Provides sexual-abuse prevention workshops in area schools to more than 4,000 elementary school children and nearly 500 parents and teachers each year.

Kids from preschool to 5th grade learn to keep safe from abuse through interactive, age-appropriate workshops, puppet shows, video presentations and parent-teacher involvement.

This program also works with middle and high school students to teach them how to avoid risky situations. To prevent victimization, the program covers such topics as healthy relationships, ecstasy use and rave parties, and inappropriate video games.

As part of our Personal Safety Program, workshops are offered to children, teenagers, and adults regarding the dangers of Internet usage.

Using a skit format, the program offers strategies for avoiding exposure to pornography, and for preventing the online exploitation of children by pedophiles.

Provides youth asset-building workshops and ongoing sessions for at-risk youth in an effort to promote pro-social attitudes and values to counteract the effects of child abuse and neglect.

Workshops teach and build on positive assets to reduce high-risk behaviors by helping youth develop healthy caring attitudes toward others, and emotional self-control.

Provides speakers to community and civic groups to raise awareness of child maltreatment and to empower people to effectively intervene on behalf of a child in need.

The Child Abuse Prevention Center also provides New York State certification for the identification and reporting of child abuse for mandated reporters, such as teachers and medical personnel. We offer refresher courses as well.

The Parent Empowerment Program offers a forum in which parenting ideas are shared and suggestions are offered to more than 1,600 parents each year.

Workshops are tailored to meet the needs of parents from groups such as PTA's, community organizations and daycare centers, as well as those in substance abuse recovery, prison and day treatment setting, and those who have been referred because they are in danger of having their children removed from the home. Classes are offered at our site, or at a site convenient to the group.

P.A.R.E.N.T.S. Plus provides parenting classes for parents enrolled in Dutchess County Family Treatment Court programs. Program staff works closely with entire treatment team.

The Special Needs Parenting Program provides parenting education and intense case management to parents with developmental disabilities, Each year, 30 classes and more than 1,300 home visits are conducted to develop such basic parenting skills as child safety, nutrition, health and development.

Families with multiple service providers participate in coordination meetings, to help reduce the duplication of, and gaps in, services.