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Centre County proclaims October "Protects Kids Month" as agencies outline prevention services
Summary
The Centre County Board of Commissioners adopted a proclamation recognizing October as Protects Kids Month. County children and youth services, the Mount Nittany Health Children’s Advocacy Center, the Youth Service Bureau and the YMCA described prevention, reporting and family-support programs and urged community involvement.
The Centre County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday adopted Proclamation No. 49 of 2025, declaring October 2025 “Centre County Protects Kids Month,” as county and nonprofit representatives outlined prevention and support services for children and families.
The proclamation was read and supported by representatives of the Better Together Collaborative and partner agencies. Stephanie Smith, Centre County children and youth agency liaison, told commissioners that the county’s office connects families with no-cost prevention and supportive services and that, from January through August, the county had responded to “approximately a 122 reports of CPS allegations and ... 783 GPS reports.”
The Mount Nittany Health Children’s Advocacy Center, represented by Executive Director Kim Saltzman, described the center’s role in coordinating forensic interviews, medical exams and multidisciplinary team responses to alleged child abuse. “We continue to serve an average of 300 child cases annually,” Saltzman said, and the center provides trained forensic interviewers and pediatric medical exams as part of a community-based, child-focused approach.
Theresa Keefer of the Youth Service Bureau summarized prevention programs such as after-school sites, Big Brothers Big Sisters, parenting classes and shelters, saying these services “are designed to keep children engaged, supported, and helping them with essential skills.” Jamie, of the YMCA of Centre County, described free community trainings available through the YMCA and partner organizations and encouraged residents and organizations to sign up at the YMCA website.
District Attorney Bernie Cantorna praised the collaborative network of child-serving organizations and called out the wraparound services available when families are under stress, saying the agencies are “the folks that are doing the hard work.” Commissioners also thanked the organizations for their work.
Commissioner motion and vote: a motion to adopt Proclamation No. 49 was made and seconded; the board voted verbally in favor and the motion carried.
Why it matters: commissioners and the presenting agencies framed the proclamation as a public-awareness step to highlight coordinated prevention, reporting and family-support services. Officials emphasized both the high volume of reports and the role of local nonprofit and government partnerships in responding.
What’s next: the presenters urged community involvement through volunteer opportunities, parenting programs and free trainings; the proclamation recognition will accompany outreach activities throughout October.
