| The mission of the Utah County Children's Justice Center is to provide a comprehensive multi disciplinary response to child sexual abuse and serious physical abuse in a neutral, child-friendly setting. Its purpose is to coordinate and track investigation, related medical service, prosecution, treatment, and training in order to protect the best interests of the child and the community. |
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| PHILOSOPHY: Each child has an inherent right to be treated with dignity.
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| 1. Child abuse is a community problem: no single agency, individual or discipline has the necessary knowledge, skills or resources to provide all the assistance needed by abused children and their families. |
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| 2. The combining of the experience and professional knowledge of child protective services, law enforcement, prosecution and court personnel, and medical and mental health professionals can results in a more thorough understanding of case issues and can provide the best possible system response. |
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| 3. Open communication and case coordination between community professionals and agencies are critical for protecting the child and promoting justice. |
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| 4. The protection and interests of each child will be foremost in all recommendations related to investigation, referrals, treatment, prosecution, and emotional support. |
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| GOALS |
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| 1. To provide a comprehensive, multi disciplinary response to child abuse.
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| 2. To reduce the time and duplication required to evaluate, investigate, and to initiate treatment and other needed services for the abused child. |
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| 3. To establish a neutral setting where professional interviews are coordinated and conducted. |
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| 4. To minimize the trauma to the child |
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| 5. To obtain evidence for use in child protection and criminal proceedings and facilitate prosecution of offenders. |
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| 6. To coordinate and track investigative, treatment, and prosecutorial efforts. |
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| 7. To seek protection of the child from further abuse. |
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| 8. To enhance the skills and provide peer support for professionals involved in child abuse cases and to coordinate and host interdisciplinary continuing education |
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| 9. To maintain a confidential data base to evaluate the effectiveness of the Center and to encourage research. |
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