A Note from the Executive Director
As I reflect on my first few months serving as Executive Director, I continue to be humbled by the generosity, compassion, and commitment that surrounds CPCA. Stepping into this role has only reinforced what I've always known: this work is never done alone.
Every day, I have the privilege of working alongside an incredible team that shows up with professionalism, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to the children and families we serve. I am equally grateful to our donors, volunteers, community partners, board members, and supporters who have embraced this transition with encouragement and confidence. Your belief in our work, along with the critical funds raised at our events, and partnerships built throughout the past few months, ensures that children and families continue to receive the advocacy, therapy, education, and support they deserve.
Whether it's providing a comforting snack after a difficult forensic interview, helping a caregiver access transportation, offering parenting education, or creating a safe place where healing can begin, every act of generosity helps remove barriers so families can focus on what matters most.
As you read through this first edition of our quarterly newsletter, I hope you'll get a glimpse of the people, partnerships, and purpose behind our work. Thank you for believing in CPCA, for supporting our team during this exciting transition, and for helping us continue building a safer future for every child.
With gratitude,
Jess Ferrantino
Executive Director
Impact Snapshot
Our Programmatic Impact Through June 30, 2026
Every number tells a story. Together, we're helping children heal, strengthening families, and building a safer community through prevention, education, and advocacy.
235 Children Served through our Child Advocacy Center (CAC)
Through our CAC, children and families received coordinated advocacy, forensic interviews, referrals, and support in a child-friendly environment.
48 Parents Supported through our Supportive Parenting Program
Parents gaining skills, confidence, and resources to help build stronger families.
16,515 Students Reached through our Personal Safety Program
We wrapped up another record-breaking school year, empowering students with age-appropriate personal safety education.
2,557 Community Members Educated through our Community Education Program
Professionals, parents, caregivers, and community members participated in child abuse prevention, mandated reporter, and other educational trainings.
Community in Action
April | Prevention Starts with All of Us
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and reminding our community that preventing child abuse is everyone's responsibility. Throughout the month, CPCA partnered with local businesses, organizations, schools, and community members to spread awareness, encourage conversations, and reinforce our shared commitment to keeping children safe. We were proud to participate in multiple Pinwheel Planting events across Dutchess County, each serving as a visible reminder that every child deserves a safe and healthy childhood.
April also marked several exciting opportunities to expand our prevention efforts. We launched new Community Education trainings, including CAC 101, Digital Safety & Online Exploitation, Human Trafficking 101, and Responding to Child Disclosures, giving professionals and community members additional tools to recognize, respond to, and prevent child abuse. We also introduced our new Parent Toolkit, providing families with free, practical resources to support conversations about child safety at home, and launched our CPCA apparel store, giving supporters another meaningful way to help spread awareness throughout the community.
The month concluded with another successful Restaurant Week, bringing together local restaurants and community members to raise nearly $19,000 in support of CPCA. A special thank you goes to Flory's Gas, Convenience, and Deli, our top fundraising partner, for raising more than $5,000 through their enthusiastic support of the campaign. We're grateful to every participating restaurant, business, and patron who helped make this year's event such a success.
May | A Night of Hope and Impact
In May, our community came together for another unforgettable Champions Against Child Abuse Awards Celebration, with over 350 attendees raising nearly $200,000 to support advocacy, prevention, education, and healing for children and families across our region. We are incredibly grateful to our Presenting Sponsor, Montfort Brothers, Inc., whose generosity and partnership helped make the evening possible.
A special thank you also goes to Gala Chair Pam Tarquinio, whose leadership, dedication, and countless hours of planning helped bring the event to life. Her passion for our mission and commitment to making the evening a success were evident in every detail.
The Awards Dinner also gave us the opportunity to recognize individuals whose dedication continues to strengthen our community. Congratulations again to our 2026 honorees, Mike & Courtney Baroni and Dr. Nick & Megan Spaccarelli, whose generosity and commitment to children and families embody the spirit of CPCA.
This year, we were proud to introduce two new awards celebrating exceptional service and partnership.
- The Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Partner of the Year Award, presented to New York State Police Investigator Noreen Winterfeldt
- The Katri McEwen Impact Award, presented to Rachel Johnson
To everyone who attended, sponsored, volunteered, donated, and supported the event, thank you. Your generosity helps ensure that children and families have access to the advocacy, education, and healing services they need when they need them most.
June | Celebrating Commitment
In June, we proudly celebrated 24 graduates from our Supportive Parenting Program. Graduation marks months of dedication, personal growth, and a commitment to building stronger families. Thank you to Dutchess Community College for graciously hosting us once again!
Each graduate represents the power of prevention through education and support. Watching parents cross the stage surrounded by family, staff, and community members is a meaningful reminder that when families are given the right tools and encouragement, children, and entire communities, benefit.
Representing Dutchess County in Washington, D.C.
CPCA's Executive Director, Jess Ferrantino, CAC Coordinator, Becca Mahon, and the Dutchess County DCFS CPS Supervisor, Christina Weiner, attended the National Children's Alliance Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., where they connected with Children's Advocacy Center professionals from across the country to learn, collaborate, and bring new ideas back to our community.
As part of the conference, they also participated in Hill Day alongside the New York State Children’s Alliance, meeting with New York congressional offices to educate policymakers about the important role Children's Advocacy Centers play in supporting children and families and to share the impact of this work in communities like ours.
Growing Together
Investing in the people behind our mission.
This quarter, we were proud to celebrate growth from within our own team. We recognized three well-deserved internal promotions, reflecting our commitment to developing talented staff members and creating opportunities for professional growth.
Congratulations to:
- Jessica Wexler, promoted to Development Coordinator
- Jen Hoover, promoted to Coordinator of Educational Programs
- Becca Mahon promoted to Child Advocacy Center Coordinator
Each of these team members has consistently demonstrated leadership, dedication, and a deep commitment to the children and families we serve. Their expanded roles strengthen our organization and help ensure we continue providing high-quality services to our community.
We also had the opportunity to bring our Board of Directors and staff together for our Annual Board Meeting, an morning dedicated to reflecting on the past year, celebrating our accomplishments, and looking ahead to what's next for CPCA and the board. By bringing together the individuals responsible for governance with those carrying out our day-to-day work, we continue to strengthen our shared vision and ensure we're prepared to meet the evolving needs of children and families in our community. A special note to those folks who are transitioning off of our Board of Directors, whose service to our organization has been immeasurable. Thank you to Gina Bizzoco-Fraatz, LCSW-R, and Sara Carr, Esq!
A Story of Hope
*names are changed for anonymity
Cassidy came to our Supportive Parenting Program after her children were living with a family member who kept them from her for three years. During that time, the children were abused, and when the abuse came to light, they were placed in foster care. Although this was heartbreaking, it also became the first opportunity Cassidy had to reconnect with her children after years of being separated from them.
Rebuilding those relationships was not easy. Cassidy questioned whether she was good enough to be their mother and whether she had what it took to parent children she barely knew. She carried feelings of guilt, fear, and uncertainty. At times, she even considered allowing two of her older children to be adopted because she believed they might not want to be with her.
Despite those doubts, Cassidy refused to give up.
She made the courageous decision to leave her abusive relationship, secure employment, attend every visit, participate in every appointment, and remain committed to her case plan. With each visit, she rebuilt trust, strengthened her bond with her children, and proved to herself and everyone around her that she was capable of being the mother they needed.
Today, Cassidy’s story has a beautiful ending. All of her children have been reunited with her. She is no longer homeless; her family is healing together through therapy, and they are creating the memories they lost during those years apart. What once seemed impossible became possible because Cassidy chose hope over fear and perseverance over giving up.
Her story reminds us that our past does not define our future. Healing takes time; trust can be rebuilt, and with determination, support, and unconditional love, families can be reunited. A client journey is a testament to the incredible power of never giving up on yourself or the people you love.
Resource Corner
Helping Families Navigate the Digital World
As technology continues to evolve, so do the ways children connect, learn, and communicate. Unfortunately, online spaces can also create opportunities for exploitation. That's why CPCA recently developed a new resource, Digital Safety & Online Exploitation Prevention: A Guide for Parents, Guardians, and Community Members, to help adults better understand today's digital risks and how to keep children safe.
The guide covers topics including online grooming, sextortion, digital reputation, cyberbullying, warning signs to watch for, and practical steps families can take to create safer online experiences. It also introduces CPCA's Digital Safety & Online Exploitation community training, which provides adults with real-world strategies they can put into practice right away.
A few reminders for families:
- Keep social media and gaming accounts private whenever possible.
- Turn off location sharing on apps and devices.
- Encourage open, judgment-free conversations about online experiences.
- Remind children that deleted messages and photos can still be saved or shared.
Interested in learning more?
Contact CPCA to request a Digital Safety & Online Exploitation training for your school, organization, or community group, or download the full guide here.
Coming Up at CPCA
One Too Many 5K
Our annual One Too Many 5K returns this fall, bringing together individuals, families, businesses, and organizations from across the Hudson Valley to stand united against child abuse.
Whether you run, walk, volunteer, or cheer from the sidelines, there's a place for everyone to get involved. Because one child abused is one too many!
Date: September 12, 2026 - Battle of the Badges
Location: Location TBD, Poughkeepsie, NY
Date: September 20, 2026 - Best of Beacon
Location: Meet at Long Dock Park, 23 Long Dock Road, Beacon, NY
Paws & Pours
Close out the season with one of our newest community events! Paws & Pours brings together animal lovers, local businesses, and CPCA supporters for a day of great company, live music, refreshments, and fun all while supporting children and families in our community. Bring your friends, and help us celebrate the impact we're making together.
Date: September 26, 2026
Location: Benmarl Winery
Until Next Quarter...
Thank you for taking the time to catch up on everything that's been happening at CPCA over the past few months. We hope this newsletter has given you a closer look at the people, programs, and partnerships working every day to create a stronger community.
While we look ahead to our next edition, there are plenty of ways to stay connected and be part of the work:
- Visit our website to explore resources, learn about our programs, and stay up to date on upcoming events. Welcome - The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse (CPCA)
- Attend a training and learn how you can help recognize, respond to, and prevent child abuse: Community Education Trainings
- Click below to follow us on social media for stories, educational tips, and behind-the-scenes updates.
- Support our Onsite Pantry by donating snacks, drinks, comfort items, and other essentials that help children and families feel welcome during their time at CPCA.
- Volunteer, attend an event, or make a gift to help ensure our programs remain available to those who need them most. Donate - The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse (CPCA)
No matter how you choose to get involved, thank you for being part of our story. We look forward to sharing more with you next quarter!
