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Prevent Child Abuse Rhode Island is a 501 (c) (3)
not-for-profit organization that has been in existence for over 25 years. As a chartered chapter of the national organization Prevent Child Abuse America, the agency mission is to keep every child in Rhode Island safe from abuse and neglect through a primary prevention approach of education, advocacy, and public awareness activities. Our staff and volunteers continuously work to educate the general public about abuse and neglect issues.

Prevent Child Abuse Rhode Island's child abuse and neglect prevention strategy is designed to mobilize the entire Rhode Island community - human services, child care, medical, child protective services, law enforcement, legislative, parent/caretaker, media, and the business sector to come together in partnership to develop and institutionalize a comprehensive approach for raising public awareness of this public health issue; to increase the capacity for prevention programming; and to advocate for a change in the political will for child abuse prevention.

Knowing that it takes many people, organizations and disciplines working together, Prevent Child Abuse Rhode Island serves on several coalitions and committees where child and family issues are addressed. We serve as the coordinating agency for the statewide
Rhode Island Child Abuse Prevention Network, a collaborative effort of more than 20 public, private, non-profit groups, and community individuals coming together for the purpose of using combined strengths and resources to eliminate child abuse and neglect in Rhode Island.

As a community resource, we maintain a significant information and free lending library that is accessible to all. Complementing that, we have a comprehensive website averaging 14,000 hits per month.

A major focus of our work includes educating professionals, paraprofessionals, parents and others about child abuse and neglect indicators, mandated reporting laws and procedures, and prevention strategies. We do this through workshops, seminars, conferences, public speaking, material distribution, and print media. Our latest service delivery statistics indicate that we are reaching more than 20,000 people annually on a face-to-face basis and an untold amount via visual imprint and auditory messages with our public awareness campaigns.