Nearly two dozen Rochester-area agencies and community groups are coming together in an effort to end physical abuse and sexual abuse against children.

The Bivona Child Advocacy Center hosted an event Wednesday where 23 local partners signed a memorandum of understanding, pledging their commitment in the fight against child abuse.

"What an incredible coming together of the community to demonstrate a couple of things,” Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said. “Number one, our most fundamental responsibility is protecting and caring for our children. If we can't get that right, we can't do anything right."

The following agencies are partnering with Bivona to provide services to child abuse survivors and families:

  • Brighton Police Department
  • Brockport Police Department
  • Catholic Charities Family and Community Services
  • East Rochester Police Department
  • Fairport Police Department
  • Gates Police Department
  • Greece Police Department
  • Ogden Police Department
  • Irondequoit Police Department
  • Monroe County Department of Human Services
  • Monroe County District Attorney’s Office
  • Monroe County Law Department (Children’s Services Unit)
  • Monroe County Office of Probation-Community Corrections
  • Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
  • New York State Police
  • Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York Inc (RESTORE Sexual Assault Services)
  • REACH Program Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester
  • Society for the Protection and Care of Children (SPCC)
  • Rochester Police Department
  • Rochester Regional Health
  • Villa of Hope
  • Webster Police Department