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Home My WebLink AboutContract 56126 CSC No. 56126 Alliance For Children Memorandum of Understanding Reviewed 2021 We, the undersigned, by and through our supervisory heads, (and through our designated representatives, listed below) do hereby agree to the following policy supporting the creation, development, and implementation of Children's Advocacy Centers in the County of Tarrant, Texas. To wit: At present the number of child sexual and physical abuse cases in Tarrant County is continuing with alarming frequency, representing not only an immediate danger to each child victim involved, but also a continuing threat to the mental, physical and emotional welfare and safety of Tarrant County. We recognize that the current systems that deal with these young victims, although comprised of agencies committed to the protection and best interest of every child in Tarrant County, cannot meet many of their needs in isolated practice. We recognize that the current systems better address needs of these young victims while working in partnership with other agencies committed to the protection and best interest of every child in Tarrant County. We are a system designed for and oriented to adults, a system that has few provisions or concessions to the specific needs and fragile state of those children who are, through no choice of their own, expected to enter into yet another threatening adult environment. As participants in this system, we recognize many children within our current system are often "revictimized" by excessive interviews, Lack of communication among agencies, incomplete investigations and the unavailability of immediate and long term medical and therapeutic treatment. Having recognized these issues, we are supportive of the creation, development and implementation of child-oriented facilities, which serve as a cooperative effort among the undersigned agencies, wherein a multidisciplinary approach is utilized in the investigation, prosecution, medical and therapeutic treatment involving child fatality and medical child abuse cases and child victims of sexual and physical abuse. We do further agree that the stated purpose of each Alliance For Children center is set forth as follows: 1 . To develop, achieve, and maintain interagency and inter-professional cooperation and coordination in the case management and handling of child sexual and physical abuse cases, medical child abuse, and child fatality OFFICIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TX investigations (those specific cases to be enumerated and outlined in agreed interagency protocol); 2. To provide a multidisciplinary team and case management approach, focused first on the suspected child victim's needs, second on the law enforcement, prosecution, and civil proceedings involved, and third on the non-offending caregivers/family members who are supportive of the child and whose interests are consistent with the best interest of the child; 3. To obtain evidence useful for both criminal prosecution as well as protective action in civil proceedings; 4. To provide case screening and investigative procedures so as to minimize the number of false allegations of sexual and physical abuse reports, with the early detection of such cases leading to the timely exoneration of innocent parties; 5. To provide and coordinate the therapeutic treatment program for child victims and their families/non-offending caregivers; 6. To reduce to an absolute minimum number of interviews of child sexual and physical abuse victims so as to minimize the "revictimization" of the child; 7. To provide extensive and continued training and education of those professionals working within the multidisciplinary team, and for those outside professionals in the community who deal with child victims of sexual and physical abuse; 8. To serve as a continuing resource and community focal point of information, education, and service referral, and for future as well as existing multidisciplinary teams within the State of Texas and nationwide. 9. The development, maintenance, and support of a neutral "child friendly" environment that emphasizes the best interest of children and that provides investigative and rehabilitative services to the child and non-offending caregiver/family members. While each of the undersigned agencies has specific responsibilities with regard to the investigation, prosecution, medical, and therapeutic treatment of cases of child abuse, we do hereby acknowledge that the multidisciplinary team approach made possible through the institution of Alliance For Children, in the County of Tarrant, Texas, will serve to enhance the individual efforts of each agency. The collaboration among these respective agencies, and public support and awareness, will unify our community in the daily efforts to ensure the protection and preservation of the children of Tarrant County. 2 All state and federal confidentiality laws will be followed in connection with this agreement. This agreement can be terminated by any party without cause by giving written notice to the other parties. This agreement shall become effective upon signature of the parties listed below: Wayne f arson, CEO (Date) Ramona Black (Date) ACH CHild and Family Services APS District Director Region 3 Dept. of Family and Protective Services `AI Jones, Chief (Date) Rick Pippins, Chief (Date) Arlington Police Department Azle Police Department LU Jeff Williams, Chief (Date) David Babcock, Chief (Date) Bedford Police Department Benbrook Police Department Dusty Steele, Chief (Date) Billy Cordell, Chief (Date) Blue Mound Police Department Burleson Police De artment �h' '�/7/2 f s4in LewiS (Date) Bry angley Manager (Date) Dir f hild Care Investigations City of Burles Dept. of Family and Protective Services OFFICIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TX n J Chris Fletcl;br, Mayor (Date) Michael Miller, Chief (Date) City of Burleson Colleyville Police Department Matt Gilbert (Date) Nancy Cycho (Date) CPI Regional Director Chief of Hospital Services and Affiliate Dept. of Family and Protective Services Ventures Cook Children's Health Care System Kit Long, Ch' f (Date) Michael rown, Chief (Date) Crowley Police Department Euless Police Department C.W.�S pe ece , Chief (Date) Neil Noakes, Chief (Date) Everman Police Department Fort Worth Police Department Danie ceVy, Chief (Date) Mike Ham in, C .ief (Date) Grand Prairie Police Department Grapevine Police Department Cody Phillips, Chief (Date) Steve Niekamp, Chief (Date) Haltom City Police Department Hurst Police Department OFFICIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TX .3 L zo a Robert Earley, President & CEO ate) Brad Fortune, Chief (Date) Tarrant County Hospital District Keller Police Department d/b/a JPS Health Network 4J4s-� -2 - - s z.� T , Chief (Date) J.T M noushagian, Chief (Date) Kennedale Police Department Lake Worth Police Department Tracy Aaron, hief (Date) J' erdue, Chief (Date) Mansfield Police Department North Richland Hills Police Department . also c, Sri 5 , Ltl+ertwL '--Reaerfflo-ter, Chief (Date) Kimb rly Sylvester, Chief (Date) Pelican Bay Police Department Richland Hills Police Department -�1�4 05-E2J . - Christopher Spieldenner, Chief (Date) Lee Howell, Chief (Date) River Oaks Police Department Saginaw Police Department s\ Carolyn Gilmore, Chief (Date) A Ls randon, Chief (Date) Sansom Park Police Department Soke Police Department OFFICIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TX Sharen Wilson (Date) Bill Waybourn, Sheriff , (Date) Criminal District Attorney Tarrant County Sheriff's Office Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office Bernie Medlin, Director (Date) Robert Parker, Chief (Date) Tarrant County Juvenile Services Watauga Police Department �Jr- Kevin Reaves, Chief (Date) J.P. Bevering, Chief (Date) Westworth Village Police Department White Settlement Police Department Gee C ,-, (5/a" .5/- ..�?� - -ZoZ Julie Evans, CEO (Date) Greg]etty, Chie (Date) Alliance For Children Director of Public Safety Dalworthington Gardens OFFICIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TX CITY OF FORT WORTH CONTRACT COMPLIANCE MANAGER: By signing I acknowledge that I am the person responsible for the monitoring and By. }esu%Chapa(Jun 1.10"1 031CDT) administration of this contract, including Name:Jesus J. Chapa ensuring all performance and reporting Title: Deputy City Manager requirements. APPROVAL RECOMMENDED: By: Sasha Kane(May 25,202116:50 CDT) Name:Sasha Kane By: Neil Noakes(Jun1.202119:59CDT) Title: Sr. Contract Compliance Specialist Name: Neil Noakes Title: Chief of Police APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: ATTEST: AW-- By: N ico Arias(May 25.2021 16:48 CDT) P �ozaCe� Acirca citz,seetti Name: Nico Arias By: Title: Assistant City Attorney Name: Mary J. Kayser Title: City Secretary CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION: � �� M&C: N/A oaf FORT �� Date Approved: /J °0000°o ��o°° °° 0 � — Form 1295 Certification No.: 0 0 o 0j o o�� o ° % °° °°o y�� Y� o T °000000 a ' ��SEX Asap OFFICIAL RECORD CITY SECRETARY FT. WORTH, TX