Prevent Child Abuse Virginia's Signature Programs & Services:

Direct Service Programs - The professional staff studies and evaluates prevention programs and provides training and technical assistance in program issues and organizational development. Signature programs of Prevent Child Abuse Virginia include:

Healthy Families Virginia - Prevent Child Abuse Virginia coordinates this statewide system of support. The program provides information for all new families about parenting and community resources. It makes home visiting services available to families who need personal guidance. Healthy Families Virginia is funded through a generous grant from the Robins Foundation.

Hugs and Kisses - The play developed in conjunction with Theatre IV and the Virginia Department of Social Services teaches children from kindergarten through fifth grade how to keep safe from sexual abuse. The play reaches over 50,000 elementary school students each year.

Nurturing Programs ® - Family based, validated programs to promote family nurturing and prevent and/or treat child abuse and neglect. Prevent Child Abuse Virginia assists community groups throughout the state in the development and implementation of NPP and coordinates facilitator trainings. For more information about Nurturing Parenting Programs in Virginia, click here.

Circle of Parents - This support group model is parent-led, professionally facilitated for parents and other caregivers. Most groups have a free program for children as well. The groups provide a place where anyone in a parenting role can discuss the successes and challenges of raising children, find and share support, and learn new parenting skills. For more information about the national Circle of Parents program, visit the Web site: www.circleofparents.org. For more information about parent support groups in Virginia, click here.

Educational Opportunities

Family Resource Center -Based in our Richmond office, the center includes parenting information organized by subject, sample parent education curricula, the latest research on parent education and a video lending library. Click here to download a Family Resource Center catalog in Adobe Acrobat format. To receive a catalog through the mail, contact mail@pcav.org.

The Training Institute - Prevent Child Abuse Virginia is committed to providing high-quality training and leadership development for professionals, volunteers, partner organizations and communities.

Awareness Activities

Child Abuse Prevention Month (April) - Prevent Child Abuse Virginia takes a leadership role in coordinating statewide Prevention Month events and in producing the Child Abuse Prevention Month community organizing packet. The packet is used during April and throughout the year by more than 2,000 individuals and groups.

"Together for Children" Newsletter - The newsletter reformatted for the Internet provides a more intimate look at prevention efforts in communities throughout Virginia.

Advocacy Activities

Prevent Child Abuse Virginia staff, board members and volunteers advocate before the General Assembly, state agencies and commissions, and elsewhere to ensure that public policymakers have up-to-date, objective and scientifically-grounded information about how to strengthen families and raise well-adjusted, healthy children in nurturing homes.