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Recognizing and honoring the Philadelphia Children's Alliance and the Department of Human Services for their partnership and commitment to bring healing and justice to victims of child sexual abuse in Philadelphia and declaring April 2018 to be Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in the City of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, For over the past 28 years, the Philadelphia Children's Alliance and the Department of Human Services has advocated for a team-based approach, built cooperative relationships, introduced efficiencies into the system to provide rapid response, and effectively changed how abused children are served and cared for in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Children's Alliance became a full member of the National Children's Alliance (NCA) in 1992 and was accredited by the NCA in 2001. Today, Philadelphia Children's Alliance not only meets all National Children's Alliance standards, but is a national best standards model for peer agencies nationwide; and
WHEREAS, In 2013 the Philadelphia Children's Alliance, the Department of Human Services, Police Special Victims Unit, the District Attorney's Office, and medical providers co-located in one facility within the Seventh Councilmanic District to create a more effective and caring response to children who have been sexually abused. All are dedicated to providing justice and healing for sexually abused children, working to protect victims, ending the cycle of abuse, protecting children who have experienced minor sex trafficking, and improving the quality of abuse investigations. With the addition of SEPTA's newest Route 53, this facility not only is more accessible, but it also allows for more stream lined investigations and a less traumatic experience for children; and
WHEREAS, In 2017 Philadelphia Children's Alliance and co-located partners conducted 1,916 forensic interviews, with 2,177 children and caregivers receiving victim advocacy. 182 children received mental health...
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