[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Suwon City in Gyeonggi Province will operate the first 'Child Abuse Joint Response Center' among local governments in Gyeonggi Province.
On the 2nd, Suwon City held an opening ceremony for the 'Suwon Special City Child Abuse Joint Response Center (With Us)' built at 265 Hyowon-ro, Paldal-gu.
The Child Abuse Joint Response Center was established after the Suwon Southern Police Station proposed its installation to Suwon City and three rounds of practical consultations. The center will serve as a hub for related organizations to respond jointly and promptly when child abuse incidents occur.
Six organizations participate, including Suwon City, Suwon Office of Education, Suwon Southern, Central, and Western Police Stations, and Suwon Child Protection Agency. The main tasks are ▲receiving child abuse reports ▲on-site dispatch and investigation ▲immediate separation from the perpetrator, etc.
In particular, when a child abuse incident occurs, dedicated child abuse public officials and Abuse Prevention Officers (APO) will be dispatched to the scene for a swift joint response.
Additionally, the six organizations' working-level members of the Child Abuse Response Information Linkage Council share information, and public officials, police, and child protection agency counselors promptly conduct case assessment meetings.
They establish protection plans for victimized children and provide services such as psychological testing and treatment for abused children, as well as family counseling programs for family members.
The Suwon Office of Education shares information on at-risk children in schools and kindergartens, and the dedicated medical institutions for child abuse provide emergency medical support for abused children.
Within the Joint Response Center building, the Suwon City Child Protection Team office has 10 dedicated child abuse public officials on duty at all times. A family counseling room (investigation room) and a counseling waiting room are also operated.
On the third floor of the Joint Response Center, nine personnel are assigned, including dedicated public officials, police officers, child protection agency counselors, and six child protection specialists. Seven personnel, including public officials and child protection specialists, work full-time, while police officers and child protection agency counselors work on an afternoon business trip basis.
Earlier, in September last year, Suwon City established the 'Child Abuse Joint Response With Us Hotline,' an information linkage council for child abuse response composed of six organizations.
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