The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announces the hiring of Ms. Leslie J. Davila as its new director of the Office for Child and Youth Protection.

Since 1999, Ms. Davila has worked as assistant director of victim services and a victim assistance coordinator in the Philadelphia District Attorney's office. Her responsibilities ranged from overseeing the daily operations of the District Attorney's victim and witness services unit to providing direct service assistance such as case management, court orientation and accompaniment to victims.

In announcing Ms. Davila's hiring, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia said: "For more than fifteen years, Ms. Davila has been a tireless and compassionate advocate for Philadelphia's underserved and often overwhelmed victims and witnesses. She comes to the Archdiocese with knowledge and expertise regarding the needs of victims and their families. With her assistance, the Archdiocese will build upon our services to victims and continue striving to protect our young people and create a safe environment in which they can grow and flourish."

As director of the Office for Child and Youth Protection, Ms. Davila will oversee both the Archdiocesan efforts to protect children and young people and the efforts toward healing and reconciliation for those sexually abused as minors.

Ms. Davila believes that her experience acting as a source of guidance and knowledge for Philadelphia's victims and witnesses will be essential in her new role with the Archdiocese. "I will be a vocal advocate for adult survivors of sexual abuse as well as for the children and youth of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia."

In addition to her work in the District Attorney's office, Ms. Davila also served as a training consultant for the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency from 2002 to 2009. She presented a training curriculum for new victim advocates which covered ethics and values, crisis/trauma responses, and the criminal and juvenile justice systems.

Since 2000, she has served as a crisis responder on the Keystone Crisis Intervention Team, which provides crisis intervention services to victims and surrounding communities in the wake of a traumatic event. She has twice served as co-chair of the Philadelphia Coalition for Victim Advocacy, which in 2007 presented her its Catherine Bachrach Award for exemplary service and support to victims and witnesses of crimes.

Davila has a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Joseph's University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Criminal Justice from La Salle University. She is a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School. Since 2009, she has served as an adjunct professor of sociology and criminal justice at Community College of Philadelphia.

Contact
Donna Farrell
Director of Communications
215-587-3747