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Centre County proclaims April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention months; local providers outline services
Summary
The Centre County Board of Commissioners adopted proclamations recognizing April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month after presentations from Center Safe and the Better Together collaborative, which described services, outreach and volunteer opportunities across the county.
Jennifer Pensick, executive director of Center Safe, told the Centre County commissioners on April 2 that her agency is marking its 50th anniversary while facing “incredibly high demand” for free and confidential services for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking.
Pensick said Center Safe supports roughly 900 domestic violence survivors a year, about 200 sexual-assault survivors and about 200 individuals and families who need shelter or housing over the course of a year. She also described a hotline that “typically receives between about 1,200 and 1,500 calls every single year.” Pensick listed Center Safe events for April — from Take Back the Night to Denim Day — and urged residents to volunteer, donate and advocate for sustained funding for local rape-crisis services. “Fifty years for a nonprofit is no small feat,” she said.
The commissioners followed with a motion to adopt Proclamation 14, 2026, designating April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Centre County. The motion passed after a recorded voice of opposition; the proclamation was adopted.
The meeting then turned to Proclamation 15, recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Stephanie Smith, agency liaison for Centre County Children and Youth, said the county investigated 272 reports of suspected child abuse in 2024 and displayed blue flags representing the 51 reports that were substantiated locally that year. Smith emphasized prevention and reporting pathways, urging residents to call the statewide Childline or local children and youth services and to consider training such as Stewards of Children.
Representatives from the Better Together collaborative joined Smith. Jamie, a YMCA staff member, described free trainings and community events including a regional “healthy kids day.” Kim Saltzman, executive director of the Centre County Children’s Advocacy Center (part of Mount Nittany Health in the transcript), said the center serves an average of about 300 cases annually across four counties and provides trauma‑informed forensic interviews, medical exams and coordinated advocacy. Christine with the Centre County Youth Service Bureau described prevention and family-support programs, including mentoring, after‑school programs and shelter services.
Commissioners praised the cross‑sector collaboration that supports prevention, investigation and recovery services for children and families. A motion to adopt Proclamation 15 passed, again with a single recorded dissent; staff and partners posed for a proclamation photo.
What happens next: the proclamations are ceremonial but signal county support for the agencies that provide victim services and prevention work. Center Safe and partners listed training dates, volunteer opportunities and web resources for residents who want to learn more or contribute. The board moved on to routine business after the proclamations.
