Recognizing and honoring the Philadelphia Children's Alliance for their commitment to promoting healing and justice for victims of child sexual abuse in Philadelphia and declaring April 2016 to be Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, For over the past 20 years, the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance (PCA) 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, The Philadelphia Children’s Alliance exists to create a more effective and caring response to children who have been sexually abused and is dedicated to providing justice and healing for sexually abused children, working to protect victims, ending the cycle of abuse and improving the quality of abuse investigations; and

WHEREAS, Recently, PCA relocated to the Philadelphia Safety Collaborative within the Seventh Councilmanic District along with the Department of Human Services, the Special Victims Unit and the District Attorney’s Office. 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 2015 Philadelphia Children’s Alliance conducted 2,108 forensic interviews, with 2,510 children and caregivers receiving victim advocacy. With the new medical clinic and the passionate and hard working staff at the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance, 153 children received mental health therapy on site and since opening in December 2015 they have conducted 132 medical screenings; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Children’s Alliance has partnered with St. Christopher’s Hospital and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) so that any child needing medical attention is able to receive the attention and care at the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance medical clinic five days a week; and

WHEREAS, April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and Philadelphia Children’s Alliance recognizes this month by promoting increased knowledge of the resources available to parents and caregivers to prevent child maltreatment and promote well-being; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Children’s Alliance is the only primary intervention organization in Philadelphia working with child victims of sexual abuse and this mandate to increase capacity is driven by a critical need for PCA’s services to help protect the children and families they serve and so that children can quickly get the help they need to live safe, fulfilling lives; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED,

That the Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby recognizes, congratulates, honors and celebrates the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance for their commitment to promoting healing and justice for victims of child sexual abuse in Philadelphia and declaring April 2016 to be Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in the City of Philadelphia. We extend the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body and thank you for your organization’s contributions to better the lives of our City’s youth.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance

as evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.

End