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Family Digital Wellness: How HB 17 Will Protect Kids Online

Social media connects people across the globe, but it can negatively impact the mental health of children. Excessive use of social media platforms among children is linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Part of this is the proliferation of cyberbullying, and victims being subjected to harassment and abuse that can have […]

Talking to Children About Racism and Injustices

Children notice and can understand injustices to people at an early age. Therefore, it is important that we start conversations with them about race, racism, and injustices at an early age. They are never too young to model positive relationships with people of all backgrounds. Specific conversations about racism and injustices can – and should […]

Family Digital Wellness: Updates on Social Media Legislation & Lawsuit

2023 was the year that powerful tech companies and their platforms began to be held responsible for their roles in the ongoing youth mental health crisis. Across the country, state attorneys general and school districts filed lawsuits against Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram), ByteDance (parent company of TikTok) and Snap, Inc. which operates […]

#ProtectPAKids: Children and the opioid/fentanyl epidemic

A one-year-old in New York City. A 2-year-old in Seattle. A 10-month-old in San Fransisco. All dead from fentanyl overdoses. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid typically used to treat patients with chronic severe pain or severe pain following surgery, has become popular for illicit use for two key reasons: it’s cheaper to make than other opioids […]

#ProtectPAKids: Catching Up with Chief Charles Streightiff

With nominations open for our 2024 Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids Awards, the Pa Family Support Alliance team wanted to catch up with a past winner, and one name immediately came to mind: Chief Charles T. Streightiff. The Huntingdon Borough Police Department chief — who was the first law enforcement official to receive this […]

Protecting Kids Online: Bringing Awareness to Senate Bill 22

A Pennsylvania Senate panel this week unanimously approved Senate Bill 22, which sets conditions for minors using social media. If adopted by the General Assembly, SB22 would: SB22 was sponsored by Sens. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) and Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) in May 2022. The PFSA team has been monitoring this issue, and we have been out […]

Child Abuse & Neglect: Insights on the 2022 Pa. DHS Child Protective Services Report

The recent release of the annual Child Protective Services report from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) “provides a picture of the challenges we face in eradicating child abuse,” as Gov. Josh Shapiro and DHS Secretary Val Arkoosh, MD, MPH wrote in the report’s welcome letter. And while the 2022 report shows that there […]

Child Protection Policies: Why They’re Essential for Faith-Based Organizations

The recent arrests of Jehovah’s Witnesses members from congregations across Pennsylvania on alleged child sex abuse charges reminds us of the responsibilities we all have for protecting the children in our care from harm. For faith-based and other organizations that work with children, it is critical that child protection be integrated into all aspects of […]

Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect

Child abuse and neglect are serious problems, affecting one in seven children nationwide. The cases in Pennsylvania have increased in recent years. Many of these children will suffer long-term impacts due to this abuse. But did you know we can do something about it?! Child abuse and neglect are preventable Abuse of children does not […]

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