The Blue Ribbon Champion for Safe Kids Award is presented to individuals who are highly dedicated to protecting children from abuse.

Harrisburg, Pa.– Pa Family Support Alliance (PFSA), the state’s leader in child abuse prevention, today awarded Kimberly Saltsman with the Blue Ribbon Champion for Safe Kids Award. This award is given to four individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to support and protect Pennsylvania’s children.

Saltsman is the Executive Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of Centre County, Mount Nittany Health. She has been with the CAC since its inception in 2014, serving as a forensic interviewer until being named executive director in October 2023.

“Kimberly has a passion for helping children and families through their healing processes,” said Angela Liddle, President and CEO of PFSA. “She has a heart for children and being a confidant to them when they are ready to talk about the experiences. She embodies how community members can make a difference in the lives of others, and children and families in Centre County benefit from her service and passion.”  

Saltsman was the CAC’s primary and sole child forensic interviewer for the majority of its existence, helping children from Centre, Clinton, Huntingdon, Mifflin, and other counties in more than 2,800 cases. She is committed to ensuring every child assisted by the CAC receives every possible available resource and informs caretakers of the process, ensuring their needs are met. She has conducted an average of at least 260 forensic interviews since 2014, and her skillset has enabled agencies to move through investigations in a timely manner.

In honor of this accomplishment, PFSA and Secretary Valerie Arkoosh of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services recognized Saltsman in front of a packed audience of lawmakers, members of the media, child advocates, and students in the Capitol Rotunda today. Pictures and short b-roll clips from today’s ceremony can be found here.

PFSA was joined by Secretary Arkoosh, DHS Deputy Secretary Laval Miller-Wilson and local and state elected officials during today’s ceremony, which kicks off National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Each year, PFSA hosts activities and events throughout the Commonwealth to increase awareness about the need for individuals to learn about the warning signs of abuse and neglect.

According to the 2022 Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ Annual Child Protective Services Report, there were 4,992 substantiated cases of child abuse, 60 substantiated fatalities, and 138 substantiated near fatalities.

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About Pa Family Support Alliance

Pa Family Support Alliance prevents child abuse and protects children from harm by helping parents learn positive parenting techniques, educating professionals and volunteers who work with children to recognize and report child abuse, and helping community members learn how they can play a positive role in keeping children safe. To learn more about our programs, schedule a training, or donate, please visit pafsa.org, or call 800-448-4906.