2015 Brings Renewed Support from PACF

Princeton Area Community Foundation (PACF) has awarded PEI Kids a total of $50,000 in grant funding in 2015 through it's Greater Mercer Grants program and the Fund for Women and Girls. The Greater Mercer Grants program benefits low-income individuals and families, and builds community within Mercer County and the immediately adjoining area. This general operating grant will support PEI Kids' operational needs throughout the year and enable us to continue providing professional services at no charge to children or their families. 

The Fund for Women and Girls is a passionate group of donors dedicated to supporting girls and the women who raise them throughout the greater Mercer County region. This funding will be used to continue PEI Kids' project,"Protecting our Daughters from Sexual Abuse Through Education and Support"-- a unique collaboration of our prevention and intervention departments' efforts to prevent child sexual abuse through community education, and provide counseling and support for girls who are victims of child sexual abuse and their mothers/caregivers.

"We are grateful to have such strong community support from PACF and the Fund for Women and Girls as well as from other donors who value PEI Kids' work and are committed to the future of Mercer County's children," says PEI Kids Executive Director, Roz Dashiell. "This support is much appreciated and is vial to our mission of promoting and maintaining a safe environment for children," she added. 

Since 2011 PEI Kids has been the lead agency for the Greater Mercer Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse which is part of the statewide Enough Abuse Campaign. Program volunteers present 1-3 hour Enough Abuse workshops which teach adults and older teens how to recognize signs indicating abuse in children, recognize risky behaviors in adults, and respond appropriately to children who disclose abuse. There are four Enough Abuse workshops geared specifically to the needs and knowledge of the particular audience. 

In the first quarter of 2015, PEI Kids presented six Enough Abuse workshops to approximately 300 Mercer County adults, including the education students at Rider University. These students were able to gain a new understanding of child sexual abuse, in addition to learning how to prevent, identify and respond to child sexual abuse. This is particularly important to current and future child-serving professionals, like Rider University's education majors, since it helps them understand how to create proper child safety plans. The Enough Abuse workshops are available throughout Mercer County. If you are interested in hosting one of these free, community workshops please contact Melody Powell at [email protected].