January 30, 2017

Chesco child-abuse reports continue upsurge

Local News, Local News Birmingham, Local News Kennett, Local News Pennsbury, Local News Pocopson

Child-abuse reports are continuing an upsurge in Chester County that dates back to 2015, said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.

Members of the Chester County Child Abuse Unit include Megan King (from left), Emily Provencher, Christine Bleiler, and Oscar Rosado. — Members of the Chester County District Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit include Megan King (from left), Emily Provencher, Christine Bleiler, and Oscar Rosado.

“With the change in Pennsylvania laws regarding mandatory reporting of child abuse after the [Jerry] Sandusky case, we expected to see an increase in child- abuse reports,” Hogan said in a press release. “This spike mirrors increases across the Commonwealth. More cases are being reported, and the District Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit has grown in size and sophistication in order to address the new caseload.”

The District Attorney’s Child Abuse Unit receives reports from multiple agencies, including the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and the Chester County Department of Children, Youth and Families. The yearly total of child-abuse reports in Chester County hit 219 in 2012, 291 in 2013, 414 in 2014, 1,306 in 2015, and 1,681 in 2016 – an eightfold increase over five years, the release said.

The increase has produced a greater workload for the Child Abuse Unit and the local police departments. When a report of serious child abuse occurs, the child victims are typically interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center in the District Attorney’s Office, a safe location specifically designed to be kid-friendly. Forensic interviewers, detectives who are specially trained to deal with children, conduct the interviews.

The number of forensic interviews of children conducted in Chester County also increased significantly, from 233 in 2014 to 358 in 2016, according to the release.

To address the additional work, the District Attorney’s Office has added staff. In 2013, two prosecutors and two detectives (one investigator and one supervisor) were assigned to the DA’s Child Abuse Unit. As of 2017, the Child Abuse Unit has four prosecutors and four detectives (three investigators and one supervisor) assigned, effectively doubling in size. The Chester County Commissioners previously authorized hiring an extra detective specifically to address child-abuse cases, the release said.

“As the District Attorney has noted, we expected to see an increase in reports of child abuse because of the change in state laws, but those expectations don’t make it any easier when we see the actual numbers,” Michelle Kichline, chair of the Chester County Commissioners, said in the release. “One of the main priorities of the Board of Commissioners is public safety, especially the safety of our children. I thank the DA and his staff for prioritizing their resources and doing everything that they can to protect the children during the grueling and emotional – but necessary – process of investigation and prosecution.”

The rise in the number of reports also has led to a rise in the number of child-abuse prosecutions, complex cases that are always traumatic for the child victims, who are forced to re-live their abuse in court.

Hogan said that in talking to colleagues around Pennsylvania, who already are overwhelmed by the heroin and opioid epidemic, he realized that Chester County is fortunate to have leaders and resources committed to addressing the problem.

“Even one child being hurt is one too many, and no child predator should be allowed to roam the streets,” he said in the release.

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Letter: Better plan needed for Crebilly

Opinion

Crebilly Farm is an historic landmark in Chester County and part of the Brandywine Battlefield. She is one of the last three large, open spaces left in Westtown Township and is currently threatened by mass development.

Located North and South between West Pleasant Grove Road and Route 926 and East and West between Route 202 and South New Street, her breathtaking, 322 acres of rolling hills, streams, woods, open land and wildlife have been farmed since prior to WWII. For Crebilly Farm to fall victim to mass development would be an iconic loss.

In June of 2016, an agreement of sale was reached between Toll Brothers and the owners of Crebilly Farm. The sale is contingent upon ‘conditional use approval’ by the Westtown Township Board of Supervisors. That means this is not a done deal.

Crebilly Farm Friends respects the rights of landowners and believes in fair compensation. It is our hope the township and the developer will devise a thoughtful and balanced development plan that does not compromise this incredible piece of American history: conserve the open space and preserve the Brandywine Battlefield.

We, the community, need to hold our townships and developers to the highest standards in order to preserve the integrity of unique land such as Crebilly Farm. The Crebilly Farm Friends website was created to inform and empower concerned citizens by providing a resource to turn to for upcoming meetings, news and educational information as we navigate this journey through the Planning Commission meetings and soon, the Board of Supervisors ‘Conditional Use’ hearings which begin Feb. 22. Our goal is to work toward the best possible outcome.

Massive public outcry is our best ally against permanent destruction of Crebilly Farm. Knowledge is power. Please make the commitment to attend as many meetings as you can. Read and educate yourselves and others about this heart-wrenching, potential loss. Together we are making a difference. This is how we maintain the values of what makes Chester County such a desirable place to live.

Mindy Rhodes
West Bradford Township
www.CrebillyFarmFriends.com

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Horn takes the reins of YMCA annual campaign

Along the Ford

As a board member for the last six years, Jim Horn knows the how deeply Chester County benefits from the YMCA of Greater Brandywine, so accepting the role as this year’s fundraising campaign chair came without question.

He’s eager to share the Y’s story from an even larger platform and his voice will begin to amplify during the kickoff of the Y’s annual campaign at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 at CTDI.

There, hundreds of Y volunteers and staff will rally to build enthusiasm for the upcoming campaign to raise $1.3 million to help the Y transform lives in Chester County. It will be a time to reflect and revisit the important work of the Y’s community programs and ongoing involvement. It will be Horn’s time to inspire.

“Everybody has their hot-button issue – a different cause that they might support,” he said. “The reason I support the Y is because of what the Y does for the community, for the youth, for the areas the Y serves. I firmly believe in the mission.”

As president and CEO of The Tri-M Group, Horn’s beliefs often lead toward success. He started at the electrical solutions company in 1983 as a designer and estimator and worked his way up to his current position, which he has held for 15 years.   Headquartered in Kennett Square with offices across Pennsylvania, Delaware and Florida, Horn has positioned The Tri-M Group for $90 million in annual revenues.

“We are indeed fortunate to have such a noted corporate voice step up to lead this campaign,” said YMCA of Greater Brandywine’s Chief Development Officer Mary Burns. “We couldn’t serve 13,000 individuals and families with more than $3.8 million in financial assistance without our talented staff and the generous support from our dedicated volunteers, community partners and donors.”

From quality childcare to tools for fighting chronic disease to life-saving water safety skills, the Y’s work continues to impact generations.

“We, as a company, have always admired and respected the Y’s involvement and the impact on the communities they serve,” Horn said. “Not only has the Y become a vital partner in our communities, but it plays an important role in the development of our children. Focusing on youth development will help those individuals become successful wherever they go and happen to end up in their careers.”

For example, funds raised during the annual campaign give Chester County children who otherwise would be home alone safe places to go for homework help and fun, character-building activities. That includes enrichment activities such as the 7th Grade Initiative, the Y’s innovative program that provides a no-cost Y membership for these Chester County students.

The initiative reaches children at a critical stage and offers them places to find friends, healthier habits and even mentorship, often influencing their academic and social development.

Horn also believes it’s important to emphasize the larger role the Y plays in emphasizing the overall health and wellness in Chester County. He holds his own workplace an example, where granola and fruit have replaced chips and doughnuts. But establishing wellness means bringing better balance, in mind, spirit and body. While some think of the Y as just a place to work out, it’s really so much more, he said.

“These other gyms and fitness centers, they don’t have the same mission as the Y or what the Y does in the community,” Horn said. “That’s what differentiates us from everybody else. And I look forward to sharing more about what impact the Y and this campaign has on the communities we serve.”

To give or learn more about the annual campaign, visit www.ymcagbw.org/donate/giving.

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Op/Ed: It’s all in the planning

Opinion

Chester County is widely known as a beautiful and happy corner of Pennsylvania. As a matter of fact, we are considered the fourth happiest county in America. Ours is one of the best counties in which to live, work, and raise a family, and it falls upon our local government to maintain the high quality of life that our residents are accustomed to.

As chair of the County Commissioners, I look forward to this challenge, continuing along the path of my predecessors, especially former chair, Commissioner Terence Farrell, who has greatly contributed to the accomplishments of our county. Much of Chester County’s success comes from a long and uninterrupted history of planning. Planning remains the hallmark of our success.

Chester County is in excellent fiscal shape because of our financial planning. Our Triple-A bond rating attests to this fact. Across the nation, we see signs of economic development, and at home, we will continue to review our investments and loans to make sure we take advantage of the improving financial conditions.

Our success in managing growth – especially when you consider that we are one of the fastest growing counties in Pennsylvania – can be attributed to our Comprehensive Plan, which is readily available online. Our Planning Commission is spearheading the development of Landscapes3, the successor to our two initial “Landscapes” that have guided Chester County in balancing economic growth and preservation for two decades.

We remain committed to open space preservation efforts along with aiding our County’s agriculture sector, while encouraging residential and business development in local urban communities.

Chester County’s focus on continued economic growth can be found in the public-private partnership strategy known as VISTA 2025. Its goal is to support and preserve our economic diversity while keeping those elements that make Chester County so attractive to residents and businesses.

It is a deep and wide strategy that – through consistent planning – will encourage small and large businesses to choose Chester County as their home and, at the same time, educate and train our workforce to support the local business community. This strategy also encourages the people who work here to make Chester County their home, and we already see this plan in action, as evidenced by a recent newspaper article naming Phoenixville as a hub for millennials and baby boomers.

Planning and promotion by the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau is also paying dividends. Tourism alone brings in more than $700 million and generates over 7,000 jobs in Chester County.

In 2016, Longwood Gardens was the most visited garden in the United States, further contributing to our economic success. This premier tourist attraction increased its attendance in 10 years from 750,000 to 1.35 million visitors, and has plans to welcome even more tourists this year.

In 2017, Chester County will continue to support our boroughs and the city of Coatesville. We were disappointed that the State of Pennsylvania withdrew Coatesville’s application for a Keystone Opportunity Zone designation (along with all other state-wide KOZ applications), which would have helped with business attraction to the city.

But we will continue to plan for other financial avenues to assist Coatesville in its recovery, adding to the $11 million-plus that has been spent on housing, training and education, infrastructure improvements and economic development in the past few decades.

The County will monitor budget negotiations in Harrisburg, especially Human Services programs, because taking care of those in need is a top priority for us. Chester County must remain prepared to provide necessary services if Harrisburg is unable to approve a budget and provide this type of funding. (And because of our astute financial planning, we have been able to step-in over the past few years, to bridge the funding gap for our vulnerable citizens when Harrisburg was in budget turmoil.)

The incoming administration in Washington has indicated infrastructure spending will increase. We will ensure that we have ‘shovel ready’ projects in place for funding, such as the Route 30 Bypass ramp. Route 202 has also been greatly enhanced in recent years, but other roadways also need improvements. Planning for transit development is a vital key to preserving our boroughs and cities, especially Coatesville, Downingtown, and Exton.

When it comes to other key priorities, including the health and safety of Chester County citizens, the thread of planning is evident in so many initiatives. From the development of the Public Safety Training Campus and the investment in our emergency voice radio system to preparing for public health emergencies and tackling the opioid and heroin crisis – we make plans, enact plans and review plans for the health and safety of everyone who lives and works here.

This year will be extremely busy for all three Chester County Commissioners. Vice Chair Kathi Cozzone will continue her efforts in workforce development and the reduction of the number of people with mental illness in jails. Commissioner Farrell will continue with international trade initiatives with China and will spearhead our ‘Healthiest County’ program. Together, the three of us will continue to work hard – and make plans – to keep Chester County a wonderful place to live, work, and play. Our plans include input and support from Chester County’s residents and businesses to ensure our continued success and vitality, and we look forward to hearing from you.