Every day, 35 cases of child abuse and neglect are reported on Long Island. The Garden City High School is doing its part to prevent abuse when it invited Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS) to work with its students. CAPS is Long Island’s leading organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, and provides violence prevention and child safety programs to Nassau and Suffolk schools at no cost.

During the week of October 12th, a professionally-trained CAPS volunteer facilitated the Child Abuse Prevention program to 9th and 10th graders in their classroom. The three-session workshop was developed for high school grades, and teaches students the various forms of child abuse and neglect, how to protect themselves and recognize signs of abuse in others, and what they can do to help.

“Child abuse and neglect can happen in any community, so helping students learn to how to recognize and prevent child abuse and neglect is something every school should do,” said Alane Fagin, Executive Director of CAPS. “We credit Garden City High School for recognizing the issue and taking steps to keep their students safe.”

Thanks, in part, to a legislative grant from Assemblyman Thomas McKevitt and the financial support of concerned members of the community, CAPS provides student-targeted programs to public and private schools at no cost. To date, over 600,000 Long Island students have participated.

“The demand for our student programs increases every year, and so we encourage community members who are concerned about our children’s safety to call us if they have an interest in becoming a CAPS volunteer presenter,” said Ms. Fagin.

Founded in 1982, the Roslyn-based Child Abuse Prevention Services is Long Island’s comprehensive resource center for the prevention of child abuse, bullying, peer harassment and Internet safety. It is a non-profit underwritten by private donations, grants and legislative appropriations. Information about programs, educational materials and volunteer opportunities are available at www.capsli.org or by calling 516-621-0552.