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Description
From the Stated Meeting of Philadelphia City Council held Thursday, April 11, 2019:
Councilwoman María Quiñones-Sánchez (7th District) led a presentation honoring the Philadelphia Children's Alliance and the Philadelphia Department of Human Services for their collaborative commitment to bring healing and justice to victims of child sexual abuse in Philadelphia and declaring April 2019 to be Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in the City of Philadelphia.
Read the resolution: http://bit.ly/2Dkjfiv
A
At
this
time,
the
chair
recognizes
Councilwoman
Sanchez
will
present
a
resolution
recognizing
children's
alliance
in
the
Philadelphia
Department
of
Human
Services,
with
Chris
Carter,
Kirchner,
Commissioner,
Cynthia
Figueroa
and
those
accompanying
them.
Please
join
the
Councilwoman
at
the
podium
and
joining
the
Councilwoman.
We
have
councilman
Greenlee
councilman
Heenan,
Councilwoman,
Blondo,
Reynold,
Brown
and
Councilman
marks
Willa.
B
C
Morning,
it
is
always
important
that
we
take
a
moment
during
critical
times
throughout
the
year
to
celebrate
and
uplift
when
we
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
are
leading
the
national
discussions
around
comprehensive,
proactive
support
services
for
children,
particularly
children
of
sexual
abuse.
In
the
seventh
Cal
sematic
District.
We
are
extremely
honored
to
support
the
Philadelphia
Children's
Alliance
colocation
in
in
Hunting
Park.
I
want
to
take
a
note
and
really
thank
the
other
partners
who
are
part
of
it,
the
district
attorney's
office
and,
if
I
know
that
every
year
they
host
the
legislative
day.
C
For
those
of
you
who
haven't
had
the
opportunity
to
go
by
the
building.
Please
do
so
the
collaboration
between
the
children's
hospitals
and
Christopher's
hospital
and
the
uniqueness
of
the
service.
But,
more
importantly,
the
human
element
to
have
folks
get
treated
when
they
walk
in
the
door
is
felt
and
I
want
to
thank
the
staff
that
doesn't
always
get
to
come
out
here
and
celebrate
right,
but
our
dealing
with
our
families
and
children
at
some
of
the
most
difficult
times
in
their
lives.
And
so
we
are
incredibly
grateful
and
that's
why
we.
C
We
love
this
tradition
of
taking
a
moment
to
recognize
the
Children's
Alliance
and
their
collaborators
for
this
very
unique
service
during
April,
child
abuse,
awareness
and
prevent
so
recognizing
and
honoring.
The
Philadelphia's
Children's
Alliance
and
the
Philadelphia
Department
of
Human
Services
for
their
collaborative
commitment
to
bringing
healing
and
justice
to
victims
of
child
abuse
in
Philadelphia
and
declaring
April
2019
to
be
the
child,
abuse
awareness
and
Prevention
Month
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and.
B
And
whereas,
for
the
past
twenty
nine
years,
the
Philadelphia
Children's
Alliance
and
the
Philadelphia
Department
of
Human
Services
have
advocated
for
a
team-based
approach,
built
cooperative
relationships,
introduce
efficiencies
into
the
system
to
provide
a
rapid
response
and
effective
change.
How
abused
children
are
served
and
cared
for
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and.
D
Whereas
the
Philadelphia
Children's
Alliance
is
a
national
best
standards
model
for
peer
agencies
nationwide
and
is
accredited
by
the
National
Children's
Alliance
and
whereas
in
2013,
the
Philadelphia
Children's
Alliance,
the
Philadelphia
Department
of
Human
Services
Philadelphia
Police
Special
Victims
Unit,
the
Philadelphia
District
Attorney's
Office
Children's
Hospital
of
Philadelphia
and
st.
Christopher's
Hospital
for
Children
kool-aide
co-located
in
one
facility
within
the
seventh
Council
Bank
District,
to
provide
a
victim-centered
response
to
all
children
in
Philadelphia
who
have
been
sexually
abused.
All
are
dedicated
to
providing
justice
and
healing
for
sexually
abused
children.
E
Heart
moves
me
to
punctuate
and
underscore
what
councilman
Sanchez
has
said
if
he
had
not
had
the
good
fortune
to
visit
this
place.
It
is
a
place
of
hope
for
families
and,
most
importantly,
children,
who
are
sometimes
in
the
darkest
moment
of
their
lives,
and
to
see
these
professionals
across
the
system,
which
is
not
always
the
case,
come
together
with
one
sole
purpose
of
trying
to
restore
a
child
and
their
family
is
remarkable,
take
a
moment
and
go
visit.
E
This
amazing
space,
where,
as
in
2018,
the
Philadelphia
Children's,
Alliance
and
co-located
partners
conducted
1957
forensic
interviews
with
2540
six
children
and
caregivers
receiving
victim
advocacy,
188
children
received
mental
health
therapy
on-site
and
an
additional
eight
hundred
and
sixty
seven
children
who
were
linked
with
trauma
focused
therapy
at
mental
health
partner
agencies
throughout
Philadelphia.
In
2018,
614
received
medical
evaluations,
on-site
at
the
st.
Christopher's
Hospital
and
the
Children's
Hospital
of
Philadelphia
co-located
facility
and.
B
Whereas
the
Philadelphia
Children's
Alliance
has
engaged
the
business
community
to
help
Brees
the
public
awareness
about
the
issues
of
child
sexual
abuse
everywhere
and
specifically
in
Philadelphia
using
April's
National
Child
Abuse
Awareness
Month
as
an
anchor
local
businesses
are
partnering
with
PCA
to
financially
support.
Pcas
mission
and.
C
Therefore,
be
it
resolved
the
Council
of
City
Philadelphia
hereby
recognizes,
congratulate
s'
honors
and
celebrates
the
Philadelphia's
Children's
Alliance,
the
Philadelphia
Department
of
Human
Services
and
all
their
partners
for
their
commitment
to
promoting
healing
and
justice
for
victims
of
child
abuse
in
Philadelphia
and
declaring
April
2019
to
be
the
Child
Abuse
Awareness
Month
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
We
extend
the
sincere
respect
and
admiration
of
this
legislative
body
and
thank
the
organization's
contribution
to
better
lives
for
our
city's
youth.
C
G
You
councilman,
Clark
and
Councilwoman
Maria.
Can
you
understand
us,
as
all
members
of
council
for
having
us
today
in
supporting
this
resolution
on
behalf
of
the
Philadelphia
Department
of
Human
Services
and
in
partnership
with
the
Philadelphia
Children's
Alliance?
Thank
you
for
recognizing
April
20
19
as
child
abuse,
awareness
and
Prevention
Month
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
the
Department
of
Human
Services
and
the
Philadelphia
chillers
and
science
are
here
representing
extremely
unique
collaboration
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
The
safety
collaborative
were
multiple
city
departments.
Private
providers
work
together
in
a
victim-centered
trauma-informed
moment.
G
I
want
to
take
a
moment
to
recognize
the
fantastic
staff
and
the
members
of
PCA
who
work
everyday
tirelessly
to
meet
the
needs
of
children.
The
power
of
our
partnership
exemplifies
how
child
abuse
is
everyone's
problem.
As
parents
and
caretakers,
we
play
a
huge
role
in
teaching
children
about
personal
safety.
We
can
help
children
ident
fight
boundaries,
so
they
know
what's
okay
and
was
not
okay,
as
elected
officials,
city
provider,
leaders,
what
we
say
in
do
is
powerful.
G
We
need
to
speak
up
loudly
and
clearly
to
eliminate
any
tolerance
or
confusion
about
what
is
abuse
I'm,
proud
to
be
partner.
Part
of
an
administration
that
supports
children
and
families
preventing
child
abuse
is
not
just
the
responsibility
of
child
welfare,
it's
all
of
our
jobs,
to
support
programs
and
communities,
building
the
need
to
strengthen
families
so
that
they
can
better
care
for
their
children.
Thank
you
to
City
Council
your
leadership
as
we
work
together
to
grow
in
partnership,
and
thank
you
to
PCA.
Thank.
H
You
Thank
You
Commissioner
Figueroa
I
am
Chris
Gardner.
The
director
of
the
Philadelphia
Children's
Alliance
and
I
want
to
thank
Council
for
your
recognition
of
Child
Abuse
Awareness
Month
and
for
the
work
of
the
public
and
private
partners
at
the
city,
Philadelphia
safety
collaborative
and
as
you
heard
when
I
say
we
were
referring
to
the
many
people
who
do
this
challenging
work.
Our
partners
at
the
Philadelphia
Department
of
Human
Services,
the
Special
Victims
Unit
of
the
police,
our
team
from
the
district
attorney's
office,
the
medical
professionals
from
Children's
Hospital
and
st.
H
Christopher's
and
our
mental
health
partners
throughout
the
city.
When
a
child
in
our
city
finds
the
courage
to
disclose
that
they
have
been
sexually
abused.
We
owe
it
to
them
to
provide
the
best
possible
response,
a
response
that
stops
their
abuse
and
puts
them
on
a
path
to
healing.
By
working
collaboratively.
We
ensure
that
children
don't
have
to
be
interviewed
many
times
by
different
people
in
different
locations
about
their
experiences.
They
can
have
their
medical
exam
the
same
day
as
their
investigative
interview,
DHS,
police
and
PCA
share
information
throughout
the
investigation.
H
Victim
advocates
ensure
that
non-offending
caregivers
have
everything
they
need
to
support
their
child
through
the
entire
investigation,
but
especially
through
court,
and
we
link
all
kids
to
long
term
therapy
services
to
provide
them
the
opportunity
to
work
with
trained
professionals
to
deal
with
the
trauma
and
ultimately
heal
from
it.
Last
year
alone,
as
you've
heard,
we
spoke
to
nearly
2,000
children
who
came
forward
and
spoke
alleged
abuse
from
ages
two
and
a
half
to
seventeen.
H
They
all
came
through
our
doors,
eight
to
ten
of
them
a
day
to
receive
a
sensitive,
comprehensive
response,
and
some
of
these
were
in
the
middle
of
the
night,
because
we
are
prepared
and
do
respond
24/7
when
reports
come
in
I,
know,
counsel
that
you
honored
and
thanked
Nick
Foles
this
year,
when
Nick
Foles
came
for
a
tour
of
the
Philadelphia
safety,
collaborative
as
he
put
it,
I
was
blown
away.
Nick
then
became
a
generous
donor,
contributing
a
hundred
and
thirty-five
thousand
dollars
to
our
work.
H
Over
the
past
two
years,
we've
also
been
honored
to
be
partnered
with
the
Philadelphia
Eagles
as
a
charitable
partner,
which
brought
many
benefits
to
us.
Most
recently,
several
players
joined
with
some
of
our
kids
to
create
an
ocean
mural
in
our
waiting
room.
I'll.
Take
this
opportunity
to
echo
the
sentiments
earlier
that
you
should
all
come
for
a
tour.
H
We
would
welcome
the
opportunity
to
introduce
you
to
members
of
our
team
and
to
show
you
the
program
that
we've
created,
and
this
may
all
sound
familiar
because
I
came
here
last
year
with
a
similar
message,
but,
as
you
know,
from
opening
the
newspaper
any
given
day,
this
issue
is
far
from
over.
It
may
seem
like
it's
an
issue,
that's
far
away
in
Hollywood
or
professional
sports,
and
while
those
issues
are
heartbreaking,
we
have
to
remember
that
they
happen
every
day
in
our
own
backyard.
H
We
are
in
this
wonderful
facility
at
300,
East,
Hunting,
Park,
Avenue,
and
thanks
to
all
of
you,
our
kids
in
Philadelphia
are
not
forgotten.
On
the
contrary,
each
day
we
bring
a
sensitive
professional
response
to
every
child
in
Philadelphia
who
needs
it.
So
thank
you
for
your
support
for
each
and
every
one
of
these
kids.