The NEPA Sleep Safety Task Force, co-chaired by Meghan Lennox Gagorik, executive cirector of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher, has been launched to address the alarming and preventable trend of sleep-related infant deaths in the region. The initiative was born out of conversations between CAC of NEPA and the DA’s office about how more could be done to protect children before tragedy strikes. Guided by CAC’s mission to promote safety, healing and justice, the task force brings together law enforcement, medical professionals, child welfare agencies and community leaders to educate families, shift cultural practices and ensure every baby in Northeastern Pennsylvania has a safe place to sleep. From left: Chris Kolcharno, Lackawanna County detective; Michael Lydon, Dunmore Police Department; Lackawanna County Judge Andy Jarbola; Lackawanna County Judge Michael Barrasse; Gagorik; Bo Loughney, DA’s office; Jeff Gilroy, Scranton Police Department; Michelle Mancuso, Lackawanna County detective; Gallagher; Cortney Grubbs and Ashley Ceccacci, CAC of NEPA.
