Gannon University's Role in Creating the Erie County Child Abuse Task Force Honored with PCAR’s Vision of Hope Award
Posted: May 30, 2013A challenge issued by a former Pennsylvania First Lady and a
prominent Gannon University alumna was taken up by a University
Dean. The result was a renewed commitment to protecting Erie County
children from violence, and an award for the people who made it
happen.
Former First Lady Michele Ridge, Dr. Wanda Filer, a family
physician in York, PA, a director at American Academy of Family
Physicians and a Gannon alumna, issued a challenge along with
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) CEO Delilah Rumburg for
Erie County to be represented in efforts to end child sexual
abuse.
Responding to the challenge, Gannon University Provost and Vice
President for Academic Affairs Carolynn Masters, at the time the
dean of the Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences,
created a plan to bring all of the key agencies in Erie County
together.
Through her efforts, the Erie County Child Abuse Task Force came
into being, and was honored with PCAR's 2013 Vision of Hope Award
at the Coalition's May 4 gala in Harrisburg.
The Vision of Hope Award is presented annually to recognize
those who show a commitment to protecting children through violence
prevention and intervention work, and ensure the safety of our
children through increasing awareness, strengthening policies or
creating campaigns that promote healthy families and
communities.
"The Erie County Task Force is a remarkable group of more than
20 agencies that have banded together to battle child sexual abuse
in Erie County," PCAR CEO Rumburg said. "Since the group's
formation in 2011, they've kept the issue of child sexual abuse in
the public eye through community events and education efforts."
This year, Kathleen T. Patterson, Ph.D., RN, assistant professor
and director of Gannon's Villa Maria School of Nursing, and Crime
Victim Center of Erie County executive director Paul Lukach are the
current co-chairs of the Task Force.
"We have hosted monthly meetings and have collaborated on
multiple community events to educate the public," Masters said. "We
have also sponsored national speakers to raise awareness and
educate health professionals. Our primary focus is to raise
awareness and a call to action - if you suspect abuse, report it!
With law enforcement, educators and other mandated
reporters--together we are stronger."
Member agencies of the Task Force are: Achievement Center; Bethesda Children’s Home; Bradley H. Foulk Children’s
Advocacy Center; City of Erie School District (Student Services and Student Assistance); Crime Victim’s Center of Erie
County; Diocese of Erie: Office for Protection of Children and Youth; Erie County Care Management; Erie County District
Attorney’s Office; Erie Family Center; Erie Community Foundation; Erie County Health Department; Erie County Office of
Children and Youth; Erie Police Department; Family Services of Northwest PA; Gannon University; Parental Alienation
Awareness Organization; Presque Isle Psychiatric Association; Safe Harbor Behavior Health; Safe Net Domestic Violence;
Saint Vincent Health System; Shriners Hospital for Children; Success by 6; and UPMC Hamot.