It Takes a Team to Respond By Chris Kirchner, Executive Director, Philadelphia Children’s Alliance The partnerships and collaborative relationships that make up the programs of the Children’s Alliance are the cornerstone of our work. Understanding each other’s roles and mandates, challenges and strengths is critical as we forge meaningful relationships that ultimately benefit the children and families we all serve. According to the standards of the National Children’s Alliance, there are specific agencies that must be working together if a community is truly intent on responding to child abuse cases in the most effective manner. These include child welfare (DHS), law enforcement (Police), prosecution, medical, mental health and victim services. Without all of these entities at the table, there will be gaps in services and possible duplication of efforts. All of our partner agencies have committed to going “above and beyond” to make Philadelphia’s child abuse interventions the best they can be. They have all signed an inter-agency agreement, pledging to meet regularly to review and refine inter-agency procedures. All agencies have also agreed to meet monthly to review specific cases, sharing case information and making shared decisions on cases. DHS and the Police have committed to procedures for conducting joint interviews, reducing the number of interviewers with whom children must meet. Medical and mental health partners review cases and assure that children and families who need services receive counseling, therapy, home interventions, medical exams and other services on a priority basis. The team has also agreen upon complex and secure procedures for video recording forensic interviews and, while keeping these recordings confidential, make them available for use in court proceedings. The multi-disciplinary response team that all of us support provides the sensitive and caring response to child sexual abuse that Philadelphia can be proud of. Back