From the President and the Executive Director

The year 1995 was distinguished by dramatic changes in the field of child abuse prevention. Public organizations experiencing shifts in focus are redefining their missions, requiring private agencies to fill the gaps resulting from diminished government involvement. Recognizing its increased responsibility to children and their families, the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse (NCPCA) and its chapter network redoubled their prevention efforts.

The Healthy Families America (HFA) initiative experienced significant growth. By the end of 1995 there were 155 HFA sites across the country supporting new families through home visiting services, with many more planned. Our Campaign for Healthy Families, a $15 million, three-year effort to support HFA, chaired by Leland Brendsel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Freddie Mac Corporation, was launched this year. Funds raised will ensure a permanent, national and state level infrastructure for the HFA home visitation system.

At the state and local levels, programs and activities increased dramatically as well. And recognizing the need for an even stronger internal structure to provide necessary support for these increased efforts, NCPCA conducted and organizational audit in 1995 with the assistance of Mercer Management Consulting. The audit provided valuable information enabling us to use our national and state chapter resources most productively to assure effective, efficient expansion. We also convened a group of leaders in the child abuse field at the Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin, to identify key trends nationwide that will influence NCPCA's new long-range plan, to be developed in 1996.

We realize that our unprecedented growth would not have been possible without all the generous people who are the foundation of our success. We thank them for helping us reach children who so desperately need us.

From the Honorary Chairman

For the past three years I have had the privilege of serving as the Honorary Chairman of the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse (NCPCA). In that time, I have learned that everyone has a role to play in the prevention of child abuse.

More than ever, I am convinced that one of our biggest challenges lies in educating the public about child abuse. To meet this challenge, I firmly believe that our ongoing efforts to utilize the media to heighten awareness and bring about change in attitudes and behavior are absolutely essential.

We are very proud of our work to prevent child abuse. There is no doubt that many children are living happier and healthier lives because we care. But there is still so much more to do.

I am grateful to those of you who share our goal of ending child abuse. Regardless of our differences, we are joined by the common belief that all children have the right to be safe and should be protected from abuse. Collectively we can work toward this goal and eradicate child abuse forever.

Please continue to support us in our efforts to improve the lives of children. To those of you who are adding your voice to ours for the first time, thank you on behalf of NCPCA and children everywhere.

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