WHEREAS, For over three decades, the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance
and the Philadelphia Department of Human Services
have been at the forefront of victim advocacy, fostering collaboration among agencies, strengthening systemic responses, and ensuring that child abuse victims receive the care and support they deserve; and
WHEREAS, PCA is Philadelphia’s first and only Child Advocacy Center (CAC) and has maintained full accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) since 2001, consistently upholding national best-practice standards and serving as a model for peer organizations nationwide; and
WHEREAS, PCA’s mission extends beyond intervention by providing prevention training, community education, and resources to caregivers, professionals, and partner agencies to build awareness and reduce the incidence of child abuse; and
WHEREAS, PCA delivers comprehensive services at no cost to families, including forensic interviews, victim advocacy, trauma therapy, medical care, and court accompaniment, ensuring that children receive holistic support throughout their healing process; and
WHEREAS, Since 2013, the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance, the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, the Philadelphia Police Special Victims Unit, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children have collaborated in a co-located facility, creating a centralized, victim-centered approach to addressing child sexual abuse and exploitation; and
WHEREAS, Serving as the Northeast Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (NRCAC), PCA provides training and technical assistance to CACs and multidisciplinary teams across nine states, strengthening child protection efforts beyond Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and PCA and DHS continues its leadership in advocacy by raising awareness, promoting education, and ensuring that children and families have access to vital services and resources; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors and commends the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance and the Philadelphia Department of Human Services for its dedication to ensuring safety, healing, and justice for children and families affected by child abuse.
End