Verizon Foundation Awards Grant To HELP USA

10:46AM on February 23 2011

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011

CONTACT:
Lawrence Cann – 212.400.7044
lcann@helpusa.org

Brian Malina – 908.559.6434
Brian.c.malina@verizon.com

Verizon Foundation Awards $100,000 Grant to End the Cycle of Domestic Violence Among Most Needy

Grantee, HELP USA, will reach 270 homeless women and children in Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia, PA and Newark, NJ

New York City, Feb. 16, 2011 – The Verizon Foundation is meeting a critical need for homeless mothers and children who are victims of domestic violence by enabling the expansion of HELP USA’s Parenting for Prevention Program in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Newark. "Domestic violence is an issue that effects families in every community. The physical, emotional, and financial damage it causes can be devastating," said Verizon Foundation President Rose Kirk.  "Verizon is proud to partner with HELP USA to provide comfort and support to survivors in need and education to help end the cycle of violence."

It is estimated that 3.3 million children witness marital violence each year.  Further, in homes in which there is adult domestic violence, children are abused at a rate 1500% higher than the national average. Children who experience and witness this type of physical trauma re-experience the trauma in their thoughts, reduce their normal activities, experience anxiety, fear, sleep problems, and explosive outbursts of aggression. Studies have shown that about one-third of parents with low parenting skills have experienced domestic violence. By providing positive parenting and protective techniques, it is possible for mothers to improve their parenting skills as well as show significant reductions in depression. This is significant because studies have shown that lifting the mother’s depression contributes significantly to improved parenting and child conduct. Since domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness among women, it is critical to serve these “hard to reach” homeless mothers.

HELP USA’s Parenting for Prevention will be centered on child-parent psychotherapy, which focuses on relationship enhancement that will reduce the behavioral problems and traumatic symptoms of children living with domestic violence. Additionally, since financial constraints can become an overwhelming challenge when also faced with domestic violence, the participants will received periodic employment assistance during the sessions including job readiness preparation. “Domestic Violence is the leading cause of homelessness among women and the effects are often long term for them and their children. Thanks to Verizon, HELP USA can offer a solution to the problem of domestic violence that is backed by our 25 years of experience providing comprehensive care to homeless families in America,” said HELP USA Chairman, Maria Cuomo Cole.

Verizon’s grant to HELP USA is already in Phase I of implementation through HELP Roads in East New York, Brooklyn where the 12 week program cycle will take place 4 times per year.  Phase II plans are already developed in partnership with the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation to service families at the Genesis Square Apartments and Townhomes in the Mill Creek Area of West Philadelphia. In Phase III, HELP will also offer one full cycle in Newark’s North Ward. The mothers in East New York are already learning and sharing with one another, providing a positive peer support system that fosters a sense of empowerment. Participants also receive one-on-one counseling and in depth and ancillary supports.   Additionally, after the initial and ongoing assessments by staff, aftercare and home visits will be offered.

Verizon has a long history of supporting organizations that assist domestic violence survivors.  During the past four years, the Verizon Foundation has awarded $21 million to nonprofit organizations to support domestic violence prevention. HopeLine® from Verizon puts the nation's most reliable wireless network to work in the community by collecting no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider.  Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 8 million phones; awarded more than $10 million in cash grants to prevention and awareness programs nationwide; and donated more than 106,000 HopeLine phones with 319 million minutes of airtime to victims, survivors and domestic violence organizations.

About HELP USA

HELP USA is a national not-for-profit organization with a mission to empower the homeless and others in need to become and remain self-reliant. HELP USA was founded by Andrew Cuomo in 1986, and has grown to become one of the largest builders and operators of service-enriched transitional and low-income permanent housing in the nation. To date, HELP USA has developed more than 1,700 units of housing and operates 28 residential sites across the country, including transitional housing for homeless adults, families, and veterans; shelters for victims of domestic violence; and permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless and low-income families.

About the Verizon Foundation

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, uses its technology, financial resources and partnerships to address critical social issues, with a focus on education and domestic violence prevention.  In 2010, the foundation awarded nearly $67 million to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered nearly 6 million hours of community service since 2000.  For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

Sources:
Anderson, Stephen and Darci Cramer-Benjamin, “The Impact of Couple Violence on Parenting and Children: An Overview and Clinical Implications,” The American Journal of Family Therapy, 27:1-19, 1999.
Barth, Richard, “Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect with Parent Training: Evidence and Opportunities,” Future of Children, Vol. 19, No. 2, Fall 2009.
Johnson, Michelle, Susan Stone, Christine Lou, Jennifer Ling, Jeanette Claassen, and Michael Austin, “Assessing Parent Education Programs for Families Involved in Child Welfare Services,” May 2006, Center for Social Services Research in the School of Social Welfare at the University of California Berkley.