Melissa T. Merrick, PhD, is President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America), the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the primary prevention of child abuse and neglect.
At Prevent Child Abuse America, we work hard to realize our vision of a world where all children grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in supportive families and communities.
You can influence public policy. Advocacy happens in many different ways, but at its core advocacy is about raising awareness, building and leveraging relationships, and educating others around the issues and policies that matter to you.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month, a time when child wellness and child welfare organizations across the U.S. elevate the importance of creating systems and programs that put children and families first.
Ever since April was designated as National Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month in 1983, Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) and its nationwide network of state chapters, along with other child welfare organizations, have recognized it as a time to raise awareness and inspire collective action, so that our country’s children can lead their best lives.
Explore our compendium of research and resources on how Americans think about child development and how to increase public support for policies that support prevention and intervention policies that reduce child abuse and neglect.
#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 mother before becoming a foster child at the age of 12. Since its release in 1995, the book has sold millions of copies worldwide and was a New York Times Bestseller for years.
As partners to the production, PCA America and Saving Promise will provide expert perspective on abuse-related issues, help the filmmakers raise public awareness and understanding of the societal conditions and issues underlying abuse, and provide resources and strategies for intervention and prevention.
“April is National Child Abuse Prevention month, and there couldn’t be a better time to announce this unique and powerful partnership,
Home>Child Abuse Prevention MonthResearchOUR IMPACTEverything we do is informed by science
Science informs all the work we do at Prevent Child Abuse America. We define science as data, research, and lived experience. Our team of experts work across all departments to ensure that our prevention strategies are guided by the best available science. We also translate research findings for practice and policy audiences and the public, elevating lessons learned from the field and advancing knowledge of what works.
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 traum
Home>Child Abuse Prevention MonthOur NetworkHOME VISITINGPrevention happens in partnership—and our primary partners in child abuse and neglect prevention are the valued members of our nationwide state chapter network, who extend our important work in communities throughout the country.
The Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) nationwide state chapter network has been around since 1976, when our very first chapter opened in Kansas. Since then, we’ve grown considerably to 46 states and the District of Columbia. Chapters range from independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to agencies that operate under umbrella organizations, such as government departments, hospitals, and universities.
Chapters contribute invaluably to our comprehensive prevention efforts, providing state-level expertise and resources and ultimately amplifying our work widely in communities nationwide. They work in tandem with a wide array of community partners to deliver valuable day-to-day prevention work, including the formulation of innovative strategies to address issues such as child sexual abuse, raising awareness for the prevention of child abuse and neglect, and advocating with state and local governments to ensure that there is funding available for programs designed to benefit children and families. Use the map below to find the PCA America state chapter nearest you: