Children's Advocacy Center of Erie County

Children’s Advocacy Center of Erie County

Protecting Childhood. Restoring Hope.

Childhood should be filled with wonder — fireflies at dusk, scraped knees from big adventures, the comfort of knowing you are safe. But for too many children in Erie County, those memories are replaced with fear, confusion, and silence.

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Erie County (CACerie) exists to change that.

Every year, hundreds of children come through our doors after experiencing abuse or witnessing violence. Here, in a warm, child‑friendly setting, they meet with a specially trained forensic interviewer — someone who listens with compassion, protects their voice, and helps them share what happened without fear. This single interview prevents a child from having to relive their trauma again and again, while allowing law enforcement and child protective services to act quickly and effectively.

But the CAC is more than a place. It is a process — a coordinated, multidisciplinary response that brings together law enforcement, child protective services, medical professionals, victim advocates, and mental health providers. Together, we ensure that every child receives the care, protection, and justice they deserve.

As former Board Chair Sean Wiley said:
 “If your own child was abused, you would absolutely, unquestionably, want the CAC to take the lead.”

💙 Beyond Response: We Prevent Abuse Before It Happens

Protecting children means more than responding to abuse — it means working tirelessly to stop it.

CACerie offers a range of evidence‑based prevention programs that reach families, caregivers, educators, and community members across Erie County:

• ACT: Raising Safe Kids — empowering parents with positive, nurturing strategies that reduce family stress and prevent violence.
• Period of PURPLE Crying — helping caregivers understand infant crying patterns and prevent shaken baby syndrome.
• Mandated Reporter Guidance — ensuring adults know how to recognize and report concerns appropriately.
• School and community education — teaching children and adults the skills to stay safe and speak up.

These programs are offered at no cost, because every family deserves access to tools that protect their children.

Why Erie Gives Matters

Your Erie Gives donation is vital to sustaining this work. State and federal funding alone cannot meet the growing needs of our community. 

Your generosity ensures that:

• Children have a safe, supportive place to tell their story
• Families receive guidance and connection to community resources
• Prevention programs reach more classrooms, homes, and neighborhoods
• Our multidisciplinary team can respond swiftly and effectively
• No child is ever turned away

When you give, you are standing between a child and their darkest moment. You are helping rewrite their story.

Help Us Protect Childhood

On August 11, 2026, your Erie Gives gift becomes more than a donation — it becomes safety, healing, and hope.

Together, we can ensure that every child in Erie County grows up with the chance to feel safe, loved, and free.

Help us protect childhood. Help us protect our children.

The official registration and financial information of Children's Advocacy Center of Erie County may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.