Pennsylvania’s Youngest Victims Deserve Safe, Trauma-Informed Support

By Seán McCormack, Cumberland County District Attorney

Child Abuse Awareness Month may have come to an end, but we must recognize that our work to protect the youngest and most vulnerable in our society is not over. For prosecutors, that means we must ensure that every child affected by abuse or exploitation has access to trauma-informed care, safety, and a path toward justice.

Every day, prosecutors confront cases of abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Child abuse survivors deserve not only justice in the courts, but compassion, coordination, and specialized care that meets their unique needs. That is why adequate and reliable funding for Pennsylvania’s Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) must remain a priority in the state budget.

CACs are the backbone of a trauma‑informed response to child abuse. When a child walks through the doors of a CAC, they enter a safe, child‑centered environment where trained professionals conduct forensic interviews, provide medical evaluations, offer victim advocacy, and connect families with mental‑health services. Instead of forcing a child to retell their story multiple times to multiple agencies, CACs bring law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors, medical providers, and counselors together in one coordinated setting.

I have specialized in the prosecution of child abuse crimes since 1995, and I can tell you this model works. It reduces trauma, strengthens investigations, and improves outcomes for children and families. In Cumberland County and across the Commonwealth, CACs help ensure that when a child bravely discloses abuse, the system responds with skill, sensitivity, and urgency.

But this work is resource‑intensive. CACs face rising caseloads, increasing complexity in investigations, and growing demand for specialized staff. Many centers operate with limited funding streams that fluctuate or fall short, making it difficult to plan, hire, and sustain the services children rely on. Strong support from the Commonwealth allows CACs to keep pace with the needs of our communities.

As district attorneys, we see firsthand the difference a strong CAC makes. Pennsylvania’s children deserve certainty that the system is fully equipped to protect them and shepherd them through the justice system without causing further trauma.

Fighting child abuse must include support for victims. Supporting CAC funding is an investment in safety, justice, and healing for the most vulnerable among us. I join my fellow prosecutors in the PDAA to urge lawmakers to prioritize this funding and ensure that every child in Pennsylvania has access to the care and protection they need to move forward with hope and dignity.