JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — April is recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Every year in April, the PA Family Support Alliance (PFSA) honors individuals from across the Commonwealth who go above and beyond the call to protect kids from abuse and neglect.

A program director who works in Johnstown is one of four people in Pennsylvania who will receive an award.

“It’s honestly, it’s pretty surreal. And it’s kind of like a weird, full-circle moment for me. You know, I wrote the nomination for one of our CASA volunteers here back in 2019, and he won. So I’ve already been to the ceremony, but now I guess I get to sit up front and stand on the stairs and get an award,” Tyler Smay, Program Director of CASA of the Laurel Highlands said.

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. It’s part of a nationwide non-profit network. Smay said that CASA is everywhere in America except for North Dakota. He also said that Pennsylvania has just over 20 CASA programs.

CASA volunteers are usually appointed by judges to advocate for children’s best interests.

“I like to say it’s not your standard show up on a Saturday morning and get a t-shirt, and I do tons of that too. And that’s just as important. But it’s a different opportunity. You know, these volunteers are making really great connections with children and youth and families and providers,” Smay said.

Smay has around eight years of experience as Program Director. This year, for his work in child advocacy, he’ll receive a Blue Ribbon Champion Award next Wednesday in Harrisburg.

“In Tyler’s case, you know, he really, is kind of set apart from all the remarkable people who work in CASA statewide. His program alone had, 95% of all the volunteers stay for five years or longer. That’s almost unheard of,” Angela Liddle, President and CEO of PA Family Support Alliance said.

Being a CASA volunteer isn’t as easy as it sounds. The workload can be challenging.

“The number of substantiated abuse cases in 2023 was 4,720 cases. That’s a lot of families. That’s a lot of children. And then, as I said, 57 fatalities. So what we know is that without folks like Tyler, and all the Blue Ribbon champs, our numbers would be much higher,” Liddle said.

According to the PA Family Support Alliance, PFSA staff, board of directors, statewide and local advocates, officials, and corporate supporters will plant 4,720 blue flags to represent the number of substantiated child abuse cases and 57 black flags to represent the number of child deaths due to child abuse in the state in 2023.

“There are tougher days. You read some stories. And I think about it sometimes in court because sometimes I’m in court when, you know maybe, children are being removed from their parents temporarily for their own safety and realizing I’m probably here witnessing the worst day of someone’s life. But ultimately, the impact of having that early childhood intervention and providing services to a youth when they’re young; I think is incredibly valuable,” Smay said.

Flag planting will begin at 9 a.m. at the corner of 3rd & State Street in Harrisburg.

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If you suspect abuse, report it to ChildLine, the state’s 24/7 reporting hotline at (800)-932-0313.

From WTAJ, March 24, 2025