A classic stereotype is that men are supposed to be tough, stoic and that they do not talk much—if at all—about abuses that they or those in their family might have faced. This stereotype is often true in the rap and hip-hop community. However, rapper Paul Wall, who was very popular in the mid-2000s recently […]

Black History Month is a significant month for our nation. It is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate, honor, and recognize the contributions and impact that Black Americans have made to our nation, and it should be a time to celebrate the diversity that strengthens our nation. This should also be a time […]

Seven-year-old Harmony Montgomery has been missing since October of 2019. Her disappearance was reported to police at the end of 2021—over 2 years later. As soon as the authorities were notified, they launched an investigation and recently arrested her father on charges relating to her disappearance, including assault and endangering the welfare of a child. […]

“A lot of friends of mine have told me that I look like David Hasselhoff or Jim Carey or a combination of the two,” David Merrill, Director of Finance at the Pa Family Support Alliance (PFSA) laughingly recounts. “I always tell them that I will take that—even if they don’t mean it as a compliment!”  […]

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and believe it or not, human trafficking—especially the trafficking of children—is a massive problem in the United States. There are many forms of human trafficking such as forced labor, debt bondage, domestic servitude, forced child labor, sex trafficking, and child sex trafficking. And human trafficking is a problem […]

On December 9, former reality tv star Josh Duggar from the show 19 Kids and Counting, was convicted of being in possession of child pornography and now faces up to 20 years in prison. This guilty verdict shows that no one is above the law and stopping those possessing this type of material is a […]

In April, we observe National Child Abuse Prevention Month and typically have our annual PA Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids ceremony in the Capitol rotunda in Harrisburg. Due to COVID-19, this event has looked very different for the past two years. In 2021, we recognized community leaders dedicated to protecting PA children from abuse […]

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic Violence can happen in any home, in any neighborhood, to any family or child. Domestic violence has historically increased during pandemics and economic crises, two issues families and children currently face. Recognizing domestic violence is crucial to providing support to the children who are impacted. A partner […]

Children who are bullied may feel helpless, fear retaliation or backlash from reporting bullying, and may think they are socially isolated from receiving support. Indicators of bullying can include: Declining grades/attention in the classroom Changes in regular habits and routines, including eating and getting ready in the morning Difficulty sleeping or experiences with nightmares Avoidance […]

September is National Recovery Month, an observance of the importance of accessible mental health services to those in need of substance use treatment. The 2021 national theme for recovery month is “recovery is for everyone: every person, every family, every community.”  We started the Families in Recovery program to provide families touched by addiction with […]