July 2026 Newsletter

Letter from Executive Director

Dear McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center Family,

Summer is in full swing, and recent temperatures have certainly made that clear! Longer days, family vacations, outdoor adventures, and community events make July a wonderful time to create lasting memories. While enjoying all that summer has to offer, it’s also important to keep child safety in the foreground.

Hot weather can become dangerous quickly, especially for young children. Keep these safety tips in mind during periods of extreme heat:

Encourage children to drink plenty of water throughout the day, even before they feel thirsty.
Dress children in lightweight, light-colored clothing and apply sunscreen.
Plan outdoor activities during the cooler morning or evening hours when possible.
Take frequent breaks in the shade or in air-conditioned spaces.
Never leave a child unattended in a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes. Temperatures inside a car can rise rapidly and become life-threatening.
Know the signs of heat-related illness, including dizziness, excessive sweating, nausea, headache, weakness, or confusion. If symptoms become severe or do not improve, seek medical attention immediately.

Fortunately, our community offers many opportunities for children and families to stay cool while having fun. Onondaga County’s public pools and splash pads provide a refreshing way to enjoy the outdoors, while the Onondaga County Public Libraries offer air-conditioned spaces, engaging programs, and activities for children, teens, and adults throughout the summer. Local attractions like the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) provide hands-on exhibits and educational fun in a cool, comfortable environment.

Whether you’re spending the day at the pool, exploring your neighborhood library, visiting a local museum, or simply enjoying time together at home, summer is filled with opportunities to build family connections. We encourage everyone to stay safe, stay hydrated, and take advantage of the wonderful resources our community has to offer.

From all of us at McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center, we wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and safe July!

Warm regards,

Mrs. Erin Bates

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH:

SHEREEN VINCENT

We are excited to recognize Shereen Vincent as McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center’s Employee of the Month for July!

For just over a year, Shereen has been an integral part of our Anti-Trafficking Team as a CSEC Case Manager. During her time with McMahon Ryan, she has helped strengthen our Safe Harbor program by developing assessments, resources, and tools that support both our team and the youth we serve.

Shereen approaches this work with compassion, dedication, and a deep belief that every young person deserves to be seen, heard, and valued. She is committed to meeting youth where they are, building trusting relationships, and helping them recognize their own strengths and potential.

When asked what she loves most about being a CSEC Case Manager, Shereen shared that it is the opportunity to build relationships with youth, walk alongside them through their journey, and witness their confidence grow. Her passion for empowering youth is evident in everything she does. v

Outside of McMahon Ryan, Shereen continues to demonstrate her commitment to growth and learning as she works toward her Master of Social Work degree. When she isn’t studying, she enjoys spending time chasing after her toddler and training for her first powerlifting meet this August.

MDT SPOTLIGHT:

DETECTIVE COLIN MAHAR

Detective Colin Mahar has proudly served with the Syracuse Police Department for 12 years and is currently assigned to the Special Victims Unit. As a dedicated member of the multidisciplinary team, Colin brings compassion, professionalism, and a strong commitment to supporting children and families during some of their most challenging moments.

What Colin values most about this work is being part of a passionate team that collaborates to ensure families receive the best possible care and support throughout the investigative process. He believes that the strength of the MDT lies in its shared commitment to creating a positive experience for those navigating difficult circumstances.

His dedication is also rooted in personal experience. Having seen loved ones benefit from the services provided by a Child Advocacy Center, Colin understands the impact a coordinated, child-focused response can have on families. That perspective inspires him to approach each case with empathy and to treat every family with the same care and concern he would want for his own.

We are grateful for Detective Mahar’s partnership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the children and families we serve. Thank you, Colin, for all you do to make a difference in our community.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mark your calendars! Cops 4 Kids returns on Friday, August 14, at Drumlins Country Club for another impactful day of golf, camaraderie, and community support benefiting the children and families served by McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center.

This beloved event brings together law enforcement professionals, local businesses, and community champions for a day of connection, competition, and purpose—all while helping ensure that children impacted by abuse have access to critical healing services.

Now is the perfect time to become a sponsor! Sponsorship opportunities are available at a variety of levels, offering meaningful community impact and valuable visibility for your business. Whether you choose a Hole Sponsorship, Cart Sponsorship, Swag Sponsorship, or one of our premier sponsorship levels, your support helps provide advocacy, therapy, prevention education, and hope to more than 1,800 children and families each year. Your partnership also helps deliver prevention education programs that reach more than 26,000 local children annually.

Join us in making a difference while showcasing your commitment to protecting children.

Sponsorship opportunities are filling quickly—secure your spot today!

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

STAND AGAINST CHILD ABUSE CONFERENCE

Each fall, McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center proudly hosts our Stand Against Child Abuse Conference — a powerful day of learning, collaboration, and commitment to protecting children in our community.

Mark your calendar:

📅 Wednesday, September 30, 2026

📍 Marriott Downtown Syracuse

This annual conference brings together professionals from across disciplines — including educators, law enforcement, child welfare staff, prosecutors, medical providers, and mental health professionals — for meaningful conversations on preventing child abuse and supporting children and families impacted by trauma.

🔍 What to Expect

Participants can look forward to:

Engaging workshops and expert-led presentations
Practical tools and strategies for prevention and response
Opportunities to connect with professionals committed to child safety
A shared space to strengthen our collective impact in protecting children

🎟️ Registration Opening Now! Take advantage of the early bird rate of just $100 by registering now – CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

CLICK HERE to view the registration packet and workshop choices.

TO AVOID PAYING CREDIT CARD FEES – mail in a check w/the registration form to:

McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center

Attn: Catherine Cramer

601 E Genesee Street

Syracuse, NY 13202

VIEW THE REGISTRATION PACKET & WORKSHOP CHOICES

WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

KEVIN MULCAHY

Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse & Assistant U.S. Attorney in Detroit

Kevin is a survivor of child sexual abuse. He works as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Detroit. Throughout his career, Kevin has prosecuted a variety of cases, including offenses involving firearms, drugs, bank robberies, threats, terrorism, and a wide variety of other federal prosecutions. But most of his caseload focuses on child exploitation crimes, including production of child pornography cases, traveler cases, and other significant crimes against children prosecutions. Kevin has been a prosecutor since 2002, all on the federal level, with the first 3 1/2 years as an AUSA in San Diego, and the rest in Detroit.

Kevin obtained his undergraduate degree in Statistics and American Culture from the University of Michigan and his JD from Santa Clara School of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Santa Clara Law Review. He has 3 kids, 2 cats, and a very nice wife.

Click below to register to see the Keynote Speaker and attend the Breakfast portion for only for $30!

SPONSOR & VENDOR INFO

Sponsor the Conference!

Become a sponsor for the Stand Against Child Abuse Conference and help provide this essential training for professionals in our community who work with children! You can find all the sponsorship information below. Levels include free registrations, vendor table and promotions. Contact Dana at dwalk@mcmahonryan.org to learn more.

SPONSORSHIP PACKET

Interested in a Vendor Table?

Is your business or non-profit interested in having a vendor table at the conference? We have between 200-300 attendees at the conference who could learn about your organization or business. View the form below for more information or email Catherine at ccramer@mcmahonryan.org

VENDOR APPLICATION

HELPING CHILDREN COPE

Helping children navigate big emotions starts with giving them simple, healthy coping tools.

This month’s tip sheet highlights easy strategies families can practice together, including deep breathing, positive affirmations, calming activities like reading or coloring, and helping children identify and name their feelings. These techniques can build confidence, strengthen emotional regulation, and create opportunities for meaningful connection and support.

VOLUNTEER WITH US:

McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center volunteers dedicate thousands of hours each year to helping children and families in our community. We truly could not do this important work without their time, compassion, and commitment.

Volunteer opportunities are designed to be meaningful and rewarding, with different levels of training depending on the amount of direct contact you’d like to have with children.

Current Volunteer Needs Include:

Family Reception / Waiting Room support
Special Events assistance
Assembling Prevention Education materials

If you’re interested in becoming an MRCAC volunteer, please download and complete a volunteer application. You may also consider joining one of our committees to support our mission in additional ways.

Get Started:

Contact Nina Peters

📧 npeters@mcmahonryan.org

📞 315‑701‑2985

Please return the completed forms to npeters@mcmahonryan.org or mail them to:

McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center

601 E. Genesee Street

Syracuse, NY 13202

Fax: 315-701-3040

OUTREACH & EDUCATION SPOTLIGHT: SUMMER SAFETY

Check out these quick summer safety tips to keep kids protected: water safety, sun & heat protection, & safe outdoor play!

Water Safety:

Have a designated “water watcher. ” Always make sure there is an adult with the specific role of watching the water and everyone in the pool.
Never swim alone. Kids should only swim when a lifeguard or trusted adult is around.
Always make sure your child wears a properly fitted life jacket on boats, in open bodies of water, or in a pool if they do not have strong swimming skills.
Wear bright, high contrast neon colors. Colors like neon orange, neon yellow, and hot pink are excellent choices when it comes to children’s swimsuits because those colors stick out in the water. Other colors like blue, green, and grey, tend to blend into the water, making children less visible.

Sun & Heat protection:

Use broad spectrum SPF 30 or above. Apply 15–30 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 hours or less if sweating or swimming.
Stay hydrated. Kids overheat faster than adults so make sure your children are taking frequent water breaks.
Never leave infants or children in a parked car, even if the windows are open.

Playing Outside:

Helmets are required. It is essential for all children to wear a helmet while riding a bike, scooter, skateboard, or any other recreational vehicle.
Hot surface checks. In the sun, surfaces like playground slides, concrete, and seat belts can become very hot. It is important to feel these things before proceeding.
Play safely. Remind your children of all playground rules and proper ways of using equipment.

CFRT SPOTLIGHT:

National Drowning Prevention Day – July 25

As summer brings more opportunities to enjoy pools, lakes, beaches, and backyard water play, National Drowning Prevention Day on July 25 serves as an important reminder that drowning is preventable—and that a few simple safety measures can save lives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1–4, and it often happens quickly and silently. The good news is that there are proven ways to reduce the risk.

The CDC recommends maintaining close, constant supervision whenever children are near water, even if lifeguards are present. Avoid distractions such as phones, reading, or conversations that take your attention away from children in the water. Swimming lessons are another important layer of protection. Formal swim instruction can help reduce the risk of drowning, but it’s important to remember that no child is ever “drown-proof.” Children who know how to swim still require active adult supervision.

Families with home pools should ensure they are protected by a four-sided fence with self-closing, self-latching gates, which can help prevent unsupervised access to water. When spending time on boats or around lakes, rivers, and other natural bodies of water, children and weaker swimmers should wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

The CDC also encourages adults to learn CPR, as those skills can make a critical difference while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.

This summer, let’s work together to keep children safe by remembering the basics: supervise closely, learn to swim, wear life jackets, secure pools, and be prepared for emergencies. A fun day around the water should always end with everyone safely back home.

For more water safety information and drowning prevention resources, visit the CDC’s Drowning Prevention webpage, linked here.