For its fiscal year 2024-25, council approved $11,120 to the Children's Advocacy Center for North Texas for services provided to children in Argyle.
The details
In calendar year 2023, 16 children from Argyle were provided with services at an average cost of $2,700 per child, for a total of $43,200, a council agenda memo states. The Children's Advocacy Center has requested 20% of that total, or $8,640, but council member Ron Schmidt suggested funding the center at the level the town did last fiscal year—a move that was approved by the rest of the council.
Zooming in
The memo states the advocacy center was established by multiple jurisdictions, including Argyle, to provide services to victims of child abuse and neglect, and their families. The Children's Advocacy Center is responsible for services such as forensic interviews, medical evaluations, victim advocacy and multidisciplinary case reviews.
The memo also explained that when the Argyle Police Department receives allegations of physical or sexual abuse of a child, the child and parents are sent to the center for the forensic interview portion of the investigation. If the investigation moves forward, the CAC is where collaboration between police, prosecutors and counselors takes place.
“I think every penny here is well spent,” Mayor Rick Bradford said.
