The Children’s Place renews its commitment

WASILLA — For three more years at least, the agencies that work with The Children’s Place have agreed to continue doing what they do for the Valley’s abused children.

Jen Burkmire, executive director of The Children’s Place, said that the groups that work together on what they call their multi-disciplinary team get together every three years to sign an agreement outlining their responsibilities.

Signing documents, of course, isn’t necessarily the most exciting of activities. But The Children’s Place uses it as an excuse to celebrate its milestones and gather everyone together for cake.

Burkmire said the team has been together for 14 years.

“The multi-disciplinary team has grown over that time and has, I think, become more effective,” she said.

That team includes mental health workers contracted to work with the facility, police agencies and the Alaska State Troopers, the local district attorney and the state’s Attorney General’s Office and the juvenile justice system.

Kibe Lucas, who heads up The Children’s Place’s board of directors, said he was grateful for the agencies that had gathered to sign.

“It’s a team effort and we really appreciate the support we get from all these agencies,” he said.

Joe Masters, the state’s commissioner of Public Safety, the department that includes the Alaska State Troopers, said that the document is key in addressing the victimization of children.

“It’s important to have these agreements so the justice process moves smoothly,” he said.

In between the last signing and this one, troopers had moved their child abuse investigators into The Children’s Place facility. Three investigators and a sergeant work out of the Wasilla building now.

“It’s really nice having the communication back and forth, and it’s making things even more effective,” Burkmire said.

Before putting his own signature on the page, Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak mentioned that The Children’s Place’s work goes hand-in-hand with the governor’s Choose Respect campaign.

“It dovetails to this with changing attitudes, changing the way we teach young boys to behave and act,” Kalytiak said.

He said that the work of The Children’s Place likewise dovetails with his own and clearly the community values their work.

“Valley juries care about these kinds of cases,” he said.

Deejana Engle with the state Division of Juvenile Justice, said her office has a significant interest in the work of The Children’s Place.

“I’m honored to be on this team,” she said. “We work together to get these kids treatment so they don’t end up in the adult system.”

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.