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WHEREAS, Watchful Shepherd was founded in 1993 in Washington County PA as a pilot program with Child Protective Services, Canonsburg Hospital, judges and local police and now have programs implemented in Allegheny, Butler, Fayette, Washington, Greene, Westmoreland and Northumberland in Western Pennsylvania; and,
WHEREAS, the Watchful Shepherd provides a wrist band that activates an electronic monitoring device in their home which alerts a computer monitoring system at their 24 hour National Response Center and within 10 seconds establishes voice contact with the child and notifies 911 to immediately stop abuse while treatment programs help to confront and interrupt family violence; and,
WHEREAS, ongoing weekly telephone contacts are made with each child by caring volunteers to ensure that the system is in working order and that the child is doing well; and,
WHEREAS, the Watchful Shepherd is an important link for child protective service agencies that often face a double mission of preserving the family unit while protecting the child; and,
WHEREAS, it is this household presence which is the most valuable benefit and deterrent from abuse and provides the affected family member a better sense of security and in homes where Watchful Shepherd is implemented, there has never been a reoccurrence of injury from child abuse or neglect; and,
WHEREAS, since 1993 the Watchful Shepherd has protected over 2500 children from abuse and there have been NO reported incidents of abuse in any home where the Watchful Shepherd has been placed; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend the Watchful Shepherd for providing such a unique and useful system of watching over our most valuable possessions: our children; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, April 6, 2010, to be “Watchful Shepherd Day” in the City of Pittsburgh....
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