Mayor Bill Euille and Giselle Pelaez, executive director of the Center for Alexandria’s Children. Jim Craige Photography
“Your work does more than save lives; your work saves souls.”
— Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Cathryn Evans
The Center for Alexandria’s Children organized an appreciation luncheon last month to honor the work of its Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), which is comprised of 55 representatives of both Alexandria city agencies and certain state agencies. Together, they investigate, prosecute and treat child abuse cases that come through the Center for Alexandria’s Children.
The center, a non-profit organization that opened in 2007, is the first place in Alexandria for victims of child abuse to go when they need help. It was designed to co-locate all the necessary professionals and authorities when needed. From forensic investigators to doctors to criminal prosecutors, the team has members to execute each step of the process. This group, officially called the Multi-Disciplinary Team, continues to keep this service child-focused. The center has since grown to include child abuse prevention services.
According to Giselle Pelaez, executive director of the Center for Alexandria’s Children, a priority of the organization is the investment in the personal and professional resiliency of each team member. To retain effective people who stay motivated to work these challenging cases, the organization makes sure to demonstrate its appreciation, and encourage self-wellness, for the entire Multi-Disciplinary Team. In this spirit, official theme of the Nov. 10 luncheon was “Resiliency.”
“We know through both our experience and research that a crucial component to ensuring these professionals’ continued dedication is keeping them healthy, which means investing in their resiliency,” Pelaez said. “This luncheon is just one way in which the center does that. It’s an appreciation lunch for the MDT, so we try to give them a really nice meal and a really nice setting, something they don’t often have time to do.”
She added that at each seat was a “resiliency gift bag” that was stuffed with gifts to promote good health and self-care — stress balls, exercise bands and chocolate and gift cards, all donated by the Alexandria Police Association and the center’s board of directors.
The center organizes and directs the MDT, which includes members of the Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services (specifically, Child Protective Services, the Sexual Assault Center, and the Community Services Board), the Alexandria Police Department, and the City Attorney's Office.
The state agencies that provide active MDT members are the Alexandria Health Department and the Commonwealth Attorney's Office.
“The center coordinates the MDT, hosting weekly supervisor case reviews and monthly full team case reviews, as well as specialized training and support services, such as expert forensic interviews, for members,” Pelaez said. “We also serve as the one safe place where child abuse victims receive their collaborative services, in order to minimize their trauma and maximize resources.”
This year’s luncheon was such a success that there will be a third annual celebration in honor of these dedicated team members. “It went really well,” Pelaez said. “Sixty-five people were in attendance, with 45 of them being actual team members. We had nurses from INOVA who conduct the sexual assault examinations, detectives with the Special Victims Unit of the Alexandria Police Department, prosecutors and victim advocates from the Commonwealth Attorney’s office alongside Child Protective Services’ social workers and investigators. Our board members and city agency heads also attended.”
Local guests included Mayor William D. Euille, Commonwealth Attorney Bryan Porter and former Mayor Kerry Donley.
“We decided to have speakers who were from the MDT as opposed to people who were ‘VIPs,’” Susan Britton, program director for the Child Advocacy Center, said. “Our theme was ‘Resiliency’ because this work is very difficult, and the center’s responsibility is to support their personal and professional resiliency.”
The first speaker, Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Cathryn Evans, read a poem she had written about resiliency. She defined resiliency in terms of what each team member brings to the table during the approach of these tragedies.
Evans’ speech concluded with: “While all the work that this great city does is valuable and immeasurable … What you — you in this room — what you do is of the most consequential kind. Your work does more than save lives; your work saves souls. And that, in part, is because you are defined by Resiliency.”
“People had tears in their eyes,” Britton said. “It was very emotional and very touching. Just by the attendance alone, you can tell the people really enjoyed the speeches, and the entire event.”
Pelaez said that official team appreciation will continue, as the MDT is comprised of true local heroes.
“These professionals are doing the work, dedicated at a level that is unmatched,” she said. “These are the social workers and detectives who work day and night on some of the most horrible cases that happen in our city. We thank them as colleagues and friends.”