The Mission of the Family Violence Prevention Council shall be to reduce the incidence and severity of Family Violence in Broome County including child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and elder abuse, by developing and implementing a comprehensive, coordinated community program for preventing, as well as identifying, assessing and treating all forms of Family Violence.

Adult Protective Services (APS) is a state-mandated case management program that arranges for services and support for physically and/or mentally impaired adults who are at risk of harm. APS seeks to promptly resolve the risks faced by eligible clients with service plans that will enable these individuals to live independently and safely within their homes and communities.

Putnam County Department of Social Services

1-800-342-7472

Provides information and referral service for parents, child care professionals and other citizens who want to prevent child abuse and intervene in abusive situations. PIRC can provide callers with information and materials about child abuse and neglect, new parent and prenatal programs, parent education and support groups, services for parents under stress, services for abused children and adult survivors of abuse, local child abuse prevention programs, and New York’s Child Protective System

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Individual counseling and group support is available to victims of domestic violence and their children. Unity House also provides support groups for stalking.

For more information, call Domestic Violence Emergency Services at 518.272.5917.

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The purpose of the Child Protective Services Act of 1973 is to encourage more complete reporting of child abuse and maltreatment. The law established a Child Protective Service in each county in New York. Each Child Protective Service is required to investigate child abuse and maltreatment reports, to protect children (under 18 years old) from further abuse or maltreatment, and to provide rehabilitative services to children, parents, and other family members involved.

Adult Protective Services are provided to individuals 18 years of age or older who meet all three of the following criteria: physical and/or mentally impaired; and in need of protection from actual or threatened harm, neglect, or a hazardous situation due to the action or inaction of either themselves or other individuals; and who have no one willing and able to assist them responsibly.

To report suspected abuse or neglect within NYS call the toll-free hotline at (844)697-3505.

Protective Services for Adults (PSA) is a state-mandated program which is provided without regard to income to assist adults age 18 or older who, because of mental or physical impairments, can no longer provide for their basic needs for food, clothing, shelter or medical care, or protect themselves from neglect, abuse or hazardous situations, and who have no one willing and able to help in a responsible manner.

These services include:

*Assess potential adult abuse or neglect and identify needs

*Arrange for appropriate community services

*Casework counseling and case management

*Homemaker/personal care services

*Money Management

*Legal interventions

*Assistance in obtaining entitlements and other general benefits and services

*Financial exploitation taskforce (education, training and service coordination.

Provides protective service assistance to individuals 18 years of age and older who have a physical &/or mental impairment and who have (or are at risk of having) an unmet need such as food, clothing, shelter, medical attention, financial security and who have no one else willing or able to assist them responsibly.

Backpacks for Kids in Care: Fostering the Future

The Backpacks for Kids in Care program

was started in 2010 as concerted effort

for a Leadership Cortland Project. Since

then, it has a grown into an annual SVHC

event, collecting over 275 backpacks

filled with personal items for children

transitioning from their homes to the

foster care system.

For many children, this transition can be an unexpected and traumatic experience, and often these children are unable to collect any personal items before being placed in the system. The backpacks collected through this program give children in foster care something special and personal to call their own.