With support from The Chris Cornell Foundation in 2020, The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was able to transition all of their therapy and education programs to a virtual format to serve children and their families continuously through the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, they cared for 2,654 children and 278 parents and other caregivers, helping them to heal from abuse, neglect, and domestic violence.  Highlights include:

  • NYSPCC therapists helped 68 children, ages 5-21 years, recover from physical abuse, sexual abuse, parental neglect and domestic violence through 1,396 therapy sessions.  Over 85% of children in the program reported an overall decrease in trauma symptoms (such as anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, and anger).
  • NYSPCC therapists helped 76 families (including 94 children and 164 adults), with histories of abuse and domestic violence develop positive parenting skills, reduce harmful behaviors, and better meet their children’s needs so they can build strong, nurturing homes. An impressive 100% of the parents reported that they improved their parenting skills.
  • NYSPCC educators brought 91 Safe Touches, child sexual abuse prevention workshops, to 2,121 children in kindergarten through third grade, empowering them to protect themselves. Their teachers provided overwhelmingly positive feedback. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of teachers stated that they would recommend Safe Touches to their colleagues, and 95% reported that the children were actively engaged during the workshop.