Mission statement

MCAP is a 501(c) (3) organization designed to provide free legal representation and social services to children of Montgomery County who are victims of abuse and neglect. Advocates protect the interests of their clients and offer them support and comfort; the attorney advocates represent the children as they participate in the legal arena. The goal of MCAP is to serve child victims and help them to heal and learn to trust others.

History

• Identify the needs of abused and neglected children who are and in the legal arena

• Generate support from resourceful entities• Publicize the need for advocates and offer training to attorneys• Transfer the grassroots efforts and institutionalize the project• Engage committee/ law firm to draft necessary documents for 501 (c)

(3)incorporation, charitable organization fund-raising licenses and by laws

• Develop organization by hiring Directors to run the project, fund-raise, recruit and train new advocates, public relations, community outreach

• Develop a strategic plan for the long term stability of the organization

MCAP History

• Co-founders, Assistant District Attorneys, Wendy Demchick-Alloy and Risa Vetri Ferman, identify needs of abused children in the legal arena

• Generate support from the Montgomery Bar Association, the Montgomery Bar Foundation, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office

• Local law firm donates expertise to prepare necessary documents and draft by-laws

• Create an active Board of Directors consisting of 13 Directors from diverse professions

• Hire Directors and staff to run the day to day operations of MCAP• Engage community to participate by fund-raising and educating the

public

• MCAP became incorporated as a 501(c)(3) corporation on December 16, 2004.

• In 2005, those 77 advocates represented 203 children in 123 cases.

• In 2006, 118 advocates represented 255 children in 146 cases • As of May 1, 2007, 125 advocates represent 72 children in 46

cases.

Since 2004, MCAP advocates have represented 618 children

in 372 cases.

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 abused and neglected children in Montgomery County.

• MCAP advocates receive their training from Continuing Legal Education courses specializing in child advocacy offered in Montgomery County and Philadelphia County.

• Currently, there are 125 MCAP advocates who zealously represent abused and neglected children in Montgomery County.

STAKEHOLDERSThe entities that refer cases to MCAP are “stakeholders.” As of May 2007, the stakeholders consist of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, the District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, the Office of Children and Youth, area law enforcement officials.

Organization StructureAdministrative Director

Mary C. Pugh, EsquireProject Director

Wendy Demchick-Alloy, EsquireAdministrative Assistant

Pat Bertschy

Funding

• County Appropriation • Private Donors• Grants• Corporate Sponsorship

409 Cherry StreetNorristown, PA 19401

Telephone 610-279-1219Fax 610-279-5525www.mcapkids.org

marypugh@mcapkids.orgwendy@mcapkids.org