Heather LaRocca, LCSW is the Divisional Social Services Director for Eastern PA and Delaware for The Salvation Army. She provides innovative leadership, vision and clinical oversight to foster care, developmental disabilities, housing, shelter, case management and anti-trafficking services. Ms. LaRocca has been supporting victims of domestic violence, and human trafficking for over 20 years beginning at Women Against Abuse (WAA), the lead domestic violence agency in Philadelphia. Here, Ms. LaRocca supervised and coordinated the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline and supported its expansion to a second 100-bed shelter program. During her time as director of the New Day to Stop Trafficking Program Ms. LaRocca lead and grew it into one of the most comprehensive programs in the state for survivors of trafficking.

Ms. LaRocca has been appointed by Governor Shapiro to the Pennsylvania’s Victim Services Advisory Committee. Ms. LaRocca led The Salvation Army New Day team to create a new, statewide response to trafficking in partnership with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office.  She has conducted trainings on trauma informed services and developed a statewide curriculum for human trafficking advocates. Ms. LaRocca was the 2025 recipient of the FBI’s Director’s Community Leadership Award which recognized the work of The Salvation Army with survivors of trafficking and aiding in federal investigations into trafficking. She serves as board vice-chair for the Regional Interdisciplinary Collaborative to disrupt trafficking and is on the board of a local residential home for pregnant and parenting mothers, Cradle of Hope.  Ms. LaRocca holds her master’s degree in Social Work from Widener University and bachelor’s in Social Work from Messiah College and is a licensed clinical social worker.