Abbie Newman of Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center. Courtesy photo

Abbie Newman, Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center

Inspired by a local case of child abuse, pediatric nurse-turned-attorney Newman was the founding executive director of Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center, created in 2008 to provide healing and justice for victims of child abuse in Montgomery County. She worked tirelessly to build the collaborative multidisciplinary team into a nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center (CAC) which has served over 6,500 children and their families in cases involving sexual and physical abuse, trafficking and exploitation. Currently, as Mission Kids' CEO of External and Global Affairs, Newman draws upon her multifaceted experience to expand the organization's leadership efforts statewide, nationally and internationally, with the long-term vision of putting an end to child abuse.

In Pennsylvania, Newman's advocacy has driven notable legislative change. Following the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal in 2014, she collaborated with state legislators and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to update the state's Child Protective Service laws in an effort to prevent similar, future incidents. Concurrently, as a leading member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Chapter of Children's Advocacy Centers, she helped lead efforts to double the number of statewide CACs, bringing the total to 41. She continues collaborating with state and local officials to improve legislation surrounding child abuse laws, increase funding to agencies serving victims of child abuse and neglect, and develop and sustain CACs as a model for child abuse investigation and prevention. She is also active on PCCD committees, most recently serving on the Child Advocacy Center Advisory Committee, Victims Services Advisory Committee, and a gubernatorial appointment to the Task Force on Child Pornography.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received?