The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutKids Haven Memo of Understanding - Comprehensive ServicesKIDS HAVEN MEMO OF UN-DERSTANDING Each of the undersigned agencies has specific responsibilities with regard to the investigation, assessment, medical/therapeutictreatment and prosecution of cases of child sexual/physical abuse. We, the undersigned, do hereby acknowledge that the multi -disciplinary team approach, through Kids Haven, will serve to enhance the individual efforts of each agency. We acknowledge that through_ these respective agencies, and through public support and awareness, Kids Haven will continue to unify our community in the daily struggle to ensure the protection and well-being of our children. The undersigned agree to ensure that a cooperative, mWO-disciplinary team delivers comprehensive services to child sexual/physical abuse victims and families. The undersigned also agree to ensure each child's rightto be protected from further abuse and to receive coordinated services to meet the child's needs. GENERAL PROVISIONS 1., Each agency will work with and assist the others and Kids Haven to ensure that the best interest and protection of children will be served. 2. The Sexual Assault Center (SARC) will assist the lids Haven forensic child interviewer in scheduling interviews of children who may have been abused. These interviews must be requested by law enforcement, the prosecutor's office or child protective services to be scheduled. The interviews will be conducted at Kids Haven which has video and audio recording. 3. At the time of the interview SARC will meet with any non -offending family member and offer advocacy and counseling services to the family and to the child. 4. There may be situations where it is necessary to interview the child at an alternative location such as a school or police station. The Kids Haven interviewer is ordinarily available to go to those locations to interview the child. If the Kids Haven interviewer is not available, the Interview should be done by an interviewer with the training required by RCW 43.101.224 and 74.148.010. S. Video and Audio recordings of child abuse interviews can only be released pursuant to RCW 26.44.186 and only after approval by the Prosecutor's office. 6. If there is a report that a child has been sexually abused within the past five days, the child should be taken to Kadlec Emergency or Kadlec Clinic for an emergent exam. if there Is a report of child sexual abuse that did not occur within five days of the report, the presumption is that the child should be referred to Dr Shannon Phipps for a medical exam. An exam may benefitthe child even if there does not appear to the lay person that there is injury. There is benefit to the child to receive "A clean bili of health" and assurances from a medical exam that the child is safe and healthy. The exam may also provide evidentiary value even if the law enforcement officer thinks evidentiary value is unlikely upon the initial report. 7. SARC is responsible for monitoring rase progress, scheduling case reviews and tracking case outcomes for all team components. The following Information will be included In the case tracking system: client demographics, including age, -ethnicity, disability, and gender, case outcome, and National Children's Alliance statistical information. g. Each participating law enforcement and prosecution agency will share in the cost and supervision of the specialized Child Interviewer at Kids Haven. Each agencywill attempt to Interview children at Kids Haven when appropriate. 9. Law enforcement will Investigate child abuse reports and refer completed Investigations to the appropriate Prosecutor. 10. When appropriate, the appropriate law enforcement agency will investigate child abuse cases. 11. Each agency agrees to attend Kids Haven quarterly meetings and actively participate In the discussion and assessment of the prosecution process including the investigative/child interviews. These meetings will also be utilized to discuss feedback and suggestions regarding procedures/operations of the Kids Haven Program. 12. Each agency agrees to attend monthly case reviews, which are held to discuss specific cases meeting criteria as outlined in the County Protocol for Chiid Sexual and Physical Abuse Investigations. Any member of the team may request a rase review at an alternate time, if necessary. 13. The Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) are responsible for the protection of children from harm by their parents or others responsible for their care. DCFS is responsible for conducting a civil Investigation to determine the degree of risk to the children to make efforts to ensure their safety, and to make referrals to the appropriate agencies (e.g. Support, Advocacy & Resource Center). 14. The Prosecuting Attorney is responsible for assessing the legal aspects of the case, deciding whether to file criminal charges on referred cases and to prosecute charged cases. The Prosecutor's Office will also ensure that advocacy services for child victims are available, including offering services provided by SARC. 15. The Support, Advocacy & Resource Center is responsible to act as an advocate for the general interest and well-being of the children. This inchides providing medical and legal: advocacy, counseling, referrals, and information to non -offending family members and support. These services are to be made available on a 24-hour a day, 7 days a week basis, and to be provided at no charge. 16. The Support, Advocacy & Resource Center will offer supportgroups for non -offending family members when clients who are interested —to be provided at no charge. 17. The Support, Advocacy & Resource Center provides on-site counseling for children who are victims of sexual assault or physical abuse at no charge. Counseling referrals to otheragencles are also provided when appropriate. 18. The Support, Advocacy & Resource Center is responsible for providing community prevention education, aimed at increasing the awareness of sexual violence and reducing the degree of sexual abuse in Benton/Franklin counties. 19. Then Benton County Prosecutors office is responsible for hiring and supervising the Kids Haven interviewer and providing ongoing training. 20. The Support, Advocacy & Resource Center is responsible for the administrative oversight of the Kids Have program as it relates to grant management, staffing (other than the Child Interviewer), facility management, and monitoring policies/procedures to assess adherence with the National Children's Alliance accreditation standards. 21. It is expressly understood that each agency will work within its departmental mandates and policies. Nothing contained herein supersedes the statutes, rules and regulations governing each agency. To the extent that any provision of this understanding is inconsistent with any such statue, rule or regulation, the statue, rule or regulation will prevail. Signatures of this understanding will include the following agencies appropriate to lids Haven: I. Andy Miller, Beaton County Prosecuting Attorney 2. Shawn Sant, Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney 3. Tom Croskrey, Benton County Sheriff 4. Jim< a cl, v= ataV in County Sheriff S. Chris Turner, Connell Chief of Police 6. Ken Hohenberg, Kennewick Chief of Police 7. David Giles, Prosser Chief of Police 8. __. Ken Roske, Pasco Chief of Police 9. John Bruce, Richland Chief of Police Date Date Date Gate Date Date Date Date Date 10.— Ben 0.—Ben Majetich, West Richland Chief of Police Date Theresa Malley, Area Administrator, Division of Children and Family Date Services for Benton/Franklin Counties. 12. Dr. Shannon Phipps, Kadlec Regional Medical Center Date 13. = L.� c. 'l 1. ,..d1L 11 '7 t;Oq JoDee Garretson, Executive)Drector Date Support, Advocacy & Resource Center Signatures of this understanding will include the following agencies appropriate to Kids Haven: Andy Miller, Bariton County Prosecuting Attorney Date Z. Shawn Sant, Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Date 3. Tom CroskreV, Benton County Sheriff Date 4. . Jim Raymond, Franklin County Sheriff Date 5, Chris Turner, Connell Chief of Police Date 6. Ken Hohen berg, Kennewick Chief of Police Date 7. David Giles, Prosser Chief of Police Date 8. �. Ken Roske, Pasco Chief of Police Date 9. _ John Bruce, Richland Chief of Police Date 10.�— Ben Majetich, West Richland Chief of Police Date 11. Theresa Malley, Area Administrator, Division of Children and Family Date Services for Benton/Franklin Counties. 12. Dr. Shannon Phipps, Kadlec Regional Medical Center Date 13. _' — - — - JoDee Garretson, Executive Director Date Support, Advocacy & Resource Center Sgnatt M of this underganding wig Include the following agendas RPPmpku to Kids Haven: Andy MilGer, Worn County Prosecuting Attorney Date 7..... --------- Shawn Sant, frarildin County Prosecuting Attamey Date 3. Tom ov*n y, menton County Sheriff Oats 4. _ Am Reymond, Franidin Coun<jrSheriff Dale S. ch_ _ — -- ris Turner. Conf*V Chief of Police Date Ken Hohenberg, Kennewick G -of 0011ce,, , Oat! =Paxo f Police t>ste &L oUce r 9. --� d4 zazE Johh Bruce, Richland Chlef of Police Data 10. Ben Manch, West Rlchbnd Chief of Pollce bate Theresa Kft ky, Area AdmiaWmtor, Division of Children and Falrdy flats Services for UntoOftnklin Counties. L 0.0, 1117121 Dr. Shannon Phipps, Madlec Regional Medical Center Data loth* Garr*tson, ExecutNe D"rector Date Support Advocacy & Resource Center