Throughout the year, The Vincent J. Fontana Center partners with agencies to host conferences for professionals in child welfare and related fields.  Our goal is to ensure professionals have access to the most current evidence-based learning with which to enhance their practice.

In addition, The New York Foundling presents an Annual Professional Conference for professionals working in the human service field.  This year's conference, on Friday, October 22, will explore "The Challenges Ahead:  Meeting Child Welfare Demands in 2011 and Beyond."   Download the brochure and register online. 

Friday, September 24th - NYS Professional Society on the Abuse of Chlildren presents "Best Practices and New Directions in the Treatment and Prevention of Child Maltreatment in New York State." - Learn more and register.

For eleven consecutive years, the Fontana Center has hosted a 20-week course for professionals in the health and social service fields around the prevention of child abuse and neglect. We are grateful to the generous endowment provided by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation which enables us to offer the Program. The topics and presenters reflect current priorities in the area of child abuse and neglect prevention. In addition to attending weekly seminars, each participant completes a leadership project and is encouraged to visit various organizations that serve those affected by child abuse and neglect within the NYC service delivery arena.

First- and second- year social work interns from New York City-based higher education institutions may take advantage of stimulating career opportunities at The Foundling. We provide clinical and administrative track field placements throughout The Fontana Center and The New York Foundling and give students invaluable, hands-on experience working with vulnerable children and families. For more information, call 212-660-1318.

The following organizations share in The Foundling’s mission to protect children:

New York Children’s Services (also known as ACS)
www.nyc.gov/acs
The New York City Administration for Children’s Services protects New York City’s children from abuse and neglect. Along with our community partners, Children’s Services provides neighborhood-based services to help ensure children grow up in safe, permanent homes with strong families.

Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA)
www.cofcca.org
212-929-2626
The Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies is the principal representative for nearly all the voluntary, not-for-profit organizations providing foster care, adoption, family preservation, and special education services in New York State. With 110 member organizations, ranging in size from storefront operations to some of the nation's largest multi-service agencies, COFCCA works with its members and government to ensure quality services for our most vulnerable children - children who have suffered abuse and abandonment and children at-risk

Citizens’ Committee for Children (CCC)
www.cccnewyork.org
212-673-1800
Since 1944, Citizens' Committee for Children of New York, Inc. (CCC) has convened, informed and mobilized New Yorkers to make the city a better place for children. CCC's approach to child advocacy is fact-based and combines the best features of public policy advocacy with a tradition of citizen activism. Casting light on the issues, engaging allies, fueling civic discourse, identifying improvements and envisioning alternatives has helped CCC make children a priority in New York City.

Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)
www.cwla.org
703-412-2400
The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization. We are committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families, and protecting every child from harm.

Child Abuse Prevention Program (CAPP)
www.childabusepreventionprogram.org
212-344-1902 (o)
1-866-922-CAPP (Child Helpline)
CAPP aims to educate young children about their right to be safe. With their award-winning Child Safety Workshop, CAPP has found an effective and engaging way of teaching children the skills they need to recognize and resist abuse. Using life-sized Kids On The Block, Inc. puppets to provide school children with safety information, the workshops have reached over 350,000 children to date.

Prevent Child Abuse New York
www.preventchildabuseny.org
1-800-CHILDREN
Prevent Child Abuse New York was founded in 1980, as the Federation on Child Abuse and Neglect, by a network of county child abuse task forces. In 1982 the agency became the New York chapter of National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The organization’s name was changed to Prevent Child Abuse New York in 1999, when the national name was changed to Prevent Child Abuse America.