HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7890 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7890
F To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 7, 1995
X Subject: ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN CENTER
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In 1,991, the Alliance for Children was formed as a public/private partnership of community leaders and
representatives of the Tarrant County law enforcement agencies, the local office of Child Protective
Services, and the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office. The Alliance for Children is a nonprofit
organization designed to create self-contained child center environments where abused children and
their families can go for evaluation, crisis intervention, evidence gathering, medical assessment and
counseling.
Through the cooperative effort of the city of Fort Worth and the community a facility is scheduled to
open at 908 Southland in Fort Worth near Cook Childrens Hospital in early February 1995. The Alliance
for Children Center in Fort Worth will take care of the needs of the smaller victims within Fort Worth
and should greatly reduce the number of children not cared for in previous years.
The Crimes Against Children Unit will be working closely with Child Protective Services and the Tarrant
County District Attorney's Office who will also be housed at 908 Southland. Medical assessment, crisis
intervention counseling, volunteer services, and other important components of the program will also
be made available at this facility,The Crimes Against Children Unit of the Fort Worth Police Department
will move one sergeant, six detectives, and one secretary to the Alliance for Children Center in Fort
Worth during the first week of February. Personnel assigned to the unit are experienced in child abuse
investigations and have a great compassion for the cases they will be investigating, The Crimes Against
Children Unit currently investigates approximately 150 cases per month. It is anticipated that a
minimum of 1500 children will be served in the first full year of operation at the Alliance for Children
Center in Fort Worth.
Because the children's fears will be eased and the interviews will be coordinated by professional teams
working in single locations, the Alliance for Children Center will be a facility where more complete and
accurate information will be obtained. This will be accomplished with fewer and less threatening
interviews of the victim.
The Alliance for Children Center in Fort Worth will be the second center of its kind in Tarrant County
and another center is being planned for the Northeast area of Tarrant County. These centers are a
shining example of the collaborative efforts of the local law enforcement agencies, the Child Protective
Services Office, the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office and the community working together for
the protection of our children.
If additional information is desired please contact Assistant City Manager Libby Watson at 871-6140.
Bob Terrell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS