State officials from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency recently visited York County to highlight the work of child advocacy centers as part of April’s Child Abuse Prevention Month.
In all, there are 41 such centers across Pennsylvania that provide services to children who have been the victims of abuse. A typical visit includes a forensic interview that gives children the opportunity to disclose what happened in a safe environment.
Where applicable, police and child protection services caseworkers watch the conversation via a video feed in another room to safeguard children from reliving trauma across multiple interviews.
Such centers also serve as a jumping-off point for other related services — including medical evaluations, mental health services and therapy — and victim advocacy for youth who are going through the legal system.
PCCD Executive Director Mike Pennington visited the York Children’s Advocacy Center last week at the start of Child Abuse Prevention Month to highlight the types of resources advocacy centers provide in the aftermath of trauma.
“Children’s Advocacy Centers give children the opportunity to be seen and heard, and most importantly, feel safe on their healing journey,” Pennington said. “For the past 10 years, PCCD has been proud to support the growth of CACs throughout the commonwealth so that their services and care can be offered to every child victim of abuse.”
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The centers essentially bring medical professionals, social workers, prosecutors and police who specialize in child sexual abuse under one roof.
The York CAC serves children ages 3-17 who are victims of physical and sexual abuse, who are involved in commercial sexual exploitation, face drug endangerment or are witnesses to violent crime. Since opening its doors in 2006, the center has served more than 9,000 children and their families.
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313.
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