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Press Release
For Immediate Release:
Media Contact:
Lindsey Baker
Red Lizard Creative
Lindsey@redlizardcreative.com
858.453.3761
Home Start Honors Child Abuse Awareness Month
Leading Nonprofit Celebrates 35th Anniversary with Masquerade Fundraiser
(San Diego, CA., March 17, 2008) - April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Home
Start, Inc., a San Diego-based nonprofit agency specializing in the prevention
and treatment of child abuse, is celebrating its 35th anniversary by promoting
Child Abuse prevention with a fundraiser on Friday April 4th, 2008 at downtown's
El Cortez.
The masquerade-themed gala will raise funds for Home Start programs, which provide critical assistance to the region's most vulnerable children and families. Geni Cavitt of KGTV Channel 10 News will assist as MC in honoring QUALCOMM Inc., The Jacobs Family Foundation, and Stacy A. Matseas as community partners in preventing child abuse.
"We are extremely thankful to the individuals, foundations and businesses that have supported our agency in its 35 years of protecting children and strengthening families," stated Laura Mustari, CEO of Home Start. "Their contributions remain critical to our ability to deliver timely counseling and related services to families whose children are at risk of maltreatment or neglect."
According to Health and Human Services Agency Child Welfare Services Annual Report, approximately 70,000 children were referred to the San Diego County Child Abuse Hotline with allegations of abuse or neglect in 2007. During the same period, 632 children were placed in adoptive homes with 100 to 150 children waiting for adoptive homes each month.
Children who have not had the opportunity to heal from the trauma of abuse often grow up to become abusers. Even more startling is the fact that 90% of our violent criminals were abused as children.
Home Start offers research-based therapy, parenting education/coaching, Earned Income Tax Services, healthcare access outreach, crime victims counseling services, financial literacy and family self-sufficiency services.
The agency addresses the conditions that place children in risky or abusive situations such as poverty, mental illness, unsafe neighborhoods, lack of affordable housing and unemployment, which are coupled with addressing individual self-sufficiency and emotional needs. With five locations in San Diego County, services are primarily home-based and provided free of charge to ensure they are accessible to San Diego's neediest children and families.
About Home Start, Inc
Founded in 1972 as a highly successful, national Head Start demonstration project, Home Start primarily targets poor children and their families who require immediate, comprehensive solutions to ensure their safety and healthy development. In 1977, Home Start, Inc. incorporated as a San Diego-based, private non profit agency dedicated to child abuse prevention and family strengthening services.
Home Start's countywide programs and services consistently demonstrate a high success rate for increasing the stability, self-sufficiency and parenting knowledge of the families who receive services. Therapists possess or are pursuing LCSW, MFT or Clinical Psychology licenses and adhere to the highest professional standards. Many are bilingual and all possess a sensitivity to, and understanding of, ethnic and cultural differences. For more information please visit: www.home-start.org.
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