Children's Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania

09/18/2026

09/17/2026

This month, we’re proud to highlight Kim Marcantonio, whose dedication to protecting vulnerable youth helps strengthen Children’s Advocacy Centers across Pennsylvania every day.

As PennCAC’s Manager of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Programming, Kim oversees specialized initiatives and coordinates targeted training that equips multidisciplinary teams to support victims of human trafficking and exploitation. Her work ensures that advocates, law enforcement, and care providers statewide have the specialized tools needed to provide compassionate, trauma-informed care.

Kim draws daily inspiration from a favorite Brené Brown quote: “Life is better when I assume that people are doing their best.”

“I have learned to tell myself this when I get frustrated,” Kim notes. “We’re all doing our best, including victims and agencies that are there to help victims. Access to resources can be difficult, and it’s helpful to be reminded that people are doing their best within challenging circumstances.”

We’re so grateful for Kim’s empathy, perspective, and dedication to serving Pennsylvania’s youth.

Learn more about our team: https://penncac.org/leadership-staff/

09/17/2026

Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and heard. Few know that better than Mount Nittany Health, our Leading Light Sponsor for SHINE.

Thank you for your support of SHINE and the Children's Advocacy Center of Centre County. Your dedication to the CAC mission helps children and families find hope, healing and justice every day.

💙

09/16/2026

No matter where you are in Pennsylvania, if you or a loved one are feeling hopeless or having thoughts about su***de, you are not alone. Help is available.

📱 Call or text 988
💻 988lifeline.org
💬 Text “PA” to 741-741

09/15/2026

We have a fabulous line-up of speakers to wrap up our SHINE Walk on Friday, including:

🔹CenClear's acting CEO, Dr. Mary Tatum
🔹Children’s Advocacy Centers of NEPA's executive director, Meghan Lennox Gagorik
🔹Lackawanna County's District Attorney, Brian Gallagher
🔹Attorney, advocate and survivor Sarah Klein

There's still time to join us for the 2026 SHINE Walk! ☀ Sign up now: https://bit.ly/4ySeWES

We are excited to share that Dr. Mary Tatum, Acting CEO of CenClear, will be a guest speaker at the SHINE event in Harrisburg this Friday, September 18!

SHINE, an initiative of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania (PennCAC), is about bringing awareness to child sexual abuse, standing with survivors, and shining a light on the important work being done to protect children and support families across Pennsylvania. The SHINE Walk brings communities together to raise awareness, reduce the stigma surrounding child sexual abuse, and show survivors that they are not alone.

We are honored to have Dr. Tatum represent CenClear CAC-CC at SHINE, and to stand alongside Children’s Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania, survivors, families, professionals, and communities across the Commonwealth.

Together, we can shine a light, raise awareness, support survivors, and help create safer futures for Pennsylvania’s children. 💛

09/15/2026

Child trafficking often looks very different from what people expect. It is rarely dramatic or obvious; more often, the red flags are subtle and hidden in plain sight.

When adults across our communities know what indicators to look for, children are far more likely to be seen, supported, and protected before deeper harm occurs.

While no single sign tells the complete story, noticing a combination of these warning signs is a reason to pay attention:

🚩 Controlled or Restricted Independence: A young person who is not free to speak for themselves, is accompanied by a controlling adult, or lacks access to their own ID or phone.

🚩 Unexplained Belongings or Income: Sudden access to large amounts of cash, luxury items, expensive gifts, or multiple phones without a clear source.

🚩 Behavioral & Emotional Shifts: Unusually fearful, submissive, anxious, or paranoid behavior, or withdrawal from friends, family, and normal routines.

🚩 Confusion About Location or Living Arrangements: Inability to clarify where they are staying, claiming to be "visiting" without an address, or history of running away.

🚩 Physical Red Flags: Unexplained injuries, signs of physical restraint, or physical "branding" (such as tattoos featuring someone else’s name or symbol).

Recognizing the signs is the first step toward action. If you suspect a child or teen is in danger, trusting your instincts can help guide them to safety.

Learn the signs, understand Pennsylvania anti-trafficking laws, and access free safety tools by downloading PennCAC’s official one-pager guide:https://penncac.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Warning-Signs-of-Human-Trafficking-one-pager.pdf (shorten)

📞 Need Help or Want to Report Suspected Trafficking?
• National Human Trafficking Hotline: Call 1-888-373-7888 or text "HELP" or "INFO" to 233733 (24/7, confidential)
• PA ChildLine: 1-800-932-0313

09/14/2026

We’re grateful to welcome CenClear as a new SHINE sponsor. Their support strengthens the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers across Pennsylvania.

While they may be a new SHINE sponsor, they are not new to the CAC movement. Thank you for investing in children, supporting survivors, and helping create safer communities. 💙 We’re proud to have you as a partner in this mission.

09/13/2026

Happy National Grandparents Day! Today, we’re celebrating the grandparents, caregivers, and extended family members who serve as steady anchors for Pennsylvania’s children. 👵👴💛

The impact of grandparent involvement goes far beyond family traditions—science backs it up:

• Stronger Mental Health: Research published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that close ties with grandparents are linked to higher emotional resilience and fewer depressive symptoms in children as they grow.

• Stress Buffers for Youth: Recent research highlights how regular intergenerational connection reduces youth anxiety and helps kids navigate complex social stressors with greater confidence.

• Protective Circles: Grandparents can provide a trusted "safe landing place" where kids know their feelings are heard and validated—a critical element in keeping children safe and supported.

To all the grandparents and kinship caregivers stepping up, listening deeply, and wrapping extra love around our youth: thank you for being a vital part of the healing process.

09/12/2026

A safer future for children starts with people and organizations willing to make a difference. 🌞 Thank you to new SHINE sponsor, PA Health & Wellness!

We are grateful for your support of Children’s Advocacy Centers and the safety, healing, and well-being of children across Pennsylvania. Together, we’re helping children and families find hope and a path forward.

09/11/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to end your work week? Take a walking lunch with the Children's Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania!

🗓️ Friday, September 18
🕚 11am – Noon
📍 City Island, Harrisburg
🔗 https://bit.ly/4ySeWES

The SHINE walk raises awareness for the issue of child abuse in Pennsylvania and uplifts the work Pennsylvania’s CACs do to help young survivors heal. 🩵 Walk with us to show survivors they are not alone.

If you can’t join us in person, make a donation to help provide safety, hope, and healing to Pennsylvania’s youngest survivors.