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From YouTube: Councilwoman Quiñones-Sánchez Honors the Philadelphia Children's Alliance, Phila DHS 4-12-2018
Description
From the Stated Meeting of Philadelphia City Council held Thursday, April 12, 2018:
Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez (7th District) led a presentation 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.
A
This
time
the
chair
recognizes
Councilwoman
Fiona
Sanchez,
who
presented
resolution
recognizing
the
Philadelphia
children's
alliance
in
the
Department
of
Human
Services
with
Miss
crisp,
Kirchner,
Commissioner,
Cynthia,
Figueroa
and
those
accompanying
them.
Please
join
the
Councilwoman
at
the
podium
and
joining
the
council
woman.
We
have
councilman
green
councilman,
Heenan,
councilman
taubenberger.
B
B
I
want
to
thank
Commissioner
figured
off
for
joining
us
and
their
support
and
partnership
of
this
wonderful
program.
We
do
this
every
year,
as
we
declare
April
child
abuse,
awareness
and
Prevention
Month,
so
with
that
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
abuse.
B
In
Philadelphia
and
declaring
April
2018
to
be
the
child
abuse
awareness
and
Prevention
Month
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
whereas
for
over
28
years,
the
Philadelphia
Children's
Alliance
Department
of
Human
Services,
has
advocated
for
team-based
approach,
build
a
cooperative
relationship
introduced
efficiencies
into
the
system,
to
provide
rapid
response
and
effectively
change.
How
abused
children
are
served
and
care
for
in
Philadelphia
and.
C
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
improve
the
quality
of
abuse
investigations
with
the
additions
of
SEPTA's
newest
Ralph
53.
This
facility
not
only
is
more
accessible
but
has
also
allows
for
more
streamlined
investigations
and
less
traumatic
experience
for
children
and.
D
And
whereas
2017
Philadelphia's,
Children's,
Alliance
and
ecologic
and
co-located
partners
conducted
1916
forensic
interviews
with
2177
children
and
caregivers
receiving
victim
advocacy,
182
children
received
mental
health
therapy
one
site
and
in
addition,
800
children
were
linked
with
trauma.
Focused
therapy
at
mental
health
partner
agencies
throughout
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and.
E
Whereas
st.
Christopher's
Hospital
and
the
Children's
Hospital
foot
off,
there
has
establish
a
medical
clinic
on
the
on-site
at
the
co-located
facility
so
that
any
child
is
able
to
receive
the
immediate
attention
of
care.
They
need.
Five
days
a
week
in
2017
560
children
received
on-site
medical
evaluations
and.
G
Whereas
the
Philadelphia
Children's
Alliance
and
the
Department
of
Human
Services
are
well
respected,
organizations
in
Philadelphia
focused
on
services
to
child
victims
of
sexual
abuse
and
minor
sex
trafficking.
We
recognize
the
critical
need
for
these
vital
services
to
protect
children
and
families
they
serve
so
that
children
can
quickly
get
the
help
they
need
to
be
safe
and
had
two
fulfilling
lives
and.
B
H
Thank
You
councilman
Clark
and
Councilwoman
Maria
cannulas
for
the
sponsoring
this
resolution
and
being
a
staunch
advocate
for
children
on
behalf
of
the
Philadelphia
Department
of
Human
Services
and
in
partnership
with
the
Philadelphia
Children's
Alliance
I'm
honored,
to
accept
this
resolution
proclaiming
April
2018
to
be
child
abuse,
awareness
and
Prevention
Month
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
The
truth
is
child.
H
Sex
abuse
is
one
among
one
of
the
most
difficult
pieces
of
work
that
we
are
aware
of,
and
we
have
to
open
our
hearts
and
also
educate
it's
all
of
our
responsibility
to
have
a
voice
and
protect
our
children.
It's
never
okay
to
be
silent
on
child
sexual
abuse.
We're
very
fortunate!
You
heard
about
the
collaboration.
It's
unique!
It's
a
national
model.
The
fact
that
we
bring
everybody
together
and
can
minimize
the
trauma
of
a
child
who's
experienced
tremendous
trauma
in
their
life.
H
I
I
also
want
to
thank
councilman
koinonias
Sanchez
for
sponsoring
this
resolution
and
city
council
for
declaring
April
2018
as
child
abuse,
awareness
and
Prevention
Month
I'm,
the
executive
director
of
the
Philadelphia
Children's
Alliance
role
that
I've
had
for
many
years
and
recently,
though,
child
sexual
abuse
is
in
the
news
every
day
you
can't
open
the
paper
without
hearing
of
a
national
story
or
a
local
story,
we
have
read
and
web.
Does
the
multitude
of
actors
and
athletes
came
forward
to
speak
about
sexual
abuse
that
occurred
when
they
were
minors?
I
Commissioner,
Figueroa
and
I
have
been
speaking
out
to
remind
everyone
that,
as
we
read
these
heartbreaking
stories
in
Hollywood
and
DC
and
New
York,
there
are
Philadelphia
stories
too
for
every
alley:
race,
men
who
was
one
of
150
victims
abused
by
her
USA
gymnastics
coach.
There
might
be
a
little
girl
in
Frankfort
and
for
every
Anthony
Knapp
who
was
abused
when
he
was
14
by
Kevin
Spacey.
There
might
be
a
small
boy
from
the
Northeast
every
neighborhood
in
Philadelphia
is
affected.
I
Last
year
there
were
3,000
reports
of
alleged
sexual
abuse
to
DHS
and
the
police
40
to
50
children
come
to
our
co-located
Center
every
week,
so
that's
8
to
12
kids
every
day,
so
you
can
picture
some
of
them
sitting
in
our
waiting
room
right
now
for
a
coordinated
investigation
and
to
receive
services,
and
these
are
only
the
cases
that
we
know
about.
Research
tells
us
that
only
38
percent
of
children
ever
disclose
their
abuse.
62
percent
of
the
kids
keep
quiet,
and
maybe
they'll
talk
about
it
later.
I
When
they're
adults,
children
come
to
our
facility
on
Hunting
Park
Avenue,
to
talk
about
what
has
happened
to
them,
to
be
interviewed
by
experts,
to
get
a
medical
exam
to
get
victim
support
services
and
to
get
therapy
and
to
bring
begin
their
process
of
healing.
If
we
all
do
our
jobs,
their
abuse
will
stop
and
they
will
be
protected.
The
abuse
will
not
be
a
life
defining
event,
but
will
be
something
that
they
work
through,
with
the
help
of
qualified
professionals.
I'd
like
to
thank
our
partners
and
advocates
who
have
spoken
out
on
this
issue.
I
We
coordinate
our
efforts.
We
have
a
fully
integrated
response
to
these
cases
that
involves
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department's
special
unit,
who
are
housed
with
us,
the
Department
of
Human
Services,
who
has
all
of
their
sex
abuse
specialists
housed
with
us,
the
district
attorney's
office,
who
has
staff
on-site
as
well
as
Children's
Hospital
in
st.
Christopher's
hospital
who
share
coverage
of
the
medical
suite
and
our
15
mental
health
provider
partners
throughout
the
community.
We
thank
them
all
for
their
partnership
and
support.
We
were
also
very
fortunate.
I
This
year,
I
don't
know
if
any
of
you
saw
our
gift
of
5
to
PC
a
campaign,
so
nick
foles
trade
burton
and
jordan
hicks
from
the
philadelphia
eagles
adopted
us.
These
Super
Bowl
champions
opened
their
wallets
and
their
hearts
to
help
our
child
victims
and
off
the
field.
Philly
special,
if
you
ask
me,
by
taking
steps
to
promote
child
abuse,
awareness
and
Prevention
City
Council,
is
taking
a
great
step
in
helping
us
in
our
mission
to
bring
healing
and
justice
to
every
victim
of
child
sexual
abuse
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.