Photo submitted to the Times Observer Melissa McLean, executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Warren County, is pictured during her recent trip to the National Children’s Alliance Rural Convocation in Montana.

Melissa McLean didn’t miss a recent opportunity to spread her message of collaboration with other Rural Children’s Advocacy Center leaders across the country.

McLean, executive director and forensic interviewer for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Warren County, recently traveled to the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) Rural Convocation in Montana. McLean was one of three Pennsylvania executives selected to attend the event, which brought more than 150 locals. and national leaders from Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country, including Teresa Huizar, CEO of the National Alliance for Children.

At the meeting, McLean was part of the Partnerships for Sustainability panel, where she presented the role that community support and local partnerships play in sustaining the services of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Warren County. Her presentation highlighted the outstanding support provided by Warren County organizations and businesses, with a special focus on WCCAC’s membership in the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry (WCCBI).

“We have always said that Warren County is a special place to live and work. It was an honor to be able to share this with other participants and encourage them to create strong connections in the community. It truly does take a village to make a lasting impact, and our partners in Warren County are a testament to that commitment.” McLean said.

The National Children’s Alliance is a national association dedicated to helping communities respond to allegations of child abuse. It provides local centers with training, financial support, technical assistance, leadership, national advocacy and access to current national research results. The recent rural meeting addressed the challenges facing rural centres, with sessions on partnerships, access to resources and community outreach.

“Our community partnerships are critical to supporting our mission, and being a part of WCCBI allows us to increase our resources and strengthen our response to child abuse.” McLean shared with the panelists.

Children’s Advocacy Centers associated with the National Children’s Alliance are subject to an accreditation process that follows a regularly updated set of 10 standards established by the NCA board of directors. Once accredited, local agencies like the Children’s Advocacy Center of Warren County localize the standards to meet the needs of the local community.