Mission Kids

10/29/2026

Prevention Starts with Conversations. Coaches Make a Difference.

As Pennsylvania strengthens protections against hazing, Mission Kids believes one of the most powerful tools for prevention is the influence of trusted adults.

Mission Kids CEO Leslie Slingsby recently shared a personal experience:

"At my son's first Methacton School District soccer practice, the coach spent the entire practice talking with the boys about hazing, respect, healthy choices, and his expectations for how they would treat one another. I thought it was such a powerful example of prevention in action. These boys were hearing important messages from an adult they trust, respect, and know cares about them. He wasn't just teaching them to be better athletes. He was helping them become better teammates and young men."

At Mission Kids, we believe prevention starts with trusted adults who set expectations, model respect, and have meaningful conversations with young people.

That's why Mission Kids offers prevention programs for coaches, student-athletes, and school clubs that promote healthy relationships, positive choices, and accountability.

We encourage schools, coaches, and youth organizations to partner with us to bring these important conversations to their teams.

Because the lessons learned on the field can last a lifetime

10/29/2026

Sometimes, the greatest impact we make is simply helping families feel supported, understood, and cared for during some of their most difficult moments.

We recently received these incredibly kind words from a parent about Adrienne, one of our dedicated Mission Kids Family Advocates:

"What has stood out to me even more than how helpful she has been is simply the kind of person she is. Adrienne is compassionate, patient, caring, and genuinely makes you feel like she cares about the families she works with. During situations that can already feel overwhelming for a family, having someone like her on the other end of the phone makes such a difference." - Parent of a Child Served by Mission Kids

This is what Mission Kids is all about. Behind every service we provide are compassionate professionals who go above and beyond to ensure children and families never feel alone.

We are so proud of Adrienne and grateful for the kindness, dedication, and heart she brings to her work every single day. It's people like Adrienne who make Mission Kids such a special place for children and families.

10/28/2026

Hazing Is Not a Tradition. It Is Harm.

Mission Kids applauds the passage of new legislation in Pennsylvania that strengthens protections for children by making suspected hazing a mandated reportable offense.

This new law requires mandated reporters, including teachers, coaches, and other professionals working with children, to report suspected hazing to ChildLine.

No child should have to endure humiliation, intimidation, violence, or abuse to belong to a team, club, or organization. And no adult should look the other way when a child's safety is at risk.

At Mission Kids, we know that protecting children requires more than responding to abuse after it occurs. It requires prevention, education, accountability, and adults who are willing to speak up.

We thank Pennsylvania lawmakers, particularly Senators Art Haywood and Lisa Baker, Representative Nikki Rivera, and Governor Josh Shapiro, for their leadership in strengthening protections for children.

Every child deserves to feel safe. Every child deserves to be heard. And every adult has a responsibility to help protect them.

State lawmakers and Cheltenham School District leaders gathered to discuss the law and the circumstances that led to its passage.

10/28/2026

What an incredible and invigorating visit to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)! There is something truly inspiring about being surrounded by people who share the same passion, commitment, and innovative spirit when it comes to protecting children. We left feeling energized, inspired, and grateful for the opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and explore new ways to make an even greater impact. A special thank you to the NCMEC team for their hospitality, leadership, and unwavering dedication to protecting children.

10/27/2026

Helping children heal takes a community of people willing to give their time, talents, and care.

Please join us in welcoming Lindsay O’Brien of ICON Plc to the Mission Kids Board of Trustees! We’re grateful to have her alongside us as we work toward a future where every child feels safe, supported, and heard.

Get to know Lindsay and learn more about her connection to our mission in the article below.

Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center welcomes Lindsay O’Brien, Esq., to its Board of Trustees following her appointment in September 2026. A former Montgomery County prosecutor and founding member of Mission Kids’ Young Friends Board, Lindsay brings extensive legal and investigative experience, al...

10/27/2026

Professionals responding to child abuse in Montgomery County and surrounding communities are invited to a free, full-day training at Mission Kids Training Center on November 6.

Learn how Montgomery County’s Multidisciplinary Team coordinates investigations and services, what each discipline brings to the process, and how your role supports children and families.

Topics include minimal facts interviews, forensic interviews, case referrals, medical evaluations, and victim advocacy.

Friday, November 6, 2026 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Mission Kids Training Center
521 Plymouth Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA
No cost to attend.

Open to professionals in law enforcement, child welfare, prosecution, mental health, medicine, forensic interviewing, and victim advocacy. Professionals from surrounding counties are welcome.

Register: https://form.jotform.com/262635464811156

10/23/2026

Mission Kids celebrates the unanimous passage of House Bill 2474 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly!

As technology evolves, so must our laws to protect children from exploitation. HB 2474 strengthens Pennsylvania's mandated reporting requirements by ensuring that suspected child s*xual abuse material (CSAM), including images generated using artificial intelligence (AI), is reported to authorities.

Every child deserves protection, whether abuse occurs in person or through technology.

Technology may change, but our responsibility to protect children never will.

10/23/2026

Abbie Newman, Mission Kids’ CEO of External Affairs, shares her perspective in this article on the critical importance of this funding for Children’s Advocacy Centers throughout the Commonwealth.

We are incredibly grateful to see this important legislation signed into law today, marking a significant step forward in ensuring children impacted by abuse have access to the services, support, and justice they deserve!

Pennsylvania’s child advocacy centers work to make the criminal justice system less traumatic for children. They’ve long struggled with funding.

10/22/2026

A BIG WIN FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S CHILDREN! 💙

Today, we celebrate an important victory for children and families across the Commonwealth!

House Bill 2443 has passed both the Pennsylvania House and Senate, marking a significant step forward in securing additional funding for Children's Advocacy Centers and services supporting survivors of child abuse.

At Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center, we see firsthand how critical these services are. Every child deserves access to protection, healing, and justice, regardless of where they live or their family's ability to pay.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our Montgomery County legislators for recognizing the importance of investing in children and supporting this effort.

We are especially grateful to the legislative champions who have worked to elevate the needs of Children's Advocacy Centers and the children and families we serve.

This is what happens when we come together across party lines and put children first.

We also extend our appreciation to the Children's Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania (PennCAC) for their tireless advocacy and leadership in making this milestone possible.

When Pennsylvania invests in Children's Advocacy Centers, we invest in safer childhoods, stronger families, and brighter futures.

🔗 Read more: https://penncac.org/house-bill-2443-clears-the-pennsylvania-senate-and-house-securing-additional-funding-for-pennsylvania-childrens-advocacy-centers-and-child-abuse-survivor-services/

PRESS RELEASEFor Immediate ReleaseOctober 21, 2026 HARRISBURG, PA — The Children’s Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania (PennCAC) celebrates the bipartisan passage of Pennsylvania House Bill 2443, which will create a Child Victim Recovery Fund to support child abuse survivors across the Commonwealth...