News

Dr. Melissa Merrick Named New President & CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America

June 18, 2019

Chicago—Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) announced today that after a nationwide search its board of directors has selected Dr. Melissa Merrick as the organization’s next president and chief executive officer. Merrick brings more than 18 years of clinical, research and leadership experience related to the etiology, course and prevention of child abuse and neglect. Merrick currently serves as a senior epidemiologist at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and will begin with PCA America on July 15.

“We’re pleased to have found an individual so uniquely qualified to assume leadership of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization focused on the primary prevention of child abuse and neglect,” said PCA America Board Chair Andrea Robertson. “Dr. Merrick has strategically framed the prevention of early adversity as an urgent public health need, directly connected to positive child welfare, social and economic outcomes in her work at CDC. We’re thrilled she’ll be leading the next chapter of PCA America’s important work.”

“PCA America’s dedication to abuse and neglect prevention through the promotion of safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children and its network of state chapters can propel true data-driven prevention action,” explained Merrick. “This infrastructure and the organization’s evidence-based approach are among the critical factors that will advance the next generation of prevention work and ensure the conditions for strong and thriving children, families and communities across the country. I’m eager to begin this ex

Prevent Child Abuse America Announces Successful Re-chartering of Iowa & Mississippi Chapters, Environments for Innovation and Collaboration

April 10, 2019

Chicago—Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) announced today that Prevent Child Abuse Iowa (PCA Iowa) and Prevent Child Abuse Mississippi (PCA Mississippi) are the most recent chapters to successfully complete the organization’s rigorous re-chartering process.

“State chapters are the lifeblood of our work,” said PCA America President & CEO Dan Duffy. “We’re fortunate to work with such a talented and dedicated network of experts, and we’re grateful to the leadership and staff at PCA Mississippi and PCA Iowa who enable us to broadly extend our efforts and positively impact the lives of children, families and communities nationwide.”

During the re-chartering process, formally called the Building Capacity Chartering, PCA America chapters undergo an in-depth assessment that evaluates criteria such as the demonstration of a strong mission and consistent brand identity, documentation of sound operational infrastructure and financial resources and evidence of leadership in the statewide scope of influence and activity in child abuse and neglect prevention.

“These criteria help ensure consistency across the network, which in turn provides a solid foundation for innovation, allowing us to really focus on the needs of our core audiences,” stated PCA Iowa Executive Director Liz Cox. “For example, in 2015 we developed Connections Matter, a tr

Prevent Child Abuse America Announces New Board Member, Appointments

March 21, 2019

Chicago—Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America), the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the primary prevention of child abuse and neglect, announced today that Steven Harris, a partner at the Chicago-based law firm McDonald Hopkins LLC, has joined its national board of directors. The organization also announced the following new appointments on the board: Andrea Robertson, retired group executive, corporate treasurer of MasterCard Worldwide (chair); Robert Mayo, co-founder and vice chairman emeritus of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (co-vice chair); and Dr. Bruce Perry, senior fellow at the ChildTrauma Academy (co-vice chair).

“Ensuring happy, healthy childhoods requires a team effort, and I’m thrilled to have such a talented roster of respected leaders guiding what we do,” said PCA America President & CEO Dan Duffy. “Each of these individuals brings deep and specific knowledge to our work, and their combined expertise in finance, governance, business, medicine, research and other fields will bolster our continued and strategic growth as an organization, allowing us to effectively and efficiently reach more children and families across the country and realize our collective vision of no child ever being abused or neglected.”

Harris, who served on his firm’s executive committee, has a national reputation as an advisor to business and professional organizations, counseling privately owned corporations and healthcare clients on contractual and regulatory issues, succession planning and related transactional matters. His civic duties include acting as mayor of the Village of Deerfield, Ill., and as a director of the Illinois State Tollway Authority.

Robertson, who has served seven years on PCA America’s n

Announcing the Retirement of Prevent Child Abuse America President & CEO James M. Hmurovich

October 16, 2015

CHICAGO—Prevent Child Abuse America is formally announcing the retirement of President & CEO James M. Hmurovich. For 10 years, staff and he have worked to deliver on evidence-based strategies to promote healthy child development, supportive services for parents, and the primary prevention of child abuse and neglect.