PHILADELPHIA, April 26, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Philadelphia Society for Services to Children, a non profit group with a mission to prevent child abuse, hosted an Open House to culminate its community awareness and outreach activities for the month of April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Keynote speaker, Alba Martinez, Department of Human Services Commissioner, commended the Society as a forerunner in addressing child abuse prevention for Philadelphia.
"As one of our key partners in the child welfare system," said Commissioner Martinez, "the Philadelphia Society for Services to Children has aggressively addressed the needs of our children. We're unique partners in that PSSC is an agency with a goal toward negating the need for the intervention services we provide, and it's making major strides to achieve that goal -- child abuse prevention." In 2002, there were 1,336 substantiated reports of child abuse in the city of Philadelphia, including 12 deaths. During this same time, none of the over 800 at-risk children served by PSSC were abused, or had to go into protective services.
PSSC met the community with news about child abuse prevention in a number of venues around Philadelphia this month, raising awareness and inspiring support. Primary events included information booths and visual display boards at the Gallery, Liberty Place and Suburban Station. In addition, PSSC held an art contest for the children in its care, unveiling three winners in an award ceremony this week. Employing the theme, "My Family," the winners' creations provided artwork for greeting cards that PSSC will use to raise awareness and financial support in the fight against child abuse. The history of the organization, testimonies, and samples of the greeting cards can be viewed and downloaded from the PSSC Web site, www.pssckids.org.
The Philadelphia Society for Services to Children (PSSC), a recognized leader in the prevention of child abuse in Philadelphia, is a nonprofit organization. PSSC is founded upon the conviction that children are our most precious and vulnerable resource and must be afforded the maximum opportunity to achieve their potential.
Editor's note: To download a photograph of DHS Commissioner Alba Martinez or access more information about PSSC, its services and its clients, visit the Web site at www.pssckids.org.