April 28, 2015

Making Strides to Prevent Child Abuse Walk

ACS Staff and Partners Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge to Raise Awareness

In observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, staff from the Administration for Children’s Services and its partner agencies walked across the Brooklyn Bridge on April 28, 2015.   The walk was part of efforts to encourage New Yorkers to work together to address child safety and support for families.

Senior ACS leadership including Executive Deputy Commissioner of Child Welfare Programs Dr. Jacqueline McKnight, Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Preventive Services Jacqueline Martin, and Chief Information Officer Jeffrey Minnier led the walk. Dressed in blue, the color of child abuse awareness, walkers held blue pinwheels, a symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention and a reminder of the innocence of childhood and the happy and healthy lives all children deserve to lead.

Walkers carried banners and wore t-shirts proclaiming, “NYC Kids are Our Kids,” a message from ACS’ latest public awareness campaign launched in October 2014 emphasizing the role every New Yorker plays in making a difference for a child. Staff also passed out preventive service and Safe Sleep outreach materials.

“A bridge is something that takes you across obstacles. It a connection between two things or circumstances. ACS, our provider network and our communities are the bridges which must stand firm to ensure that all NYC children are kept from the harm of child abuse.  Our walk today was a recommitment to this effort,” said Executive Deputy Commissioner McKnight.

ACS partners who joined the walk included the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA), New York Foundling, Graham Windham and CAMBA. CAMBA Program Director of Preventive Services Janee Harvey joined the walk with her two children said of her work, “It’s so important that we help our families be supported and lead better lives.”

Each year, ACS investigates over 60,000 reports of child abuse and neglect reports and provides community-based preventive services to over 25,000 families so children can remain safely at home. The Agency also works closely with eight organized neighborhood networks to connect families to local support.

For more information about recognizing signs of child abuse and neglect and how to help children and families, visit ACS’ Child Safety webpage.  If you suspect child abuse or neglect, call the New York State Central Register at (800) 342-3720. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

ACS Staff and Partners Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge to Raise Awareness

ACS OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Contact: pressoffice@acs.nyc.gov (212) 341-0999