FAMILY ADVOCACY
Our specially trained team of Family Advocates helps navigate children and their protective family members through the overwhelming process of dealing with a case of child abuse. From initial outcry all the way through prosecution, our Family Advocates are there to help families understand the process and successfully access needed resources in our community.
Families are referred to our program through our partners in the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and local law enforcement agencies.
All services are provided at no cost to the family and can include:
- Case management
- Resource referrals
- Court preparation
- Financial assistance
- Emergency needs
- Assistance completing Crimes Victims' Compensation applications
Families are also supported through special programs including:
- Backpack to School Connection
- Camp B.L.U.E
- The Makeover Project
- Next Steps
- Christmas Connection
For more information about our Family Advocate program, please contact Ayda Torres.
FORENSIC INTERVIEWS
The Alliance For Children Forensic Interview Team assists Tarrant County law enforcement and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services by conducting specialized investigative interviews of children. The goal of a forensic interview is to gather pertinent information from children in a neutral, non-leading, and legally defensible manner.
The forensic interview allows our partners to observe as the interview is taking place. This lessens the trauma to victims while sharing their story in a developmentally appropriate and trauma-sensitive setting. The forensic interview can be a key component not only to the investigation but to decisions related to criminal prosecution of offenders and safety decisions for families. The Forensic Interviewer does not make investigative case decisions, but may make referrals for additional services or resources for families.
For more information about our Forensic Interview program, please contact Samantha Torrance.
CLINICAL SERVICES
Alliance For Children offers both individual and group counseling services free of charge to confirmed victims of child abuse and their protective family members.
Our clinical counseling staff work closely with clients to determine an individualized treatment program for each child. Counseling modalities utilized include Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy through individual and group counseling, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy.
It is not unusual for a child to experience the following after a traumatic event has occurred:
- Nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Sadness
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Poor grades
- Fearfulness
- Drug/alcohol use
- Self-harm
Although these can be normal reactions to abuse, it is important for children to learn healthy ways of coping in order to decrease these symptoms. Even if a child does not exhibit any symptoms, it can be extremely beneficial for them to speak with a trained professional to process what happened in order to make sure children understand and feel safe expressing their feelings. With the support of a protective caregiver and effective treatment, a child can recover without long-term negative effects.
Our therapy programs are offered in both English and Spanish. For more information about our Clinical Program, please email Diana Davis.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM COORDINATION
Alliance For Children partners with 36 Tarrant County law enforcement agencies, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Cook Children’s® Health Care System, JPS Health Network, and the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. All of these agencies work together at Alliance For Children centers to reduce trauma to child abuse victims during an investigation and to improve their agencies’ responses to children who are often frightened and hurting. As a result of the collaboration, investigators and detectives are able to complete investigations in a more timely fashion, case information is stronger for investigative decision-making, and children and protective caregivers are more likely to benefit from available services.
Collaborating partner agencies include:
Azle ISD Police Department
Castleberry ISD Police Department
Cook Children's® Medical Center
Crowley ISD Police Department
Dalworthington Gardens Police Department
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Grand Prairie Police Department
Mansfield Independent School District Police Department
North Richland Hills Police Department
Richland Hills Police Department
Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office
Tarrant County Juvenile Services
Tarrant County Sheriff's Office
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Westover Hills Police Department
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR CLASSES
Alliance For Children is committed to providing high quality prevention education and awareness programs in our community. All of our educational and community outreach is designed to empower adults and children to prevent child abuse. Our team of educators believe that, through prevention, we can raise awareness of the issue of child abuse and lessen the number of victims in Tarrant County.
Our educational programs include:
Children's Programs
Monique Burr Foundation – Child and Teen Safety Matters (Kindergarten - 12th Grade)
Monique Burr Foundation Prevention Education Programs, including MBF Child Safety Matters® for elementary schools and MBF Teen Safety Matters® for middle and high schools are comprehensive, research-based on polyvictimization, that educate and empower students with information and strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to the four types of child abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect), exploitation/trafficking, bullying, cyberbullying, and digital dangers. This program is presented in two 45-minute to 1-hour long lessons.
P.S. It’s My Body! (Pre-K - 5th Grade) - English & Spanish
P.S. It's My Body! is an innovative, practical safety series for children designed by The Sunflower House to teach and reinforce the three R’s of personal safety: Recognizing, Resisting, and Reporting. This program is presented in a 30-minute lesson. This program is presented in a 30-minute lesson.
NetSmartz® (K - 12th Grade)
Netsmartz® is an interactive, educational safety resource developed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children® and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America that teaches children and teens how to stay safe on the Internet. This program is presented in a 30-minute lesson.
Children’s programs are available at no cost to the Tarrant County community. To schedule children’s presentations, please email education@allianceforchildren.org.
Caregiver Training Programs
Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
Through this training, parents can learn how to set protective factors to help provide a safe and nurturing environment for children. In this 60 minute training, you will learn:
- Signs and symptoms of sexual, physical, emotional abuse and neglect, as well as their effects on children
- Ways to prevent different forms of abuse and neglect in the home
- How to communicate with a child who makes a disclosure of abuse
- Reporting laws in Texas
Discussing Body Safety with Your Children
Having a conversation with children about personal body safety should not be a scary topic. In fact, talking with children about their bodies is a major protective factor to prevent abuse. Let's talk about how to educate and empower children. In this 30-60 minute training, parents will learn:
- Current professional recommendations on developmentally appropriate conversations regarding personal body safety
- Evidence-informed guidance and tips
- Practical Do's and Don'ts when talking to children
- Helpful resources and literature to empower and engage children
Responsible Internet Safety for Kids (R.I.S.K.)
It’s important to facilitate conversations to help your children and teens learn about the dangers of the Internet and learn tips to better protect your children online. In this 30-60 minute training, parents will learn:
- Risks and safety issues children face while accessing the internet
- How to help children navigate unsafe situations online such as inappropriate content, online privacy, sexting, online sexual solicitation, and cyberbullying
- Tips and useful resources to better protect children online, no matter how they access the Internet
Parent and caregiver presentations are available in English and Spanish and at no cost to the Tarrant County community. If you have a group of 15 or more and would like to have any of these parent trainings brought to your organization in person or virtually, please email education@allianceforchildren.org. CEU’s available.
Professional Development Trainings
Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention 101
This 1.5 hour mandated reporter training is essential for youth serving organizations, professionals or any adult who has access to children. This training also meets all minimum requirements for daycare and youth camp staff. In this training, you will learn:
- The realities of child abuse and its effect on our communities
- Definitions of child abuse as determined by law
- Recognizing signs and symptoms of child abuse
- Policies and best practices to better protect children in organizations
- How to properly respond to a disclosure of abuse
- Texas reporting laws
Handling Disclosures of Abuse
We often teach children to talk to trusted adults if anyone is hurting them or if they experience any form of abuse. As such, we want professionals and trusted adults to be equipped to handle difficult disclosures of abuse in a way that is in the best interest of the child's well-being as well as the investigative process to seek justice and protection for victims. This 30 minute to 60 minute training will provide:
- An overview of what happens after a disclosure of abuse is reported
- Guidance for professionals on appropriate ways to react responsibly and next steps to take when a child makes a disclosure of abuse
- Texas reporting laws
Professional development trainings are available in English and Spanish and at no cost to the Tarrant County community. If you have a group of 15 or more and would like to have any of these parent trainings brought to your organization in person or virtually, please email education@allianceforchildren.org. CEU’s available.
Stewards of Children® - English
This is a revolutionary training program that educates adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse, and motivates them to courageous action. The Stewards of Children® program is designed for parents and organizations that serve children and youth. The training is 2 hours and we provide CEU's for Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, nurses, and teachers. The training also meets all minimum requirements for daycare and youth camp staff.
Safe Sleep for Babies
We want our precious ones to be safe and secure even when sleeping. This training will teach caregivers and professionals the risk factors associated with unsafe sleep environments and equip caring adults with current research and best practices to prevent injuries and even death related to unsafe sleep. In this 1.5 hour long training, you will learn:
- Review data: infant mortality rate, rate by race/ethnicity, and causes of infant death.
- Identify ways to ensure a safe sleep environment.
- Provide additional recommendations to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)/Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUIDS).
- Discuss concerns that may be encountered by caregivers in regards to safe sleep.
Currently this course is only available in English.
Community Outreach and Education
General Presentations are conducted to raise awareness of the issue of child abuse, learn more about our multidisciplinary team and what Alliance For Children’s unique role in Tarrant County community. These presentations can range in length from 15 minutes up to 1 hour.
For more information about our Outreach and Training program, please email education@allianceforchildren.org.