As I read the (March 29) article “How Pa law made it easy for schools to avoid abuse allegations”, I found myself reflecting on ways that school employees can, and do, make a difference in keeping kids safe. Yes, there have been many positive changes to the Child Protective Services Law in the past 30 […]
abc27: Flags Around Pa. Capitol Complex for Child Abuse Awareness Month
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Thousands of flags now line the streets in and around the State Capitol complex as a reminder to report child abuse. The Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance planted the small flags on Friday, April 1 for the start of Child Abuse Awareness Month. There are 73 black flags representing children who died […]
Pa Family Support Alliance Raises Awareness about Child Abuse Prevention Across the Commonwealth
The organization will honor child advocates; debut videos from government and elected officials; host educational webinars for individuals to learn about child abuse prevention Harrisburg, Pa.– Pa Family Support Alliance (PFSA), the state’s leader in child abuse prevention has brought together local child advocates, elected officials, members from the business community, and nationally recognized experts—all […]
National Child Abuse Prevention Month: Preview of Events
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and PA Family Support Alliance (PFSA) is committed to promoting awareness and providing education to communities and stakeholders across the commonwealth. Throughout April, PFSA is scheduled to host a variety of activities and events, including its annual flag planting event at the Harrisburg Capitol, a virtual fundraiser to […]
Ending the Stigma Around Child Abuse
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 […]
Racial Equity in Pennsylvania’s Child Welfare Systems
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 […]
How to Lookout for Warning Signs of Child Abuse
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. […]
Staff Spotlight: David Merrill, PFSA’s Own David Hasselhoff
“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!” […]
How You Can Help to Prevent Human Trafficking
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 […]
PA Family Support Alliance Welcomes New Board Vice-Chair and Members
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pa Family Support Alliance (PFSA), the state leader in child abuse prevention, today announced the appointment of a new Vice-Chair and five new members to its Governing Board for the 2021-2022 term. “We are fortunate to have such dedicated experts and leaders in their fields serve on our Board of Directors […]
