Major New Grant Approved To Combat Hudson Valley Child Trafficking

Ahead of celebrating their 50th anniversary this coming May, The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse (CPCA) are using the month of January to spread awareness on the dangers of human trafficking.

About the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse

Founded in 1973, The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse’s mission is to prevent child abuse and maltreatment in the Mid-Hudson Valley. Each year, the CPCA serves approximately 15,000 children and adults through prevention programming, support services, and educational training.

The CPCA Receives $75K to Combat Child Trafficking Through Enhanced Programming

In recognizing January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the CPCA announced that it has been granted nearly $75 thousand from the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) to expand programming, support research, and strengthen relationships with community partners in response to child sex trafficking and child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).

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Marco D. Ingoglia, Executive Director for the CPCA stated,

“Child sex trafficking is happening in every community, not just major cities, and we need to be having important discussions with youth about this vastly underreported crime. While any child can be targeted by a trafficker, those who have experienced abuse, who lack support networks, or are marginalized by society are more at-risk. With youth spending more time online, this only creates additional concern.”

The Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund (DTVF) through NCA is awarded to Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) who are doing work to support the development, expansion, or enhancement of the full array of CAC services to victims of CSAM, including those victims of child sex trafficking.

The Personal Safety Program Teaches Dutchess County Students Defense Against Abuse

The Personal Safety Program, a signature prevention program at the CPCA, is one of the key areas of focus in the grant. Last year, the Personal Safety Program reached 14,864 students in Dutchess County and responded to 285 disclosures of abuse and bullying. This program reaches Dutchess County students in grades Pre-K─8 and provides essential lessons utilizing Monique Burr Foundation’s evidence-based curriculum that teaches youth how they can keep themselves safe from abuse and bullying.

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The funds from the grant will allow the program to employ staff with specific emphasis on reaching all middle schools grades 6─8 in Dutchess County. Currently, the CPCA only implements lessons for some middle school grade levels due to limited staff.

Ingoglia said,

“We have already seen success with the curriculum from the schools we are in. Our goal with the expansion is to connect with more teens and delve into further crucial conversations of healthy dating relationships, online safety, and trafficking.”

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Additionally, the CPCA will utilize funds to enhance services and protocols in the CAC to better support child victims of trafficking. Internally, CPCA programs plan to hold reciprocal training and establish policies creating a more seamless connection with preventative and support services. Outside the organization, the Dutchess County Human Trafficking Task Force and other community partners will provide expert analysis, feedback, and training to implement best practices when working with potential cases of CSAM and child sex trafficking.

Ingoglia stated,

“NCA has provided a great opportunity for us to combat the issue of child sex trafficking, As we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year, The CPCA is eager to begin implementing our strategies to enhance our programming and strengthen our community relationships. We are well positioned to offer these incredibly vital services to our communities and consider inclusion of ‘anti-trafficking’ service delivery as a proud achievement of our expansion goals.”

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The CPCA Joins Townsquare Media of the Hudson Valley's In Touch

Back in October of 2023, members of the CPCA spoke on In Touch, Townsquare Media of the Hudson Valley's Public Affairs and Issues Program. At the time, they discussed the CPCA’s programs to assist victims of abuse, their efforts to prevent abuse, and events such as their Battle of the Badges Run. Also, it was the first time we had interviewed a dog in our studios! Listen for yourself below!