Dallas Children's Advocacy Center

This week is National Forensic Interviewer Appreciation Week! We are so lucky to have a team of six full-time forensic interviewers led by the Director of Forensic Services, an assistant director, and supported by a program support associate, who work tirelessly to ensure that we provide the best interviewing service to the children of Dallas County. We are so thankful for this team and the life-changing services they provide to the most vulnerable population in Dallas County: children who have experienced criminal child abuse. Forensic Services team, THANK YOU for your dedication to the children and families DCAC serves. #dallascac #dcac #cactx #forensicinterview #forensicinterviewer

Last month, DCAC helped celebrate the 30th anniversary of Kids in Court. Since 1994, this program, funded by the National Council of Jewish Women, has supported families and helped them navigate the court process with confidence. At Kids in Court, children and caregivers are welcome to ask questions and address any general concerns they may have about the legal process. This interactive approach aims to alleviate anxiety and empower families with knowledge, ensuring they feel supported every step of the way. We are so grateful to be a part of this program that helps empower families in our community. Thank you to @NCJW Greater Dallas, @Dallas County District Attorney's Office, and @Bikers Against Child Abuse International for your commitment to supporting Dallas children and families through this incredible program. #dallascac #dcac #cactx #kidsincourt

This month, Brandon Harris, our 2024 Art for Advocacy Curatorial Chair, lent us his creative talents to put personal touches on one of our room makeovers. DCAC provides room makeovers to our clients when their physical surroundings are acting as a barrier to their healing. For example, if the abuse happened in their bedroom, there might be items within that room that act as triggers to their trauma. Through our Room Makeover program, we can go in and transform the room, so it becomes a safe space that promotes healing. Brandon graciously spent the day painting a butterfly mural on the wall for one of our clients. The mural is even light reactive, and the butterflies will glow when an LED light is shone on them. Thank you, Brandon, for your heart and commitment to our children and families. #dallascac #dcac #cactx #dallascac #dcac #dallastx #gala #dallascharity #artforadvocacy #cactx #fundraiser #dallasfundraiser #philanthropy #nonprofit #dgfa #dallasfineart #dallasartist #artistsofinstagram #artcollector #instaart #keepkidssafe

Happy July! Here is what we are up to at the Center this month. ❤️ #dallascac #dcac #cactx

Last week, DCAC hosted 25 campers, ages 8 to 11, at the Center for our Summer CHAMP Camp! Since 2013, CHAMP Camp has provided DCAC clients with the opportunity to gather with a community of peers who understand their trauma and be supported by staff. Throughout the week, campers are joined by the Family Advocate team who help them learn more about safety, build confidence and coping skills, and have fun! The week started with an “All About Me” Scavenger Hunt that took campers throughout the Center, solving clues and checking in with our Executive Leadership Team along the way. One clue took the kids outside to the DCAC basketball court, where they used chalk to write affirmations, as seen in the photos above. Thank you to Campisi's Restaurants, the DCAC Operations and Partner Relations teams, and Kona Ice for helping keep our campers fed throughout the week. Thank you to Lakewood Service League for providing the funding for “All About Animals Live.” and a HUGE thank you to our Family Advocate team for all of their hard work putting on camp for the week! #dallascac #dcac #cactx #CHAMPCamp #dallascac #dcac #cactx #CHAMPCamp

The Dallas Children's Advocacy Center hosted the FIND Adapted training this week. Thank you to the Modell Consulting Group, LLC, Kate Homan, MS, and Maria Isabella Pontoriero, MSW, MPH, LMSW for putting on this adavanced training for interviewing individuals who do not speak. The training introduced me to new content and also pushed me to think outside the box. I’m excited to apply and further develop the new techniques I learned this week.

Over the summer, we see the number of reports of child abuse decrease drastically. This is because teachers are often the trusted adult that children feel comfortable disclosing their abuse to. We need your help to keep kids safe this summer! In the state of Texas, EVERY adult is considered a mandated reporter by the Texas Family Code. This means, if you see something you should say something! Remember - you do not have to be certain that abuse or neglect has occurred in order to make a report. It is important to always err on the side of protecting children and strengthening families by making a report and allowing the authorities to determine whether or not to investigate. ... To make a report, call the Texas Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400, or if you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911. Immediate danger includes: - A threat of imminent harm or violence to a child - The perpetrator of abuse lives in the same home as the child - A child has an injury requiring immediate medical attention - A child is contemplating self-harm, suicide, or harming another person Together, we can make a difference for the children who experience abuse in our community! For more information on reporting child abuse, visit https://lnkd.in/guBkdymN or the link in our bio. #dallascac #dcac #cactx #pinwheelsofhope #childabuseawarenessmonth #recognizeandreport #seesomethingsaysomething

This month, DCAC hosted an in-person external Spanish Forensic Interviewing Peer Review. Bilingual interviewers from Children's Advocacy Center for North Texas, Children's Advocacy Center of Collin County, and Alliance For Children joined together to discuss best practices when interviewing children in Spanish. This session allowed our interviewers to receive feedback on interviewing techniques and discuss linguistics and the latest research on forensic interviewing. We are thankful to have strong partners in our CACs across Texas who are committed to providing the best services possible to our clients who speak Spanish. #dallascac #dcac #cactx #forensicinterview #spanish

As you send your kiddos to camp or daycare this summer, it is important to make sure that each place has their safety and best interest at heart! Here is Madeline Reedy, DCAC's Chief Program Officer, with some ways you can help ensure a safe and fun summer for your kids! https://lnkd.in/gqSFGaku #dallascac #dcac #cactx #summersafety #summercammp

We offer wrap-around services to our children and their eligible family members so they are able to not only get justice but also heal together after a traumatic event. Every step of the way, our staff is there to support our clients, so when they leave, they are filled with hope for their future! Take a look at our 2023 Annual Report, People are Our Programs, to learn more about each step in one of our clients' journeys! https://lnkd.in/g4G9-NUD #dallascac #dcac #cactx #annualreport #peopleareourprograms