PITTSBURGH, April 12, 2007 –(D-Brookline) today joined representatives of Allegheny County’s Child Advocacy Center – A Child’s Place – to announce funding of a new website to assist individuals working with child abuse victims.

“It’s particularly appropriate that we announce this funding now as we recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Pennsylvania,” Fontana said. “Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to stop child abuse. Each year, more than one million children in the U.S. are victims of child abuse. This grant funding will allow for the development of a website that gives individuals easy access to the resources they need to understand and work with children who are victims of child abuse.”in about 90 days.

Fontana said the funding will be used to launch a website to provide parents, mandated reporters, law enforcement and first responders, child protective services staff, and foster families with access to information, answers to questions about the process, and support, details on the exam and interview process at the Center, and training materials.

“It’s my hope – and that of A Child’s Place – that this resource will reduce parents’ fears, minimize the anxiety that spills over to their children, and provide them with the information that they need to address the fear of their children,” Fontana said.

The site will serve individuals in Southwestern Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio in a non-threatening, friendly, and informative manner. It will be ready to go live