MCAPMCAP MONTGOMERY CHILD ADVOCACY PROJECT

MCAP  MISSION STATEMENT Provide free legal representation and social services to abused and neglected children of Montgomery County.  MCAP became incorporated as a 501(c)(3) corporation on December 16,  In its initial year as a nonprofit organization MCAP trained 77 attorneys to be advocates.  In 2005, those 77 advocates represented 203 children in 123 cases.  As of December 31, 2006, the number of advocates has grown to 117 and they represented 255 children in 146 cases.

MCAP UNIVERSAL TRUTHS  According to Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR), 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted in Pennsylvania by the time they reach 18 years old.  The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare reports that in sexual abuse cases, the offender relationship to the child victim is as follows: 29% Parent 18% Babysitters 14% Household members 11% Siblings 28% Others  Children of physical and sexual abuse disclose the details of the abuse to someone they trust.

MCAP Scenario MCAP attorney was appointed by Judge Nicholas to represent a 12- year-old boy who had been sexually assaulted by his father for many years. When the young boy told his mother, she did nothing. During the trial, the young boy was in and out of group homes. The MCAP attorney spent many hours with the young boy. The boy was able tot testify against his father and the parents pled guilty. The boy did not have to testify in court. Eventually, the young boy was placed at home with a trusted relative.

MCAP Scenario Office of Children and Youth requested an MCAP advocate to represent a 7 year old girl and a 9 year old boy who were babysat by their grandfather for 4 years while their parents worked. During the course of the babysitting, Gramps played pornography to the minors and then had them replay the horrific scenes. When Gramps was arrested, the small children were pressured to change their stories because Gramps loved them and could not go to jail. With the help of the MCAP attorney, the children were able to testify and Gramps was incarcerated. The children received the necessary help to heal and learn to trust.

MCAP Scenario During the course of arresting a husband due to a domestic dispute, Officer Smith found 2 small girls, ages 5 and 13, hiding in a bedroom. Upon questioning, Officer Smith learned that Mom regularly beat them especially the 5 year old because the 13 year old was too strong and quick. The older girl had video images of the beatings from her cell phone. Officer Smith took the girls into custody and contacted MCAP for an advocate. An advocate discovered that Mom suffered from Huntingdon Disease and momentarily would lose her mental and physically faculties. Mom voluntary entered a mental and physical treatment for her disease. The girls were placed with a trusted grandparent to raise while the parents learn to deal with the disease.

MCAP ADVOCATES  Who are MCAP advocates?  Advocates are lawyers in Montgomery County specializing in all areas of the law who donate their time and resources to represent children of abuse and gross neglect in Montgomery County.  Currently, there are 123 MCAP advocates who zealously represent abused and neglected children in Montgomery County.  In its brief history, MCAP has cumulatively represented 618 abused children in 372 cases.

MCAP Organization Structure Administrative Director Mary C. Pugh, Esquire Project Director Wendy Demchick-Alloy, Esquire Administrative Assistant Pat Bertschy

MCAP Funding Private Donors Grants Corporate Sponsorship

MCAP Future MCAP will continue to grow and meet the needs of the Children of Montgomery County. MCAP will become a permanent fixture and available to all children in need.

Telephone Fax