Prevent Child Abuse Georgia (PCA), which is a part of the School of Public Health at Georgia State University, was recently awarded $82,500 by Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), according to a University release.
The release states that this award will supplement the state’s helpline 1-800-CHILDREN, which is a leading source for child abuse outreach and prevention.
The award will allow the helpline to extend its hours of operation to 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. The helpline recently reopened in February 2014 after a nearly three-year hiatus due to lack of funding, according to the release.
Dr. John R. Lutzker, director of the Center for the Healthy Development—PCA Georgia’s home in the School of Public Health— said this award will prove beneficial for all parties involved.
“Expanding the Helpline and an expanded collaboration with DFCS is wonderful news for Georgia families, children and for PCA Georgia,” he said.
In 2011, a reported 18,541 children were abused or neglected in Georgia, according to PCA Georgia’s website.
Lustker said this collaboration with DFCS will give PCA Georgia the ability to extend its reach across Georgia to service more families in need.
Courtney Strickland, School of Public Health graduate student, said the increased support to the helpline will make a huge difference.
“My mom used to work for DFCS for 10 years, so I’ve seen firsthand how awful it is for families dealing with child abuse,” she said.
She also said she believes its great what PCA Georgia is doing to help children affected by abuse.
Santanna Comer, School of Public Health graduate student, said she believes the support is a worthy cause.
“If it’s benefiting abused children, then I’m all for it,” she said.
Quyana Barrow, a graduate student in Georgia State’s Department of Communication, works full-time for the Fulton County Emergency Services and said she directly interacts with families affected by child abuse.
“As a 911 operator, I hear about family violence everyday and when children are involved, it’s all the more heartbreaking,” she said.
Barrow also said she believes any measure taken to prevent the tragedy of child abuse and neglect is a great thing.
For additional information about PCA Georgia and other child abuse prevention initiatives, visit the PCA Georgia website.
