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

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

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

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

“I’ve always said that Warren County is a special place to live and work. It was such an honor to be able to share that with other attendees and encourage them to forge strong community connections of their own. It truly takes 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 training, financial support, technical assistance, leadership, national advocacy and access to current research findings on a national level to local centers. The recent Rural Convening addressed the challenges faced by rural centers, with sessions on partnerships, access to resources, and community outreach.

“Our community partnerships are essential to sustaining our mission, and being part of WCCBI allows us to grow our resources and strengthen our response to child abuse,” McLean shared with the panel attendees.

Children’s Advocacy Centers associated with the National Children’s Alliance undergo 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 Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center localize the standards to meet local community needs.