The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida announced last week a $60,000 Primary Prevention grant awarded by Prevent Child Abuse America® (PCA America), with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The goal of the grant is to support the organization’s work of transforming child welfare policy and systems by building sustainable, long-term partnerships that strengthen neglect and abuse prevention efforts. A total of $500,000 will be awarded over a two-year grant period to nine Prevent Child Abuse America state chapters selected for funding.
This grant will directly impact families most affected by systemic barriers that can lead to abuse and neglect in Jacksonville, Fla. The funding will allow Prevent Child Abuse Florida to partner with Family Support Services to provide parent leadership opportunities through the Parent Ambassadors pilot program.
“By partnering with our friends at Family Support Services, we know this money will make an impact in the lives of parents and children in Jacksonville,” said Chris Lolley, Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Florida, a part of the Ounce of Prevention Fund. “This grant will further empower parent ambassadors with ‘lived expertise’ to prevent abuse and neglect by strengthening protective factors like social connections among parents.”
Funds will be allocated toward the following activities:
- Stipend for a Parent Engagement Ambassador to facilitate Parent Café cohorts while leading other parent leaders
- The Parent Cafés Certification to train parents and other community members as Café hosts and leaders
- Parent Leadership Training to empower parents on trauma-informed communities, racial stress and trauma, and other leadership trainings requested by parents
Thriving Families, Safer Children is a first-of-its-kind effort of the U.S. Children’s Bureau, Casey Family Programs, the Casey Foundation, and Prevent Child Abuse America. The partnership is working in 22 sites from coast to coast and a sovereign tribal nation. The Thriving Families effort seeks to demonstrate that intentional, coordinated investments in a full continuum of prevention, along with community-based networks of support, will promote overall child and family well-being, equity, and other positive outcomes for children and families.
Equitable and authentic partnerships between family well-being and child protection service agencies and communities is a major goal of the PCA America Primary Prevention grant. Intentional integration of public health approaches, cross-systems partnerships, and emergence of community leaders with real-life experiences are also key outcomes of this grant.
“Preventing childhood adversity is critical to building more healthy and prosperous communities – and prevention can only happen in partnership. The chapters that were selected for this Thriving Families, Safer Children grant are committed to working across sectors to develop equitable systems that benefit all children and families and break harmful intergenerational cycles of trauma and poverty,” said Dr. Melissa Merrick, president & CEO of PCA America. “At a time when all families and systems are experiencing some level of strain, these grantees are working to reframe the approach to family support away from reactive child welfare systems to a proactive, holistic method that emphasizes cross-sectoral collaboration to support the well-being of children and families.”
A complete list of grantees, totaling $500,000 in grants, includes:
- Families Forward Virginia
- Familywise
- Idaho Children’s Trust Fund
- Illuminate Colorado
- Nebraska Children
- Prevent Child Abuse Arizona
- Prevent Child Abuse Indiana
- Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky
- The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida
About the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida
The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida identifies, funds, supports, and tests innovative programs to improve the life outcomes of children, preserve and strengthen families, and promote healthy behavior and functioning in society, recognizing that the wisest money spent is on prevention. The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida is one of 50 state chapters of Prevent Child Abuse America. The chapter implements primary prevention activities and advocates for policies and initiatives to strengthen Florida’s families and communities so children can grow and develop through healthy, safe, and nurturing experiences. The Ounce of Prevention Fund houses Healthy Families Florida, the nationally accredited, evidence-based home visiting program for expectant parents and parents of newborns experiencing stressful life situations. The program improves childhood outcomes and increases family self-sufficiency by empowering parents through education and community support. Learn more at ounce.org.
About Prevent Child Abuse America
Commemorating its 50th year in 2022, Prevent Child Abuse America is a leading champion for all children in the United States. Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Chicago, Prevent Child Abuse America is the nation’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to the primary prevention of child abuse and neglect, working to actively prevent all forms of child abuse and neglect before they occur. Their success is founded on a nationwide network of state chapters and nearly 600 Healthy Families America home visiting sites, which directly provide parents and caregivers a wide variety of services and resources that help children grow up to be productive, contributing members of their communities and society. Their comprehensive approach is informed by science—they translate and disseminate innovative research to promote proven solutions that their vast network then puts into action. And they raise public awareness and advocate for family-friendly policies at the national, state, and local levels to support transformative programs and promote the conditions and contexts that help children, families, and communities across the country thrive. Visit preventchildabuse.org to learn more.
About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work, and life. Learn more at wkkf.org.
