Troy, NY -- Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly joined New York Children’s Alliance Executive Director Theresa Roth today for the unveiling of NYSCA’s “Child First Agenda” at the New York State Capitol.  

 Child Advocacy Centers serve child victims and families in New York State with a Multi-Disciplinary approach, bringing together law enforcement officers, prosecutors, treatment providers and medical professionals in a trauma informed and child friendly setting.  The model presents an opportunity for the child to tell their story once, and to avoid the retraumatization which can be caused when stakeholders operate from separate vantage points.  

 After the agenda was presented, advocates had the opportunity to meet with lawmakers to discuss pending legislation directly related to child victims.

 “Every child deserves to be safe from harm.   When a child becomes a victim, we all have a responsibility to make sure the child is heard and supported,” said District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly, “Healing is a critical component of justice for victims, and with the support of our CACs, we can make sure that is part of the process.”

 DA Donnelly was joined in Albany by Kevin Maloney, Executive Director of the START Children’s Center which serves Rensselaer County.