Contact: Colleen Roche or Brenda Perez 212 788 2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, as he welcomed 100 new caseworkers into the Administration for Children Services' (ACS) Satterwhite Training Academy in Jamaica, Queens. Joining the Mayor were Nicholas Scoppetta, ACS Commissioner; William Bell, Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Child Protection; and Paula Fendall, Director of the Satterwhite Training Academy.
Addressing the new caseworkers, the Mayor said, "Your choice of careers as ACS caseworkers is truly honorable and important. Caseworkers work seven days a week, 24 hours a day, going into dangerous buildings alone and late at night to prevent abuse and neglect and, frequently, to save a child's life. Along with managers and administrators at ACS they strive to keep our children from harm. I also congratulate the staff at Satterwhite Training Academy for their commendable work extending and improving the curriculum, and heightening its admission standards to better prepare ACS personnel to protect the children and preserve the families of New York City."
Commissioner of ACS, Nicholas Scoppetta, said: "The single most important reform for the well-being of our children was made on January 10, 1996 by Mayor Giuliani when he created ACS as an independent agency. His commitment to protecting children in this City has been unparalleled. Without his support, none of the significant reforms we have already implemented would have been possible. I thank the Mayor for making much needed reforms in child welfare, and I thank ACS staff members for their hard work to ensure that every single child in this City lives in a safe and loving home."
ACS' Satterwhite Training Academy has extended its training for new recruits from three to ten months. It now requires English language proficiency, a degree in a relevant major, and a competency exam to enhance the quality of all levels of staff that have direct contact with children. The Academy also provides ongoing training to every front-line worker, and offers a scholarship program for ACS staff members to receive graduate degrees in Social Work.
In addition to these major improvements at the Satterwhite Academy, ACS has prompted other changes since its creation in 1996 such as a new computer system, improved facilities and supplies, reduced caseloads, and increased salaries for managers.