Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect

10/22/2026

10/22/2026

Today, we have something to celebrate together.

HB 2474 and SB 1212 passed Pennsylvania’s legislature with unanimous support and now await the governor’s signature.

Reaching out for help can mean trusting someone with one of the hardest experiences of your life. Survivors deserve to have that trust met with care, protection, and a willingness to act. Today’s votes are an encouraging step toward the response survivors should be able to count on.

PCAR thanks Rep. Nikki Rivera, Senator Tracy Pennycuick, Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr., and Senator Rosemary Brown, for leading these bills, and Senator Lisa Baker, PA State Rep. Kristin Marcell, Senator Scott Martin, and Sen. James Malone for their work on these protections. We’re grateful to every legislator who voted in support.

To the survivors and advocates who keep asking Pennsylvania to do better: your voices matter. We’re proud to stand alongside you, celebrate this progress, and keep working for a safer Pennsylvania.

10/21/2026

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their relationships and at home.

A Protection From Abuse Order, commonly called a PFA, may be an option when someone is experiencing physical, sexual, or psychological abuse by a current or former intimate partner, spouse, family member, or household member.

A police report is not required to seek a civil protection order. Advocates can help survivors learn about their options, connect with legal resources, and access support based on their individual needs.

At PCAR, we’re here for you and the people who care about you.

For support, please contact your local sexual assault center or call PCAR's 24/7 hotline to be connected to help near you: 1-888-772-7227.

This information is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional legal advice.

10/20/2026

Children’s safety depends on adults recognizing abuse and knowing how to respond.

PCAR’s Children's Advocacy Coordinator, Jaime English, trains mandated reporters across Pennsylvania, helping them understand their responsibilities and respond to suspected child abuse. She spoke with CBS 21 about gaps in reporting and the need for stronger protections.

Rep. Nikki Rivera’s proposed legislation would clarify reporting requirements for child-on-child abuse, helping ensure concerns reach the authorities responsible for investigating them.

Every child deserves adults who take their safety seriously and act when they suspect harm.

Read the full story from CBS 21 below.

Questions about how far schools must go to protect students from hazing and abuse are back in the spotlight after criminal charges were filed in connection with

10/20/2026

After sexual harassment or assault, getting through the school day can become difficult. A student may worry about seeing the person who harmed them, miss classes, or struggle to keep up with assignments.

Title IX addresses certain forms of sexual harassment and assault in federally funded schools. It sets responsibilities for how schools respond so students can continue their education.

At PCAR, we’re here for you and the people who care about you.

For support, please contact your local sexual assault center or call PCAR's 24/7 hotline to be connected to help near you: 1-888-772-7227.

10/20/2026

10/16/2026

Teal and purple, standing together for survivors.

This photo from our joint rally captures a commitment we carry into our work every day: showing up for survivors and standing alongside the people who support them.

PCAR supports 33 dual sexual assault and domestic violence centers across Pennsylvania. This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we’re highlighting their domestic violence work and the advocates who help survivors find safety, understand their options, and move forward on their own terms.

For someone experiencing abuse, these centers can be a place to speak openly, be believed, and find support through deeply difficult decisions. Their advocates understand how domestic and sexual violence can overlap, and they respond with care that recognizes each survivor’s needs and experiences.

We’re proud to stand with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, our partner in supporting survivors, and grateful to the centers whose work connects our two networks.

PCAR supports PCADV’s call for a $12 million budget increase for domestic violence services. Survivors of domestic and sexual violence deserve access to help when they reach for it, and the programs they turn to need all resources possible to be there.

Our shared commitment to survivors brings us together. We’re honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with PCADV, the 33 dual centers we support, and advocates across Pennsylvania, united in our commitment to survivors’ safety, dignity, and healing, and to communities where everyone can live free from violence.

10/16/2026

Yesterday was one of our favorite traditions. Purple is the color of domestic violence awareness and taking part in unites survivors and advocates across the country in our work to end abuse. 💜💜💜

(Also please settle a debate for us! Is the jacket Jeffrey's holding blue or purple?)

10/16/2026

10/16/2026