Wynona’s House Child Advocacy Center announced new partnerships this week with the Newark Public Library and the Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester to enhance child abuse prevention services.
Through this collaboration, the city’s library system will become a key partner in delivering educational programming, resources, and interactive events that will empower parents, caregivers, educators, and community members to identify and support at-risk families and prevent child abuse and neglect.
“We’re proud to collaborate with Wynona’s House to bring prevention and wellness programming to all of our library branches,” stated Anna M. Coats, assistant director of Public Services at the Newark Public Library on Wednesday.
“Libraries are more than just places for books — they are centers for learning, community engagement, and empowerment,” Coats said. “This partnership brings vital resources directly into neighborhoods where families live, learn, and grow.”
The partnership also marks a significant milestone in the nonprofit’s Prevention by Design project, said Chris Ann Bautista, director of Prevention at Wynona’s House.
“By working with the Newark Public Library system, we are removing barriers to access and meeting families where they are—in safe, familiar community spaces,” Bautista said.
The Prevention by Design initiative was founded in 2022 and expanded through the support of The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, whose early investment made it possible to pilot and now scale a community-centered approach to child abuse prevention.
“In funding Prevention by Design, The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey recognized the innovative work of Wynona’s House utilizing a proactive approach to ensuring healthier families and communities,” said Michael Schmidt, the organization’s executive director and CEO. “We are pleased to see community organizations coming together to provide preventive and wellness programming to support families in Essex County, prevent future trauma, and build healthier communities.”
Wynona’s House is also partnering with the Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester (CACGROC) to expand child abuse prevention services across Newark and Essex County by launching a mentorship initiative.
“At the Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester, we believe in the power of collaboration to protect and heal children affected by abuse,” said Dr. Daniele Lyman-Torres, president & CEO of CACGROC. “Partnering with Wynona’s House allows us to extend our reach and share best practices to build stronger, safer communities.”
About Wynona’s House
For over 25 years, Wynona’s House has been offering a wide range of services and providing a secure and supportive environment that promotes hope, healing, and justice for child victims of abuse or neglect. Wynona’s House has been successful in providing more than 13,933 children and their families with critical services and access to the care they need to heal and move forward. Located in Newark, Wynona’s House is the first fully co-located Child Advocacy Center in New Jersey, serving the residents of Essex County and providing direct services to child victims and their families in more than 950 cases of child abuse and neglect each year.
