Home 9 News and Information 9 Press Release:  PEACE, Inc. receives $4,500 grant for Family Services, Women’s Wellness Program

Press Release:  PEACE, Inc. receives $4,500 grant for Family Services, Women’s Wellness Program

Mar 31, 2022 | News and Information

Syracuse, New York – PEACE, Inc. and its Family Services Department recently received a $4,500 grant to develop a Women’s Wellness Program. The mini-grant was awarded by the Maternal and Infant Community Health Collaborative (MICHC), a program of the Division of Healthy Families at the Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD). Funds are to address maternal and child health service gaps due to racial, ethnic, economic, and sex/gender based discrimination.

The Family Services’ Women’s Wellness Program will serve 30 women and girls through the agency’s Eastside, Southside, and Westside Family Resource Centers. Each center will serve 10 identifying females of different ages, focusing on issues relative to their age groups. Women and girls will participate in a series of women’s health empowerment and education activities – including but not limited to – topics of conflict resolution, healthy relationships, personal hygiene, nutrition, family planning, and sexual, physical and mental health.  

The Women’s Wellness Program aims to holistically address women’s health through the connection of sexual, physical, mental/emotional, and social well-being. The program will follow best-practices of The Girls Circle Model, an evidence-based curriculum developed by the One Circle Foundation. One Circle Foundation evaluation data revealed that girls who participated in these programs showed significant increases in educational aspirations and expectations, condom use, self-efficacy, attachment to school, social support and positive body image, as well as decreases in self-harming behavior and alcohol use.

Director of Family Services, Mary Beth Welch, says “PEACE, Inc. is thrilled to be able to serve three unique populations in our community via the Women’s Wellness Program. We will run three distinct programs simultaneously. One program will be designed to educate high school age girls on women’s wellness, another will be modified to specifically address the needs of pregnant teens, and a third will educate the community on the care of mature women. We appreciate the support from Onondaga County as we continue to focus on the needs of the women in our community!”

For more about PEACE, Inc.’s Family Services Department, visit https://www.peace-caa.org/programs/frc/

About PEACE, Inc. Department of Family Services

Incorporated in 1968, PEACE, Inc. is a federal designated Community Action Agency (CAA) that serves nearly 12,000 clients in Syracuse, Onondaga County, and portions of Oswego County. The Family Services Department runs six Family Resource Centers (FRCs) throughout Onondaga County. Programs include emergency assistance, crisis intervention, advocacy, supportive services, employment support, youth activities, education and family development partnerships. Family Services is one of 9 primary programs offered by PEACE, Inc., including Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), Family Services (FRCs), Head Start and Early Head Start (HS, EHS), Foster Grandparent Program, Free Tax Preparation (EITC), Eastwood Community Center, Senior Nutrition, and Senior Support Services. For more information, visit www.peace-caa.org

Media Contact

Mary Beth Welch, Director

PEACE, Inc. Family Services

Email: Marybeth.welch@peace-caa.org

Phone: 315-634-3716