News

Statement on the death of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, Zachery Potts, and Emma Thomson

The Prevent Child Abuse America and Healthy Families America community is deeply saddened by the loss of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski and her two staffers, Zachery Potts and Emma Thomson, who tragically passed away yesterday. We extend our sincerest condolences to the families and the many friends and colleagues who will miss their passion and dedication to their country, the state of Indiana and the constituents they served.

The Centers for Disease Control Joins Thriving Families, Safer Children to promote the health and well-being of families

Prevent Child Abuse America is excited to announce that the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Injury Center) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has joined the Thriving Families, Safer Children effort. Thriving Families, Safer Children is a first-of-its-kind national partnership that works across public, private and philanthropic sectors to promote the health, well-being and economic stability of families to help strengthen communities and end the harmful practice of family separation.

A Message on Gun Violence from Dr. Melissa Merrick

This month, the Chicagoland area and the entire nation mourns the loss of numerous lives and the injuries of many others in what can only be described as senseless acts of violence this Independence Day weekend. The understandable outrage and profound sadness following the mass shootings that occurred not only on Chicago’s South Side and in nearby Highland Park, Illinois, but also around the country, are feelings that we at Prevent Child Abuse America share. As a national organization headquartered in Chicago, all of us at PCA America feel the weight of these tragedies, and we stand in solidarity with our friends and neighbors.

“Child abuse deaths are preventable”: Read Dr. Melissa Merrick’s op-ed in the Chicago Sun Times

PCA America’s President and CEO Dr. Melissa Merrick has published an opinion piece titled “Child abuse deaths are preventable” in the Chicago Sun Times with Dr. Norell Rosado, Interim Division Head of Child Abuse Pediatrics at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago:

Dr. Melissa Merrick Joins National Expert Advisory Committee

PCA America CEO, Dr. Melissa Merrick has been selected to speak at the kickoff event for Pathways to Resilience’s Expert Advisory Committee. This new initiative is a national forum to help states and communities advance trauma-responsive policies and programs across sectors. 

Child Abuse and Neglect During the Pandemic – A Complicated Story So Far

What a heavy week it is for our nation and communities. Words are not enough to express our collective grief, and our hearts are with the families of the victims and the entire community in Uvalde, Texas. As a mother, I’m angry and frustrated and so sad (all the feelings, really), knowing that these events and the tragic loss of lives did not have to happen. This could have been prevented if we truly implemented a comprehensive approach to preventing gun violence.

Prevent Child Abuse America Working to Promote Family Wellbeing in the Wake of the Pandemic

CHICAGO (May 16, 2022) – Prevent Child Abuse America

Prevent Child Abuse America Welcomes Gelasia Croom as Its New Chief Communications Officer

Chicago — Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America), the nation’s oldest and largest organization committed to preventing child abuse and neglect before it happens, announced today that Gelasia Croom has joined the organization as its new Chief Communications Officer, effective this week. A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Croom most recently served as Director of Strategic Communications at Children’s Home & Aid Society of Illinois, where she oversaw both internal and external communications.

Prevent Child Abuse America and Saving Promise Sign on as Advocacy Partners for the Film Adaption of “A Child Called It”

#1 New York Times Bestseller Tells an Unforgettable Story of Child Abuse
Non-Profits Will Provide Expert Perspective, Help Raise Public Understanding of Child Abuse, and Provide Resources and Strategies for Prevention

CHICAGO and WASHINGTON, D.C, April 27, 2022 — Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) and Saving Promise, two of the nation’s leading nonprofits focused on the prevention of child abuse and domestic violence, have been named advocacy partners for the film adaptation of the #1 New York Times Bestseller, A Child Called It.

The iconic book tells the harrowing story of author David Pelzer’s physical and emotional abuse by an unstable, alcoholic

Speak Up to Prevent Child Abuse

Join us, alongside our partners nationwide, in contacting lawmakers to urge them to act now to reauthorize and increase funding for the bipartisan Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. Your members of Congress need to hear from you! 

Act Now

The MIECHV program is a federal grant to states, territories, and Tribes that supports evidence-based home visiting for families and children from prenatal period through kindergarten entry.