Looking Upstream

In March 2013, two individuals involved in the William B. Hoyt Memorial Children and Family Trust Fund (Trust Fund)* passed away. James S. Cameron, founding executive director of Prevent Child Abuse NY*, was instrumental in establishing the Trust Fund and served on its board until retiring in 2000. For more than half a century, he was one of New York's prominent child welfare experts, providing leadership on child abuse and neglect treatment and prevention across the state and country.

Thomas W. Roach, Jr. served as chair of Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) / Children and Family Trust Fund* from 1997-2007. A dedicated public servant, strong leader, and compassionate human being, he spent 50 years in public and private service improving the lives of the less fortunate and was a tireless protector of children.

The following tale illustrates the value of 'prevention':

Several villagers were found thrashing about in the middle of a river and crying out for help. A group of rescuers rushed to the riverbank to save them. One rescuer ran upstream along the bank instead. A short distance later, he discovered a bridge had partially given way, which caused the villagers to fall into the river. He noticed two more groups of villagers preparing to cross and prevented them walking across the broken bridge. Not only did he save the people, he also eliminated the additional burden that the rescuers would have faced. 

Similarly, the William B. Hoyt Memorial Children and Family Trust Fund continuously looks upstream and invests in prevention efforts. Trust Fund programs acknowledge the challenges that families face (such as poverty, mental health, and domestic violence) while focusing on strengths and partnering with families to identify challenges and skills.

NYSPEP is pleased to provide access to the NYS Children and Family Trust Fund 2012 Annual Report. This report is dedicated to Thomas Roach and James Cameron, and their incredible legacy that live in the programs they helped create and the people they touched. CLICK HERE to access the report.

* Prevent Child Abuse NY and OCFS / Children and Family Trust Fund are both NYSPEP Conveners.