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Supporting Child and Family Well-Being: New York State’s Efforts to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

The following landmarks will be lit blue tonight to raise awareness of the state’s prevention efforts to protect children and families.

  • One World Trade Center
  • Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
  • Kosciuszko Bridge
  • The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
  • State Education Building
  • Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
  • Empire State Plaza
  • State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
  • Niagara Falls
  • The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
  • Albany International Airport Gateway
  • MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station
  • Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
  • Moynihan Train Hall

During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, and Child Abuse Prevention Month, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that 14 State landmarks will be lit blue tonight to raise awareness of the state’s prevention efforts to protect children and families. The Governor previously issued a proclamation recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in New York State. Governor Hochul’s priority is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all New Yorkers, especially children. “My top priority is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all New Yorkers – especially our children,” Governor Hochul said. “By working together, we can ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. I am committed to elevating the voices of survivors, and supporting families and advocates, as well as law enforcement, as we work to advance bold initiatives to prevent child abuse in New York State.”
This year’s theme for the month is “Supporting Child and Family Well-Being” to highlight key prevention tools that can help assist and strengthen families, ultimately preventing child abuse and neglect. Among those tools are Family Opportunity Centers and Family Resource Centers located throughout New York State. Family Opportunity Centers and Family Resource Centers aim to improve family well-being by enhancing social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, and parental resilience, and by providing concrete supports such as food assistance, housing support and connections to quality physical and mental health care. OCFS HEARS line is another key prevention and family strengthening tool.

  • Help, Empower, Advocate, Reassure and Support

The HEARS line is designed to connect families to community resources offering help with housing, food, health care and more. Anyone can call 1-888-55HEARS (1-888-554-3277) Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Governor Hochul has continued to support family and childhood initiatives designed to increase protective factors that reduce the risk of child abuse or maltreatment. She proposed a $9.2 million increase in funding for the New York State Child Advocacy Centers in her 2025-2026 Executive Budget. Child Advocacy Centers provide a child-friendly, safe, supportive environment for child victims of abuse/neglect and their non-offending caretakers. The Governor has also continued to support Family Opportunity Centers and Family Resource Centers. These centers are intended to empower families and improve protective factors such as parental resilience, social connections, and access to resources.

Definition of Child Abuse and Neglect
A form of child maltreatment that involves any form of physical or emotional harm or neglect of a child’s basic needs.

Highlights of Governor Hochul’s Initiatives

  • A $9.2 million increase in funding for the New York State Child Advocacy Centers
  • Continued support for Family Opportunity Centers and Family Resource Centers
  • Launch of the OCFS HEARS line

The Office of Children and Family Services serves New York’s public by promoting the safety, permanency and well-being of children, families and communities.

The Office of Children and Family Services is dedicated to providing a system of family support, juvenile justice, youth development, child care and child welfare services. We are committed to programs and services involving foster care, adoption and adoption assistance, child protective services, preventive services for children and families, and protective programs for vulnerable adults.

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