DANBURY, CT—April 16, 2015— This month, Danbury will participate in a nationwide tradition of observing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Throughout the month, concerned citizens and organizations like Families Network of Western CT, Inc. will host public awareness events and educational activities focused on drawing attention to the urgent need to stop child abuse before it starts.
Be on the lookout for “Pinwheels for Prevention”, the signature campaign of Prevent Child Abuse America and its state chapters. Why pinwheels? Pinwheels are a happy and uplifting symbol of the bright future all children deserve. They are the centerpiece of a growing movement committed to stopping child abuse before it starts.
Families Network of Western CT, Inc., is dedicated to preventing child abuse before it starts by providing such support services as home visitation, parent education, parenting groups and support groups to families in Danbury and the surrounding towns, free of charge. The “Pinwheels for Prevention” movement is based on the belief that we must do more than simply respond to cases of abuse through prosecution and intervention—we need to provide programs and policies that focus on child development, engage communities and create conditions that allow parents to be the kinds of parents they want to be.
To help raise awareness for their work to prevent child abuse, Families Network is holding its annual Dr. Robert C. and Nancy Joy Luncheon on Thursday April 23rd at the Matrix Conference and Banquet Center. Phyllis Boughton, wife of Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, is the Honorary Chairwoman of the Joy Luncheon and invites the community to join the celebration. “Last year’s turnout for the luncheon showed how much Danbury cares for its children. This year, I hope we see an even greater response to this critical issue,” said the First Lady of Danbury.
As part of “Pinwheels for Prevention” and Volunteer Appreciation Month, Families Network will be recognizing its exceptional volunteers. Joel Levitt will be named the 2015 recipient of the Jeannie C. Beck Above and Beyond Award as the volunteer who demonstrates extraordinary effort, kindness and devotion to Families Network’s prevention efforts. Joel is being recognized for his dedication to growing the “Dads” programs at Families Network. In addition to co-facilitating the Fathers’ Group, Mr. Levitt is always among the first to volunteer to assist the agency at community events in hopes of engaging more dads and informing them about the parenting programs at Families Network.
“The point of ‘Pinwheels for Prevention’ is to help educate the public about the big problem of child abuse and get people to make a difference,” said Susan Giglio, Executive Director of Families Network of Western CT, Inc., in Danbury. “Effective child abuse prevention programs ensure the health and wellbeing of children and families, allowing children to grow into adults who prosper and contribute to society. The primary prevention focus of Families Network is on educating and engaging families before a crisis occurs. We offer a number of programs—free of charge—to help parents and ensure safe, healthy environments for children. We hope the public will join us at our Appreciation Luncheon to learn more about our efforts and to recognize the exceptional volunteers that help us achieve our goals.”
About FAMILIES NETWORK of Western CT, Inc.
The Mission of FAMILIES NETWORK of Western CT, Inc. is to safeguard children through parent education and support for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. FAMILIES NETWORK of Western CT, Inc. is committed to ensuring that all families receive the support they need in order to get their children off to a safe and healthy start.
Our primary prevention focus is on educating and engaging families before a crisis occurs. Through a number of multi-faceted and collaborative strategies, we strive to ensure safe, healthy environments for children. We work to create positive, lasting changes through our public awareness activities, direct services to families, volunteer training, and our commitment to partnering with community and business leaders, social service agencies, and health and education providers.
FAMILIES NETWORK of Western CT, Inc. is a non-profit organization with no fees for the services we provide; we are dependent upon local, state, and federal grants for financial sustainability. We rely heavily on the enormous generosity of the Children’s Trust Fund, the City of Danbury, the United Way of Western CT, and private individuals and businesses.
For further information about FAMILIES NETWORK of Western CT, Inc., please visit our web site at www.fnwc.org or call our Danbury office at 203-791-8773.