Locally sponsored bill to prevent child abuse better signed into law

Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed into law a new bill to help curb child abuse statewide.

The legislation – which was sponsored in the senate by State Senator Marty Golden – will establish a temporary New York State commission to study child abuse prevention and make recommendations for the implementation of child abuse prevention programs across the state.

According to Golden, prevention programs, while proven effective, are currently only available to a small number of families at risk of abuse and neglect with home visits only made available to about 10 to 14 percent of eligible families.

The temporary commission would come together to help serve more at-risk families via prevention programs that not only address child abuse but other aspects of family dynamics which threaten a child and a family’s well-being.

“There is no place in our homes, schools or society for child abuse, and the unfortunate reality is that it is happening all too often in New York,” said Golden. “We must truly examine and figure out how to stop this violence that is destroying too many children reverse this trend that is damaging many families.”