WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --  Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), a national leader in child advocacy and mentoring announced today that the Philadelphia Children's Alliance (PCA) – a child advocacy center that meets the needs of sexually abused children – will receive over $1 million to expand their work through a grant provided by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The $1.1 million grant from DOJ's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program will provide mentor and leadership development training for Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) and Multidisciplinary Child Abuse Teams (MDTs). The Justice Department wants PCA – a national best standards model for peer agencies nationwide - to duplicate its successes in nine northeastern states. Funds will also be targeted for on-site technical assistance and team training, national, regional and state conferences, information dissemination, multidisciplinary training and discipline specific training, use of innovation technologies, and chapter development to strengthen state networks and development additional programs.

Congressman Fattah said, "I have spent my entire career advocating for children because I believe the future of our nation lies in their hands. Their successes are dependent on the investments we make in them today. I am proud of the work the Philadelphia Children's Alliance has done over the years in advocating for some of our city's most vulnerable children."

Founded in 1989, the Philadelphia Children's Alliance (PCA) coordinates a multi-agency, interdisciplinary response to promote healing and justice for victims of child sexual abuse in Philadelphia. PCA is the only primary intervention organization in the city working with child victims of sexual abuse.

Congressman Fattah is the top Democratic Appropriator for the Justice Department serving as Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah