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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #356 |
| Child Protection and Advocacy Center |
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| Requester: |
Peg Reese, Executive Director |
Organization: |
Mary Lee's House |
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| Project Title: |
Child Protection and Advocacy Center |
Date Submitted |
12/19/2007 3:28:59 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Joyner |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| A multidisciplinary approach to the investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child sexual and physical abuse provides child victims coordinated, consolidated evidence-based services to increase prosecution and conviction of offenders, reduce trauma and stress, and secure better treatment and placement for victims. |
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| Recipient: |
Mary Lee's House |
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Contact: |
Peg Reese, Executive Director |
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300 W. Platt Street, Suite 100 |
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Contact Phone: |
(813) 253-0657 |
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Tampa 33606 |
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Contact email: |
pegreese@maryleeshouse.org |
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| Counties: |
Hillsborough |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| The present system of responding in cases of child physical and sexual abuse in the 13th Judicial Circuit is fragmented, inefficient and traumatizing for children. Key responders (investigation, medical, forensic, victim advocates, social service) work in separate locations throughout the county, requiring child victims to go from one location to another and repeatedly tell their story about what happened. As a result, children are often unable to cooperate with investigators, valuable information is lost, offenders go free, and children are harmed again by the systems intended to protect them. Mary Lee's House Child Protection and Advocacy Center will provide a child-friendly, neutral environment where professionals from all areas of child protection and advocacy in the 13th Judicial Circuit work together in one place to achieve the best protection for children. It will be a safe, protective, nurturing place that ensures that children who have been physically or sexually abused are not traumatized again by the systems designed to protect them. At Mary Lee's House, children will receive comprehensive legal sevices, assessments and services under one roof. Co-location of specialists in the areas of legal services, child abuse, mental health, and medical services will have a direct bearing on judicial decisions related to criminal prosecutions, permanency planning, and the health and safety of children.
The following agencies will locate at Mary Lee's House Child Protection and Advocacy Center: The Children's Advocacy Center (a fully-accredited child advocacy center that is a program of the Administraitve Office of the Court, 13th Judicial District); the Child Protection Team of the Department of Pediatrics of the University of South Florida; Child Protective Investigators from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office; child mental health specialists; and the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County. The State Attorney's Office, the public defender, and other law enforcement offices will have space at Mary Lee's House. |
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Mary Lee's House Child Protection and Advocacy Center will bring multiple benefits to the community, including:
*Improved communication and evidence gathering for criminal prosecution.
*Comprehensive medical, psychological and forensic interviews in one facilty to reduce trauma for child victims and strengthen criminal prosecutions.
*Improved communication and case planning by child welfare experts resulting in appropriate treatment and placement for abused children.
*A child-friendly environment for disclosure, healing, and support.
*A safe place for parents/caregivers to gain information, support and assistance in caring for their child and rebuilding their family. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$900,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$4,500,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local, Private |
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Cash Amount |
$5,100,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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Yes |
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Fiscal Year: |
2004 |
Amount: |
$500,000 |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Florida DCF Child Welfare Annual Statistical Data Tables (FY 2004-05) documents the need. |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Hillsborough Legislative Delegation Meeting on 12/7/07 |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
