The Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA is opening its doors to lawmakers and members of law enforcement as they push for more funding from Harrisburg.
SCRANTON, Pa. — A friendly environment, a place for medical exams, and space for advocates to help children who have been victims of heinous crimes.
“We would have to appear before our local judge, and he would make the final determination if the child was actually available or not. If not available, then these recordings are extremely important,” said D.A. Marion O’Malley, (R) Susquehanna County.
It’s that kind of work that sees a partnership between the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania and law enforcement agencies from across the state every year. As hundreds of cases come through the door here along Mulberry Street in Scranton.
“It allows us to get all of the information we need to investigate and prosecute out of one interview in a friendly environment where the child doesn’t have to keep repeating the same story, which prevents them from being re-traumatized,” said D.A Joe Peters, (R) Wyoming County.
Along with showing off what work they do, center leaders also expressed to lawmakers how state funding helps their mission and the lengths they go to keep the doors open.
That’s why they are hoping new proposed state legislation will bring Pennsylvania up to speed with other states.
“The legislator has to figure out a way to fund these programs. Right now, you know, we’re super low in terms of how we fund per case in Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Kyle Donahue (D), 113th District.
“So we’re doing whatever it takes, but to have a state funding line that would allow us to stabilize a little bit and to continue to grow and develop and to further improve our organization would be an incredible opportunity,” said Meghan Lennox Gagorik, Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania Exec. Director.
Lennox Gagorik serves as the center’s executive director. As the agency’s services continue to stretch into neighboring counties, she hopes showing the work they do today will make a difference tomorrow. “Today’s conversations in that work because a lot of time it stays in theory, but for us, it’s not theory, it’s our day to day, and we’re seeing these children, and it was important for people to see the room where they’re making the disclosures of the horrific things that have occurred to them.”
More than 13,000 children visited children’s advocacy centers across the state in 2025.