Elected officials joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center in Plymouth Meeting April 30, 2026. (Photo courtesy Mission Kids)
More than 250 elected officials, community leaders, partners, and supporters gathered Thursday, April 30 to celebrate the ribbon cutting of Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center’s new facility and Regional Training Center, Plymouth Road, marking a transformative moment for children and families across the region.
The new space represents far more than a building. It is a promise that children who have experienced abuse will be met with compassion, expertise, and a system designed to protect them while reducing further trauma. It is also a critical investment in the professionals who serve them, strengthening collaboration among law enforcement, child welfare, medical, prosecution, and mental health partners, a press release from Mission Kids stated.
“Today is about what children deserve,” said Leslie Slingsby, CEO of Services and Operations. “They deserve to be heard in a safe space. They deserve a coordinated response that ensure that children have a path towards healing and justice. This center allows us to do that more effectively than ever before.”
Mission Kids operates using the nationally recognized Child Advocacy Center model, which brings multiple agencies together under one roof to streamline investigations and provide comprehensive care. The addition of a Regional Training Center further elevates that impact, equipping professionals across systems with the tools and knowledge needed to respond to child abuse cases with skill, sensitivity, and consistency.
“This work only happens because of collaboration, and no one system can do it alone,” said Maripeg Bruder, Mission Kids Board of Trustees Chair. “This facility strengthens the system that surrounds a child, ensuring that when professionals are connected and working together, children and families receive the care, support, and healing they deserve.”
The event also highlighted the real and lasting impact of Mission Kids’ work through the voice of Ahyana King, whose family turned to the organization following the tragic murder of her sister, Rachel King, in front of Rachel’s 11-year-old son.
“My family wasn’t a data point for them. We were real people, navigating real trauma, real sorrow, needing real guidance, kindness, access, and hope,” said Ahyana King. “Mission Kids met us with compassion every step of the way, and because of them, our story didn’t end with tragedy. It continues with healing.”
Her words underscored the deeper purpose behind the day’s celebration: ensuring that every child facing unimaginable circumstances has access to the care, protection, and advocacy they need to achieve justice and begin healing.
Elected officials, including state Sen. Maria Collett and Montgomery County Commissioners Neil Makhija, Jamila Winder and Thomas DiBello, reinforced the importance of continued investment in child advocacy services, recognizing Mission Kids as a leader in protecting vulnerable children and supporting families throughout the justice process.
Following the ceremonial ribbon cutting, guests toured the new facility, engaging with staff and gaining a firsthand look at the spaces designed to serve children and train professionals.
