Buffalo, NY- April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, an initiative led by Prevent Child Abuse America. This year, Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network (BPPN) embraced the theme “Building A Hopeful Future, Together,” focusing on creating a nurturing and supportive environment for children and families in our community. Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network (BPPN)’s Healthy Families NY Buffalo Home Visiting Program is an affiliate of Prevent Child Abuse America. BPPN staff, program families and community partners came together at the Prevent Child Abuse rally on April 25th at the BPPN’s office. There were passionate remarks by staff and testimonials from BPPN program families and all in attendance took a pledge to protect our children. See attached photos from the rally.
More than 600,000 children are abused in the U.S each year. An estimated 600,000 children (unique incidents) were victims of abuse and neglect in 2021, the most recent year for which there is national data. The actual number of children abused is likely underreported because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. (Prevent Child Abuse America – https://preventchildabuse.org/ ).
Healthy Families America (HFA), is home visiting program, is one of the leading family support and evidence-based home visiting programs in the United States. HFA promotes positive parenting and child well-being and prevents the abuse and neglect of children in communities around the world through family-focused and empathic support provided in the home. BPPN’s Buffalo Home Visiting Program is a proud Healthy Families America member.
In 2011 the United States Department of Health and Human Services named Healthy Families America a proven home visiting model. This important recognition comes after a thorough and transparent review of the home visiting research literature, the same year HFA becomes a founding member of the National Movement for America’s Children, which has since evolved into Connect the Dots. For additional information please visit: Research and Evidence of Effectiveness | HFA (healthyfamiliesamerica.org).
BPPN’s Home Visiting program is part of the Healthy Families America, and this evidence-based program in Buffalo that creates strong families and thriving communities by promoting awareness of child abuse prevention, and providing parents and caregivers with the tools and resources they need to build protective factors. Learn more about BPPN and its programs at www.bppn.org or call 716-884-6711.
“Parents in our BPPN Buffalo Home Visiting Program are more confident as parents and more likely to parent in ways that promote healthy child development. They interact more positively with their children and create safer and higher quality home environments,” stated LuAnne Brown, Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network (BPPN) CEO.
Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network (BPPN) empowers women, fathers, and families to take charge of bettering their family health and well -being by providing education, support, advocacy, and connection to resources and services in WNY. The work of Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network is dedicated to honoring the dignity and capacity of individuals and communities and in promoting health equity. www.bppn.org .
