Chicago, Feb. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) announced today that its chapters in ten states—Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin—successfully completed the organization’s strength-based chartering process, helping to extend the organization’s efforts to ensure the safe, stable and nurturing relationships and environments that enable children, families and entire communities to thrive.

According to PCA America President & CEO Dr. Melissa Merrick, “Our nationwide state chapter network is integral to the work we do. The substantial experience and expertise of chapter leadership and staff, as well as the partnerships they foster and nurture in their communities, help to amplify our primary prevention efforts across the country.”

During this process, formally called Building Capacity Chartering, PCA America chapters demonstrate a statewide sphere of influence that is supported by a strong mission, brand identity, infrastructure and public awareness, advocacy and evidence-based/informed prevention strategies.

“These criteria establish a comprehensive but focused framework that maintains the integrity and quality of the chapter network,” explained Anita Odom, PCA America’s Chief Operations Officer for Chapters. “They also allow us to identify what resources are needed to build capacity in a thoughtful and strategic way and combine them with peer-to-peer learning opportunities.”

PCA America chapters range from independent nonprofit organizations to entities operating under umbrella institutions, such as government agencies, hospitals and universities. For example, the Utah chapter is registered as a stand-alone 501(c)(3), while the South Carolina chapter operates in conjunction with the South Carolina Children’s Trust Fund. Regardless of their makeup, chapter programs are frequently developed and delivered in tandem with a variety of public and private partners:

To learn more about these chapters, please click on the links above or visit the state chapter network page of our website.

About Prevent Child Abuse America

Prevent Child Abuse America is a leading champion for all children in the United States. Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Chicago, we are 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. Our 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. Our comprehensive approach is informed by science—we translate and disseminate innovative research to promote proven solutions that our vast network then puts into action. And we 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.

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Charles Mutscheller
Prevent Child Abuse America
312-663-3520
cmutscheller@preventchildabuse.org