Child-abuse prevention groups to merge services

Excitement is mounting for the merger between two of Indiana’s leading child-abuse prevention companies as they prepare for their first year as one. \nPrevent Child Abuse Indiana is set to become a division of The Villages to more efficiently use financial and personnel resources.\n“We’ve been in a very close dialogue about partnering to strengthen the voice for children – specifically the voice for prevention,” said Sharon Pierce, president of The Villages. “In that process, (Prevent Child Abuse Indiana) felt that The Villages was the best choice for them. Both of us are very active for Healthy Families Indiana, a support system for first-time parents.”\nDescribing the joint operation as a “comfortable fit between both companies,” Pierce said the companies will be able to free up funds that were previously spent on administration.\n“We’re really excited about that,” Pierce said. “Any time you can get economy to scale down, we always try to make sure that any dollars that are freed up go straight to the mission of the nonprofit organization – in this case, Indiana children.”\nAlthough Prevent employees are already working under The Villages, the merger will not be legally finalized until July 2007. For now, office space is tight, but thanks to a generous benefactor underwriting the housing costs, more space will be available in December 2007. \nAlthough available space will increase, it remains uncertain if staff members will increase as well.\n“Certainly we hope there is additional funding that we would be able to increase our staffing,” she said. “Right now, The Villages is providing the administrative and financial support, but we hope to be able to take on more case workers.\n“The priority goal for both is strengthening the support of citizens around the issue of child abuse in Indiana,” she said. “We carry the banner for now, but the children are all of our futures. Our goal is keeping children safe and, even beyond that, investing in them. They should anticipate being cared for so they can become responsible citizens. It won’t happen overnight, but that is the overall goal.”\nPierce also said the only path to prevention is community education – telling citizens what to look for among their friends and neighbors.\n“We often feel like we are to singing to the choir,” she said. “But our shared goal is to broaden the choir. I think nationally and statewide I would say that 60 percent of child-abuse cases are caused by substance-abuse problems among the adults. Impacting addictions in our state is a top priority. Neighbors and community members need to know what to look for.”\nCalling the battle against child abuse a war against violence, Pierce said efforts will concentrate as much on parents as they will on children. The parents will be held accountable, she said.\n“Being a parent of four children is the hardest job I have that’s not even listed on my resume,” she said. “I think in some ways that it is counterculture, but it shouldn’t be. We aren’t afraid to ask for help with our golf swing. Why is it not OK to ask for help to become a better parent?\n“Asking for help is a huge sign of strength,” Pierce said. “It shows that you value that role.”