Summary
Organization name
Children's Advocacy Center of York County
Tax id (EIN)
74-3054788
Categories
Education , Health , Children & Family
Address
28 S Queen StreetYork, PA 17403
April is recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of protecting children from abuse and neglect. One of the most visible symbols of this effort is the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign, where blue pinwheels are displayed across communities to represent the joy, hope, and carefree nature of childhood – what every child deserves. Each pinwheel serves as a call to action: to get involved, speak up, and help build a world where all children can thrive and grow up feeling safe, supported, and loved – and together, we can continue to make this happen.
The York County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) is dedicated to reducing the trauma of child abuse investigations and promoting education and advocacy for child abuse prevention within our community. The CAC is a vital community-based organization designed to support children who have experienced abuse or witness traumatic events. Our center brings together a multidisciplinary team of professionals – including law enforcement, child protective services, medical providers, mental health specialists, and prosecutors – to work collaboratively under one roof. This coordinated and holistic approach reduces the number of times a child has to tell their story, minimizing trauma and ensuring that investigations are handled sensitively and effectively.
The York County CAC is proud to highlight each “spoke” of our pinwheel as we raise awareness for child abuse prevention and work together to support and protect children. Just as each spoke helps the pinwheel spin, each service at the CAC plays a crucial role in guiding a child and their family towards healing and justice. Here’s how that looks:
This spoke represents giving children a safe space to tell their story. Specially trained forensic interviewers at the York CAC use trauma-informed techniques to talk to children in a way that is sensitive and developmentally appropriate. The goal is to minimize trauma while gathering information to support investigations in a child-friendly and child-focused manner and environment. In 2024, the York CAC conducted 532 forensic interviews with children.
This spoke focuses on the child’s physical well-being. The York County Children's Advocacy Center offers non-emergency medical evaluations in our child-friendly examination room or at WellSpan York Hospital, provided by the Forensic Examiner Team. These medical exams help to ensure the health and well-being of a child; to reassure the child and family that everything is okay with the child’s body; to link the child and family to other necessary services and resources; and to give the child and caregiver an opportunity to ask any questions they may have. In 2024, 252 children served at our center received a medical exam.
This spoke represents the lifeline extended to non-offending caregivers. Family advocates help guide families through legal, medical, and emotional challenges that arise during the course of the investigative process and beyond. The York County CAC family advocates connect families with resources, offer emotional support, and empower caregivers to advocate for their child’s needs. In 2024, 550 clients were served by the efforts of the York County CAC.
This spoke points toward building a safer tomorrow. Project Safe and Smart within the York County Children’s Advocacy Center provides child abuse prevention education for children and adults in York County. Their programs, including Safe Touches, utilizes an interactive puppet show to trach children that it’s okay to: Trust Your Feelings, Try to Say No, Try to Walk Away, and Tell an Adult about touches that make them feel scared, nervous or uncomfortable. In the 2023/24 school year, Project Safe and Smart served 2412 second grade students in 127 classrooms. Also in 2024, 48 adults participated in our Smarter Parents Safer Kids program.
Each of these services is a spoke in the pinwheel of protection, hope, and promise. When they work together, they spin with purpose – driving forward the mission to keep children safe, supported, and heard. Just like a pinwheel catches the wind to turn, these services catch children in their most vulnerable moments and help them move forward in their healing journey. Please consider joining the York County Children’s Advocacy Center in this mission by donating to our Give Local York 2025 Campaign. Thank you for your support!
The mission of the York County Children’s Advocacy Center is to reduce the trauma of child abuse investigations, foster professional collaboration and cooperation and promote education and advocacy regarding the prevention of child abuse within the community.
The York County Children's Advocacy Center offers a safe place for child abuse victims to receive forensic interviews and forensic medical exams. We facilitate a county-wide multidisciplinary team process to provide coordinated child abuse investigations. The York County Children's Advocacy Center provides services as part of a multidisciplinary team of partners. Each partner plays an important role in the process and delivery of child abuse investigations and support, trauma care and advocacy for child abuse victims and their caregivers in York County. Our partners are: York County Office of Children, Youth and Families; York County District Attorney's Office
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA); Wellspan SAFE Team; Hanover Hospital; Memorial Hospital; York/Adams MH-IDD; Guardians Ad Litum; York County Chiefs of Police Association; Victim Assistance Center, a Program of the YWCA.
Organization name
Children's Advocacy Center of York County
Tax id (EIN)
74-3054788
Categories
Education , Health , Children & Family
Address
28 S Queen Street