| 1 | 1 | | 24 LC 112 1890 |
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| 2 | 2 | | Senate Resolution 455 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Brass of the 28th, Jackson of the 41st, Merritt of the |
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| 4 | 4 | | 9th, Burns of the 23rd and others |
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| 5 | 5 | | A RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | Recognizing February 7, 2024, as Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia Day in the State |
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| 7 | 7 | | 1 |
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| 8 | 8 | | of Georgia; and for other purposes.2 |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, child abuse, exploitation, and neglect are significant problems in the United3 |
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| 10 | 10 | | States, and the effects are traumatic and can be long-lasting; and4 |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, in the past year in the State of Georgia, 11,899 newly suspected child abuse5 |
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| 12 | 12 | | victims were served daily in Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia's network of member6 |
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| 13 | 13 | | Child Advocacy Centers (CACs). One out of every ten children will be sexually abused7 |
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| 14 | 14 | | before the age of 18, and of these victims served by Children's Advocacy Centers of8 |
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| 15 | 15 | | Georgia's network, approximately 29 percent are seven years old and younger. The average9 |
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| 16 | 16 | | age of entry to commercial sexual exploitation in Georgia is 12 years old. The Commercial10 |
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| 17 | 17 | | Sexual Exploitation of Children Response Team (which includes the network of 49 CACs)11 |
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| 18 | 18 | | has served child victims of commercial exploitation (trafficking) as young as three years old;12 |
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| 19 | 19 | | and13 |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Children's Advocacy Centers began establishing in Georgia 37 years ago and14 |
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| 21 | 21 | | were created to correct the fragmented, adult-oriented, and insensitive treatment services to15 |
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| 22 | 22 | | S. R. 455 |
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| 23 | 23 | | - 1 - 24 LC 112 1890 |
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| 24 | 24 | | children. Professionals and agencies would meet and talk with the child separately and |
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| 25 | 25 | | 16 |
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| 26 | 26 | | repeatedly in facilities designed for adults; and17 |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Children's Advocacy Centers provide a neutral, child-friendly environment18 |
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| 28 | 28 | | where trained professionals and agencies utilize a multi-disciplinary team approach to19 |
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| 29 | 29 | | investigate and treat alleged child abuse and exploitation cases. CACs offer prompt, ongoing,20 |
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| 30 | 30 | | and free forensic, advocacy, medical, and therapeutic services to investigative professionals21 |
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| 31 | 31 | | and the children and families collectively served. The research and evidence-based practices22 |
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| 32 | 32 | | of CAC professionals in the forensic and therapeutic services reduce trauma to child victims23 |
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| 33 | 33 | | and their families, which increases the child's ability to heal and become successful adults24 |
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| 34 | 34 | | who positively contribute to their communities; and25 |
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| 35 | 35 | | WHEREAS, Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia is a nonprofit organization with the26 |
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| 36 | 36 | | mission to promote lifelong resiliencies for all of Georgia's child abuse victims by providing27 |
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| 37 | 37 | | resources and oversight of standardization of care to our network of child advocacy centers28 |
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| 38 | 38 | | and direct services for child trafficking victims. In 2020, Children's Advocacy Centers of29 |
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| 39 | 39 | | Georgia was designated to provide the statewide response to commercial sexual exploitation30 |
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| 40 | 40 | | of children and established the first-of-its-kind CSEC Response Team, which provides a31 |
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| 41 | 41 | | direct service team that works in conjunction with the CACs of Georgia and combines the32 |
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| 42 | 42 | | efforts of CACs and multidisciplinary teams across our state to fight the sale of children and33 |
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| 43 | 43 | | provide treatment to the victims; and34 |
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| 44 | 44 | | WHEREAS, Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia is an accredited chapter of the National35 |
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| 45 | 45 | | Children's Alliance and is a statewide membership organization composed of 49 certified36 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Member CACs; and37 |
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| 47 | 47 | | S. R. 455 |
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| 48 | 48 | | - 2 - 24 LC 112 1890 |
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| 49 | 49 | | WHEREAS, Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia is a national leading state chapter |
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| 50 | 50 | | 38 |
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| 51 | 51 | | committed to alleviating all forms of child abuse including physical abuse and neglect, sexual39 |
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| 52 | 52 | | abuse, internet crimes against children, child fatality, and commercial sexual exploitation of40 |
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| 53 | 53 | | children (otherwise known as CSEC or child trafficking).41 |
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| 54 | 54 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body42 |
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| 55 | 55 | | commend the Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia and their network of CACs for their43 |
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| 56 | 56 | | diligent and steadfast commitment to assisting victims of child abuse as well as recognize44 |
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| 57 | 57 | | February 7, 2024, as Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia Day in the State of Georgia.45 |
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| 58 | 58 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed46 |
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| 59 | 59 | | to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the47 |
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| 60 | 60 | | press.48 |
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| 61 | 61 | | S. R. 455 |
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| 62 | 62 | | - 3 - |
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