Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Nydia Negron (212) 788-9364
During a ceremony, the Mayor cut the ribbon which symbolically marked the opening of this new facility. It is the largest on-site child advocacy center in the country and the first of its kind in the Northeast. It will be home to a multi-disciplinary team that includes members of the NYPD’s Special Victims Squad, caseworkers from the Administration for Children’s Services, victim services counselors, staff from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, pediatricians and child advocates.
“By bringing these experts and specialists together in a building that has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the children they serve, we can deliver vital services to abused children in a more timely and effective manner,” said Mayor Giuliani.
“I am committed to protecting the children of New York City,” noted the Mayor. He added that last February the Administration for Children’s Services was created as a separate agency to focus more closely on the needs of our children. “This new center will be a valuable partner in this effort.”
“At this center, children will be helped through a teamwork approach that includes treatment of the victims, assessment, investigation and referral for prosecution,” said Mayor Giuliani.
The Brooklyn Child Advocacy Center expects to reduce the number of interviews an abused child undergoes and sharply reduce the amount of time between disclosure of abuse and the delivery of treatment. The Center’s combination of child protective services, law enforcement, prosecution, medical and mental health teams will result in a more complete understanding of each case.
The Center includes special playrooms, interview rooms and medical facilities which will create a supportive environment for children and their families.
Facilities like the Children’s Advocacy Center are urgently needed. In 1995, there were over 3,700 allegations of sexual abuse in New York City and almost 127,000 allegations of physical abuse and neglect.
This program is an outstanding example of public-private partnership in action. The City and State of New York worked with private sector supporters such as the Junior League and the Brooklyn business community to make this new center a reality.