible. Depending upon available funds, up to 10 grants of up to $1,000 per program per year will be awarded. Application deadline is October 16, 2009.
Good Beginnings Mini-Grants Application (Download Word document)
Helpful Information and Documents
We have assembled some information and documents that may assist those that wish to take advantage of these funding opportunities.
When the well-being of children and families becomes the priority of everyone in a community, the number of child abuse and neglect incidences will decrease. Other good things will also happen, including better health outcomes, improved school performance and family economic self sufficiency. For information on the factors that help prevent child abuse and neglect, click here.
Additional information on protective factors can be found at "Strengthening Families Through Early Care and education: A Protective Factors Approach" on the Center for the Study of Social Policy website.
Here’s what some West Virginia communities are doing to strengthen families and keep children safe. These are just some ideas to spark your thinking!
- Community baby showers can provide expectant mothers with an opportunity to receive helpful advice, useful baby items and connect with other moms-to-be for emotional support.
- Churches can provide congregations with information about child development and the importance of reaching out to youth in the community.
- Parenting classes provide parents and other family members the opportunity to learn more about child development and share good ideas for supporting and nurturing the children in their lives.
- Youth leadership programs inspire young people to think about the difference they can make in their community.
Here are some documents that may be helpful to you as you’re designing your project.
Abuse and Neglect, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
This useful guide describes a wide range of prevention strategies and gives examples of model programs across the country.
Click here to view
Protective Factors
Child Welfare Information Gateway, Children's Bureau, FRIENDS National Resource Center For Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention, 2007.
Here is information from the Child Welfare Gateway about important “protective factors” that help keep families and children strong.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/res_packet_2007/ch_one_protective.cfm
Additional information on protective factors can be found at:
"Strengthening Families Through Early Care and education: A Protective Factors Approach" on the Center for the Study of Social Policy website.
www.cssp.org/doris_duke/protective.html
An Approach to Preventing Child Abuse. Prevent Child Abuse America.
This 3-page fact sheet describes a continuum of prevention programs that provide educational, supportive, and therapeutic services to parents from the prenatal period through the school years.
Click here to view
For more information contact:
Genny Ferri
Community Partnerships Coordinator, Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia
Phone: 1-866-4-KIDS-WV (1-866-454-3798)
Email: genny@teamwv.org
