Free Spirit

In 2007, three passionate women formed friendships through a non-profit organization devoted to reforming child abuse and neglect. They’ve since joined forces and are advocating for a Bill to establish the Pennsylvania Central Registry, an online user-friendly public portal. Similar to Megan’s Law, this registry would enable the public to search for and view background information on individuals who have been convicted of child abuse. READ THE FULL ARTICLE!

Pic: Rep. Aaron Bernstine, Donna Kshir and Lee Cougardawn Roberts There are 3.6 million cases of child abuse reported each year in the United States. However, it’s estimated that for every case reported, two cases will go unreported. Pennsylvania currently does not offer a public website to find convicted offenders, but PA State Representative Aaron Bernstine (R) who represents Butler and Lawerence counties is ready to change that thanks to two grandmothers, Donna M. Kshir (Clinton County, PA) and Lee Cougardawn Roberts (who divides her times between Clinton County, PA and Crestview, FL). READ MORE HERE!

It has been a busy year for Clinton County child rights activists and authors Donna Kshir and Lee Cougardawn Roberts. The two best friends and sister advocates have been petitioning lawmakers to open the Pennsylvania child abuse registry. The duo believes that opening the central registry will reduce the number of children exposed to child abuse and neglect. The topic has been touchy, to say the least, but Ms. Kshir and Roberts stand firm on their mission. READ MORE!

On Saturday, October 28th, the Renovo Area Outreach provided ninety-eight area children and approximately twenty parents and grandparents to a DJ Dance held at the Renovo Fire & EMS. READ MORE:

“Conner's Law - Kentucky” goes on sale this Friday… and it has a connection to a local activist. Fighting to change the law on any level is never an easy process. It can take years, and even then a majority of the time the proposed bill never makes it through the House of Representatives or sees its way to the Senate. Read Full Story!

Two grandmothers from Clinton County continue to petition to make the state’s child abuse registry open to the public just as the sex offenders’ registry is open to the public under Megan’s Law. Donna M. Kshir (North Bend) and Lee Cougardawn Roberts (who divides her time between Clinton County and Crestview, Flordia) are continuing to seek legislation to become law that would require the State Police to open the current private database of individuals convicted of child abuse offenses in the state, including their name, date of birth, the tier of the crime and the location the crime took place, according to Lexi Howard, an assistant and spokeswoman for Ms. Kshir and Roberts. READ MORE!