Children's Aid Society of Mercer County is
Dedicated to the overall well-being of Children & Families. Supporting Children, Families & Community since 1889!
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines child abuse as “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation”, or “an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.” The definition of child
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines child abuse as “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation”, or “an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.” The definition of child abuse and neglect typically refers to parents and other caretakers. A “child” under this definition is a person who is younger than 18 years of age or who is not an emancipated minor. The United States Child Protective Services investigates more than 7 million referrals in relation to Child Abuse each year. In Pennsylvania alone, nearly 39,000 reports of Child Abuse were made in 2022. That is 1,000 more than in 2021.
If you suspect abuse, report it! Call ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313 to make an anonymous report. Trained specialists are available 24/7 to receive referrals of suspected child abuse and general child well-being concerns. Each report is handled by a trained specialist who determines the most appropriate course of action. Remember, we can all do our part in preventing child abuse with a simple phone call!
Over the years, Children’s Aid Society has meant different things to different people. When it was a residential placement, you may have called it home. You may credit Children’s Aid Society for helping you expand your family through adoption. Perhaps you took classes to help you learn new parenting techniques that eventually helped you
Over the years, Children’s Aid Society has meant different things to different people. When it was a residential placement, you may have called it home. You may credit Children’s Aid Society for helping you expand your family through adoption. Perhaps you took classes to help you learn new parenting techniques that eventually helped you regain custody of your children. Maybe your role was to foster a child until they were able to return to their birth family. Some of you have been changed by our mentoring program, whether you were a mentor or a mentee. Maybe your memories of Children’s Aid Society consisted of our mental health workers coming to your home to help your family reconnect and overcome obstacles. Hundreds of children have passed through the doors of our daycare; some stayed until they started kindergarten, and some continued to attend the after-school program. Children’s Aid Society has been a part of so many of your lives, and we recognize the difference you have made in our lives as well. We thank you for trusting us to be a part of your life whether it was for a few months or several years. Programs have changed and evolved, but our general goal has remained the same over the years: to support families and children. I look forward to seeing what 2024 has in store for us all.
Heather M. Alt
Executive Director