The Child Protective Services 2023 Annual 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 2023 report shows that there are still complicated challenges, […]

Going back to school is an exciting time. But parents and guardians must prepare their children for the first day, and keeping tabs on transportation and behavioral needs as the school year kicks into gear. Preparing before the first day Transitioning from summer routines to school-year routines can be challenging. The school year requires different […]

Kids are having fun at pools, beaches, and lakes this summer.  And while a dip in the pool or ocean is a lot of fun, drowning is the number one leading cause of death in children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 5-14. In May, a toddler in […]

May is Older Americans Month, reminding us of a significant trend that is obvious but not largely discussed. Across Pennsylvania, and the rest of the country, more grandparents than ever are raising their grandkids. Estimates vary on how many grandparents in Pennsylvania are raising their grandkids, but reports indicate that the number is anywhere from […]

It’s been a busy but amazing April for Pa Family Support Alliance. Now, as April and National Child Abuse Prevention Month draw to a close, we are grateful how our partners and communities used the month to raise awareness around preventing child abuse and neglect. Here are some of the #ProtectPAKids highlights from April: Blue […]

TikTok was one of the main reasons the Pa Family Support Alliance created the Family Digital Wellness initiative in 2022. The video sharing app has more than 170 million users in the U.S., many of whom are of younger ages, and is known for its addictive nature. On March 13, the U.S. House of Representatives […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Fighting Child Abuse & Neglect: 2023 in Review It’s hard to believe another year is winding down, and that we’re just days away from 2024. For the team at Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance, the mission for 2023 was the same as every year: provide education, support, and training programs to make Pennsylvania safe for children. […]