PREVENTION CHAPTERS & CHAPTER NETWORK

As we look to the growing needs of communities nationwide, state leadership becomes even more critical in efforts to prevent child abuse. Today, policy decisions protecting children from abuse are increasingly moving toward the state level and program initiatives are increasingly launched at local levels.  We rely on our strong network of state chapters to provide the statewide leadership needed to bring together individuals and organizations to help children and their families. 

State chapters also play an important role in promoting our message and advocating for prevention programs. In addition, they facilitate the continued growth and expansion of individualized prevention programs and activities. The special needs of each state are met through the support, vision, and leadership of The Prevent Child Abuse America Chapter Network, backed by the guidance and assistance of the national office. 

In 1997, Prevent Child Abuse America began implementing the enhanced State Chapter Chartering Process, a capacity-building program based on Prevent Child Abuse America established criteria for nonprofit organizations.  The goal is to ensure that all our chapters are striving for standards of excellence in their prevention activities. Twenty chapters completed the self-assessment and site visit process in 1997, and the remaining chapters are scheduled for early 1998.  The national office has continued to provide technical assistance to chapters and to host the annual Leadership Conference, whose theme in 1997 was “Building Chapter Leadership and Diversity.” 

Over the past year, chapters have continued to  provide much leadership and innovation in their child abuse prevention efforts.  Although many chapters have made great strides in progress and achieved major goals in 1997, we highlighted three in particular:  Oklahoma, Texas, and Kentucky. 
  
In a unique effort, Prevent Child Abuse Oklahoma launched a new AmeriCorps program called “Partners in Child Abuse Prevention.” AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages thousands of Americans in meeting critical needs of communities. Major objectives include providing life skills education to schools and child care programs, and increasing public awareness, education, and involvement regarding child abuse and its prevention. The chapter also worked to develop a new coalition to enhance legislative advocacy, and successfully worked to obtain its state’s largest appropriation for child abuse prevention programs such as HFA. 

In 1997, Prevent Child Abuse Texas actively and successfully advocated with the state legislature for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to be used for the expansion of current Healthy Families America sites and for the development of five new HFA sites. The Texas chapter also conducted its Eleventh Annual Governor’s Conference on the Prevention of Child Abuse. Over 500 concerned citizens attended the statewide gathering.  Included as part of the conference were opportunities to network with the Texas chapter board and other organizations. 

Through the leadership of the Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, legislation was passed to increase the cost of birth certificates, resulting in monies being earmarked for the provision of parent self-help, education, and support groups. The Kentucky Chapter is now administering these funds to groups statewide through a brokerage contract with the Cabinet for Families and Children.  As a result of this effort, support and assistance is reaching over 12,000 parents and children in fiscal year 1998.