Recently, a report emerged from Dauphin County about a five-month-old baby who was close to death after being left alone for days in an apartment in Hershey that was covered in feces. The baby's mother and only caregiver was accused of a felony count of endangering the child.
In Delaware County, parents faced charges for the severe abuse of their 1-year-old twins. They allegedly starved one medically fragile baby and caused a nearly fatal head injury to the other twin.
Unfortunately, these were just the latest news reports about the terrible things happening to children. Kids are being abused physically, emotionally, and sexually… It's truly unimaginable that such cruelty can be inflicted on the most innocent members of our society.
However, the unfortunate reality is that for some kids, life is a living nightmare – a situation that seems too terrible to be real.
While the distressed baby was in Dauphin County and the twin babies were in Delaware County, in Montgomery County, help is available for the baby’s best interest. The Montgomery Child Advocacy Project is always prepared and eager to assist the most vulnerable and often voiceless victims in our community.
Now in its 20th year, MCAP has represented an impressive number of children, well over 10,000 victims.
The nonprofit organization was established in 2004 by Judge Wendy Demchick-Alloy and Judge Risa Vetri Ferman. At the time, both women were prosecutors with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and witnessed firsthand the terrible things that could happen to children. Skilled attorneys volunteer their time “to advocate for child victims of abuse, neglect, and trafficking in the courts and social services agencies.”
MCAP offers legal services (“Our volunteer attorneys are the heart and soul of our work as they donate their time, resources, and expertise to help give a voice to a fragile, at-risk child”); advocacy (“We advocate for victims of child abuse, neglect, and trafficking with the goals of ensuring safety, justice, and a permanent, nurturing environment for each child”); and education (“We help to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of child abuse and educate members of the legal community.”)
MCAP represents children from birth to 18 in every court in Montgomery County – juvenile, family, criminal, and orphans courts, and from every borough, township, and municipality in Montgomery County, from every socio-economic group. In 2023, according to deputy executive director Mary Anders, MCAP had 765 children referred to them in 565 cases.
According to the MCAP website, the volunteers “represent children in all the legal arenas in Montgomery County, and processes all of their background checks and clearances. MCAP then assigns them to cases referred to us by the District Attorney, the courts, the Public Defender, Mission Kids (forensic interviewer), or law enforcement.”
While MCAP is run by volunteers, it does require some funding to remain sustainable. To assist with these expenses and to raise awareness of the organization and its positive impact, MCAP organizes fundraisers. This year’s event is the first-ever Heroes on the Run — a 5K run (or 1-mile fun run/walk) through Norristown Farm Park.
According to the MCAP website: “All proceeds contribute to MCAP’s ongoing efforts to provide vulnerable children with a voice as they recover from the terrible effects of abuse and neglect.”
The event is a family-friendly festival with face painting, refreshments, music, and games after the race, which starts at 9 a.m.
To sign up for the event, go to https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Norristown/HEROESONTHERUN5K. Registration closes on the day of the race. The website also offers ways to donate for those unable to attend the race, as well as additional information about MCAP and the services it offers.
As an extra benefit, participants may have the chance to meet MCAP’s MVE – Most Valuable Employee.
“Our top employee is Nutmeg, our two-year-old Goldendoodle who serves as a therapy dog,” Anders said. Nutmeg “accompanies kids and stays with them during interviews with law enforcement, the DA’s office, or when they have to testify in court.”
For more information on MCAP, go to https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Norristown/HEROESONTHERUN5K
