Community Action Southwest to Receive State Child Abuse Prevention Grant

Community Action Southwest has been awarded a $120,000 state grant to help enhance child abuse and neglect prevention programs and outreach efforts in Greene and Washington county communities—including Peters Township.

State Reps. Brandon Neuman, Jesse White and Peter J. Daley II, and state Sen. Tim Solobay, announced the grant Tuesday.

The legislators said the grant was awarded through Pennsylvania’s Children’s Trust Fund, which is administered by the state Department of Public Welfare’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning.

“The impacts of child abuse and neglect can cost families, schools, service providers and others tens of thousands of dollars both immediately and later on in life,” said Neuman, D-North Strabane. “And, of course, the emotional, physical and behavioral costs of abuse and neglect on a child are incalculable. That’s why the best way to combat child abuse and neglect is to prevent it from happening in the first place. That is exactly what Children’s Trust Fund grants are aimed at.”

White agreed.

“These prevention programs not only help families grow strong together, but they also end up helping our entire community in the long run,” said White, D, Cecil. “I am pleased that Community Action Southwest will have the opportunity to provide these much-needed services to have a real and lasting impact in our communities.”

"The Community Action Southwest team genuinely cares about the community and is dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other,” Solobay said. “They have a proven record of changing lives and I am confident that they will utilize this grant to enable individuals in Washington and Greene counties to develop the skills and knowledge to build strong, supportive family environments where children are safe and nurtured."

Grant recipients such as Community Action Southwest will use evidence- and research-based methods to provide comprehensive support services to pregnant and parenting teens and young adults.

The grant for Community Action Southwest covers the period from Nov. 1, 2012, through Oct. 31, 2015.

The Children’s Trust Fund was created in 1988 and is funded through revenue generated from a surcharge on all marriage and divorce applications filed in Pennsylvania. To date, the fund has awarded more than $33 million to 262 organizations across the state.

More information on Community Action Southwest, its programs and services is available at www.caswg.org.