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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Dallas Children's Advocacy Center began an |
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exciting new chapter in its history when it moved into the |
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Rees-Jones Center for Child Protection in January 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 1991, DCAC is committed to improving |
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the lives of abused children in Dallas County and to providing |
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national leadership on child abuse issues; the center served more |
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than 2,400 children and their non-offending family members in 2012; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, DCAC coordinates the investigation and prosecution |
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of the most severe cases of abuse in the community, and it offers a |
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warm, child-friendly haven for the victims who have been referred |
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by law enforcement or Child Protective Services; facilitating |
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collaboration and communication in the coordination of these highly |
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sensitive cases, DCAC also houses the Child Abuse Unit of the Dallas |
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Police Department, five CPS units, and an assistant district |
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attorney; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the years, DCAC has gained national |
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recognition as a leader in educating professionals about crimes |
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against children; its education specialists conduct free training |
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on recognizing and reporting abuse for teachers and others in |
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child-serving organizations, and the center hosts one of the |
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world's largest annual professional training conferences in the |
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field for prosecutors, therapists, law enforcement personnel, and |
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others; and |
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WHEREAS, The 56,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art |
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Rees-Jones Center will allow DCAC to deliver training to more |
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professionals on a year-round basis; moreover, the building is |
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designed to enhance the healing process by providing an especially |
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comforting, safe, and serene environment; the building is named in |
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honor of benefactors Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones; and |
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WHEREAS, Since its inception, the Dallas Children's Advocacy |
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Center has made a positive difference in the lives of more than |
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30,000 young victims of abuse, and its new facility will enable the |
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caring and dedicated staff to make even greater contributions to |
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the well-being of this vulnerable population; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Dallas Children's Advocacy |
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Center on the opening of the Rees-Jones Center for Child Protection |
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and extend to all those associated with DCAC sincere best wishes for |
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continued success with their important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the center as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |