New York - The Avon Foundation has awarded a $50,000 one-year grant to The Children’s Aid Society’s Family Wellness Program. The ongoing awards program is a part of the Avon Foundation’s Speak Out Against Domestic Violence initiative, and Children’s Aid is among 29 select organizations receiving a grant this year.
The Children’s Aid Society firmly believes that children are best served when their families are supported as well. The agency’s Family Wellness Program is the only domestic violence program in New York City that provides treatment for all members of the family. The Family Wellness Program serves 627 children and their families by focusing on the child first and, subsequently, the family through individual counseling, case management and separate support groups for women, children, teens and men.
Children’s Aid’s Family Wellness Program was launched in 2001 when an agency-wide needs assessment found that domestic violence disproportionately affects the low-income children and families served by the organization. Today, the staff continues to work around the clock to provide quality, holistic care for this fragile population. “The Children's Aid Society is very honored to have the Avon Foundation’s partnership in this imperative work. This support will significantly strengthen our ability to counsel children who have experienced the trauma of domestic violence, and, through preventive work, engage teens in proactive efforts to both identify and break the cycle of relationship abuse,” says C. Warren Moses, CEO of The Children's Aid Society.
The Avon Foundation was established in 1955 to improve the lives of women and their families; through 2008, Avon philanthropy worldwide has raised and awarded more than $660 million. Flagship programs of the Foundation include the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade and the Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program, which supports domestic violence awareness, education, direct services and prevention initiatives. To date, more than $10 million has been awarded to 360 domestic violence organizations across the US. Fundraising projects include special products sold by Avon Sales Representatives and at avonfoundation.org. Global expansion has brought the Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program to a dozen countries to help save lives worldwide.
The Children’s Aid Society (www.childrensaidsociety.org) was founded in 1853. It is one of the nation’s largest and most innovative non-sectarian agencies, serving 150,000 of New York’s neediest children and their families with a network of services provided at community schools, neighborhood centers and camps. These include, adoption and foster care services, arts programming, teen pregnancy prevention, education, health and recreation. For more information, please call 212-949-4938 or email ellenl@childrensaidsociety.org.
To learn more about the Avon Foundation Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program, call 1-866-505-AVON or visit www.avonfoundation.org, where you can also access the free printable Domestic Violence Resource Guide in English and Spanish. More information about the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be found at www.ndvh.org, or by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
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