 The
Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center is one of
the first advocacy centers to be established in Texas.
There are 61 centers of varying sizes and scope of services
in Texas and over 375 advocacy centers throughout the country
accredited by the National Children's Alliance..
The criminal justice system, a system primarily designed
for adult perpetrators not child victims, often lacks coordination
between police, prosecution, mental health and medical agencies.
Before DCAC, children were often “re-victimized”
through unnecessary and repetitive interviews due to each
agency’s independent process. It often duplicated
efforts and complicated information in an already complex
legal system. The Center helps overcome these problems by
reducing child trauma and enhancing investigation,
resulting in improved lives for child victims and higher
conviction rates for offenders.
The Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center is located
in a renovated three story Victorian home. The home was
purchased in 1990 through Community Development Block Grant
Funds via the City of Dallas and opened to serve children
of Dallas County in February 1991. In April 1997, an additional
12,000 square feet was added to the home to expand the services
provided for child victims of sexual and physical
abuse.
DCAC is an incorporated, 501-c3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization
governed by a volunteer board of trustees. The DCAC staff
consists of twenty-nine skilled direct service and nonprofit
management professionals. An interagency agreement and Investigative
Protocol between DCAC and collaborating agencies guides
the multidisciplinary team.
DCAC served over 2,000 clients in 2006, up 5% from the
number of clients served in 2005. Since the agency's inception
in 1991 DCAC has served more than 20,000 children and families. |