1Recognizing ChildFirst PA for its commitment to training members
2of multidisciplinary investigative teams and nationally
3recognized child abuse forensic interview training program in
4Pennsylvania.

5WHEREAS, Children bring happiness into our lives and hope to
6our future; and

7WHEREAS, Children are our greatest resource and our most
8important responsibility; and

9WHEREAS, It is our responsibility as parents, friends,
10neighbors, citizens and lawmakers to nurture and protect
11children, providing an atmosphere of love and respect in which
12they are able to grow into healthy, well-adjusted and productive
13adults; and

14WHEREAS, We, as a legislative body, have an ongoing
15commitment to protect the rights and needs of children; and

16WHEREAS, Child abuse crosses all racial, economic and
17geographic boundaries and has reached epidemic proportions

1across this nation and throughout this Commonwealth; and

2WHEREAS, There were 26,664 cases of possible child abuse or
3maltreatment referred for investigation in this Commonwealth in
42012; and

5WHEREAS, There were 3,565 substantiated cases of child abuse
6and neglect in this Commonwealth in 2012; and

7WHEREAS, Thousands of Pennsylvanians in schools, social
8service agencies, churches and neighborhood groups throughout
9this Commonwealth are working hard to nurture and support the
10victims of child abuse and prevent future abuse; and

11WHEREAS, In spite of the dedication and sacrifice of these
12individuals, much more still needs to be done to guarantee a
13childhood free of abuse and victimization to every child in this
14Commonwealth; and

15WHEREAS, As a legislative body, we acknowledge that each
16county is required by the Child Protective Services Law to form
17and operate a multidisciplinary investigative team (MDIT); and

18WHEREAS, ChildFirst is a nationally recognized forensic
19interview training program developed by the National Child
20Protection and Training Center (NCPTC) and Cornerhouse; and

21WHEREAS, In July 2009, the Pennsylvania Children and Youth
22Solicitors Association applied to bring ChildFirst to
23Pennsylvania; and

24WHEREAS, ChildFirst PA is sponsored by the Pennsylvania
25Children and Youth Solicitors Association in collaboration with
26the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association and the
27Pennsylvania State Police; and

28WHEREAS, In March 2011, Pennsylvania became the 17th
29ChildFirst state; and

30WHEREAS, On December 12, 2011, House Resolution 522 of

1Session 2011 was passed, directing the formation of the
2Governor's Task Force on Child Protection to review the current
3child abuse-related statutes and to make recommendations on how
4to improve the child abuse system; and

5WHEREAS, On November 27, 2012, the Governor's Task Force on
6Child Protection submitted its report of more than 400 pages to
7the Governor; and

8WHEREAS, The Governor's Task Force on Child Protection
9acknowledged the need to have well-trained forensic interviewers
10who are prepared to interview a child alleged to be a victim of
11abuse in an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate
12manner; and

13WHEREAS, The Governor's Task Force on Child Protection
14acknowledges the need for fully trained and functional MDITs in
15each county across this Commonwealth; and

16WHEREAS, ChildFirst PA has trained more than 28 of
17Pennsylvania's 67 counties and more than 300 professionals
18charged with the responsibility of investigating suspected child
19abuse; and

20WHEREAS, ChildFirst PA is anchored at the Pennsylvania State
21Police Academy and training centers across this Commonwealth;
22and

23WHEREAS, The ChildFirst PA motto should be considered at all
24times during a child abuse investigation and prosecution:

25"The Child is our first priority.

26It is not the needs of the family.

27Not the child's 'story.'

28Not the evidence.

29Not the needs of the courts.

30Not the needs of the police, Children and Youth

1Services or attorneys.

2The Child is our priority."

3; and

4WHEREAS, ChildFirst PA is the only nationally recognized
5forensic interview and MDIT training program in this
6Commonwealth; therefore be it

7RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
8ChildFirst PA as a recognized forensic interview training
9program and MDIT; and be it further

10RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives continue to do
11its part in support of the training done by ChildFirst PA; and
12be it further

13RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend the
14Pennsylvania Children and Youth Solicitors Association,
15Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, Pennsylvania State
16Police, ChildFirst PA and all of its faculty who train the
17forensic interviewers and professional members of the
18multidisciplinary investigative teams to investigate suspected
19child abuse.