Dallas Children's Advocacy Center

​Overview

Picture

"The Dallas Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC) coordinates the investigation and prosecution of the most severe cases of child abuse in Dallas County. Last year, DCAC served more than 4,100 children (and their non-offending family members) who were sexually abused, severely physically abused, or who had witnessed a violent crime."
​
​For a child to be referred to DCAC they must have fallen victim to a criminal level offense and brought in by law enforcement or CPS. Once brought in, a forensic interviewer will listen "to the child’s story and asks non-leading, developmentally-appropriate questions as the child talks about the trauma he/she has experienced." The child abuse unit of the Dallas Police Department is in-house allowing the detectives to work alongside CPS and DCAC to help further investigate the child's case. A family advocate will then be assigned to the family to help determine the best type of therapy and any additional services needed by the non-offending family members. This could include clothes, starter packs, housing relocation, gas cards, or groceries. The child is then able to participate in many therapy services for as long as they need. This includes play, music, art, and animal assisted therapy, as well as two new types of therapy called PPP and PCIT. Both of these types of therapy are also available to the other siblings and non-offending family members, if needed. Each child has an individual therapy process for the length and type best needed for them. After the child graduates from therapy, they are able to come back to the center at any point. 

Mission Statement

Where healing begins for abused children.

DCAC Core Values
• The children come first in all that we do.
• We operate as a seamless team.
• Each of us acts with a servant's heart

Services

• Free therapy to children aging from 2-17
  • Art
  • Music
  • Play
  • Animal-assisted therapy
  • PPP/PCIT
• Non-offending family assistance program 
• Summer camps, back to school drives, and holiday programs

Partners

32 Partners
  • 27 Law Enforcement Agencies in Dallas County
  • Children's Health
  • The Dallas County District Attorney's Office
  • The Dallas County Southwestern Institute for Forensic Services
  • The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (Child Protective Services, Child Care Licensing, Adult Protective Services)
  • The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas - Department of Pediatrics