Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Awards Grants to Help Prevent Child Abuse, Neglect

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Public Welfare has awarded more than $1.5 million in Children's Trust Fund grants to 13 community organizations, Secretary Gary D. Alexander announced today. The grants will support programs that work to prevent child abuse and neglect.

The Children's Trust Fund grants focus on strengthening families and building protective factors and resiliency within parents, caregivers and children in order to prevent child abuse and neglect.

"By building a strength-based family unit around the child, we are building a natural protective factor," said Alexander. "These grants will bring positive outcomes for children and their families."

The hospitals and organizations will use evidence- or research-based methods to provide comprehensive support services to pregnant and parenting teens and young adults.

Recipient organizations are chosen based on their ability to implement research-based methods that are proven to create positive outcomes for children, families and the community, as well as their capacity to leverage additional resources.

Since the grants were created in 1988, Pennsylvania has continued its commitment to keep kids safe by awarding nearly $40 million in three-year grants to 252 organizations across the state. The Pennsylvania Children's Trust Fund is funded through revenue generated from a $10 surcharge on all marriage and divorce applications filed in the state.

"Child abuse prevention is a much-needed service that we can provide to the families and communities to help keep our children safe," said Alexander.

The Children's Trust Fund is administered by the Department of Public Welfare and supported by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning. For more information on the Children's Trust Fund or grant opportunities, call 800-833-5196 or visit www.pactf.org or visit www.dpw.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Carey Miller or Anne Bale, 717-425-7606

Editor's Note: A list of new grant recipients follows. The grants cover the period of Nov. 1, 2011, through Oct. 31, 2014:

Lackawanna County – Region 2
Employment Opportunity & Training Center of Northeastern Pa. -- $120,000

Allegheny County – Region 3
Allegheny Intermediate Unit -- $120,000

York County – Region 5
Family First Health Corporation -- $105,100 

Cumberland County – Region 5
Pressley Ridge -- $120,000

Lebanon County – Region 5
Good Samaritan Hospital -- $120,000

Lehigh County – Region 6
Visiting Nurse Association of St. Luke's -- $120,000

Chester County – Region 7
Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County -- $120,000

Montgomery County – Region 7
Bethany Christian Services of the Greater Delaware Valley -- $120,000
Carson Valley Children's Aid -- $120,000

Philadelphia County – Region 7
Congreso de Latinos Unidos -- $120,000
Maternity Care Coalition -- $120,000
Resources for Human Development, Inc. -- $120,000
Turning Points for Children -- $120,000

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare