Established in 1995, the FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (FRIENDS) provides training and technical assistance (TTA) services to the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) community through the 50 State Lead Agencies, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and three Tribal and Migrant grantees.  FRIENDS is funded under a Cooperative Agreement with the Children’s Bureau and supports the requirements of Title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA).  For more information about the Children’s Bureau, please visit https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb. 

FRIENDS is a program of Families and Communities Rising, Inc. (FCR) in Durham, North Carolina and supports primary and secondary prevention services through a coordinated effort with other national organizations, to prevent child abuse and neglect and support families and communities. Services are provided to the public interested in child abuse prevention through our website and online learning center.  A network of partners and consultants allow us to offer cutting edge TTA to the CBCAP community from leaders in prevention and family support. 

Understanding CBCAP: Building Safer Communities 

CBCAP funding supports a range of programs across the country through State Lead Agencies and Tribal and Migrant grantees that disperse funds to local programs that serve families. Lead agencies implement awareness raising campaigns, develop and implement strategic plans, and engage with parents as leaders of their families and communities, while providing support to their locally funded programs. CBCAP legislation outlines the types of services that can be funded, emphasizing work with the public and vulnerable families who may be at risk of abuse or neglect. Program outreach includes parents of all backgrounds, families with children with disabilities, underserved racial and ethnic groups, fathers, homeless families and those at-risk of homelessness, adult survivors of abuse or domestic violence, and other underrepresented groups. CBCAP programs are pivotal in creating a safer environment for children and families.