When a child in Denver experiences sexual or physical abuse, witnesses violence, or suffers trauma, where can they and their family turn?
Denver Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC) provides a safe, welcoming environment where children and their families can find the support, care, and specialized services they need to navigate some of life's most difficult moments. We provide these services at no cost to families.
From the moment abuse is reported through the journey toward healing, DCAC is here for kids and their non-offending family members.
Our team of highly trained professionals works together to:
Our mission is simple: Prevent abuse. Strengthen families. Restore childhood.
Every child deserves a safe place to turn. Denver has one.
Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and hopeful about the future. And every family deserves access to help, regardless of their ability to pay.
At DCAC, we show up for kids every single day. And you can, too.
This Colorado Gives Day, your gift helps ensure that when a child needs us, we're here.
Even better: up until December 8th, your donation will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $70,000, doubling your impact.
Show up for kids. Give today.
Make your gift go even further: Qualifying donations to DCAC programs may be eligible for the Colorado Child Care Contribution Credit, a Colorado state income tax credit equal to 50% of the qualifying contribution, subject to applicable limitations. Please select the tax credit option when donating if you wish to have your contribution considered for eligibility.
The Denver Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC) works to improve the lives of children traumatized by sexual abuse and violence-as well as those at risk-with prevention, education and direct services.
Our mission is to
- Prevent Abuse
- Strengthen Families
- Restore Childhood
We achieve this mission by providing a continuum of care that includes prevention programs, forensic interviews, assessment, mental health treatment, and family support in a safe, welcoming environment.
DCAC was founded in 1995 when a needs assessment confirmed that child victims "fell through the cracks" between investigators, prosecutors, human services and mental health agencies, and that the many interviews by different agencies added to the children's trauma.
Before child advocacy centers were created, child victims of crime often had to tell their stories to more than a dozen adults-police officers, prosecutors, doctors, and social workers. They could be shuttled all over town giving depositions, getting medical exams, and, if the family had no money to pay for treatment, be put on long waiting lists for free counseling services. Today, they come to our welcoming, child-friendly three-house campus on Federal Boulevard where all the services they need are available in one location. Our role as a Child Advocacy Center is what makes us unique.
DCAC coordinates the multidisciplinary team (MDT) of first responders to reports of child abuse in the Denver metro area. The MDT includes our colleagues in the Denver Police Department, Denver District Attorney's Office, and the Denver Department of Human Services. Denver Health joined the MDT in 2010 and is currently working with us to expand access to medical care for child victims.
We are the first responders to reports of child abuse in the Denver metro area-our staff are on call 24 hours a day/365 days a year to provide crisis management for child victims and their families and to support our colleagues in the multi-disciplinary team (MDT). Children and their needs are at the center of our work-our partners on the MDT-police, prosecutors, social workers and medical staff-come to DCAC to mitigate the child's trauma and to ensure integration of services along our continuum of care.
DCAC has built a reputation for working successfully with high-risk families and our mission has expanded from forensic interviews and mental health treatment to include a growing focus on prevention, early intervention through off-site community partnerships, and community education and training for professionals.
Organization name
Denver Children's Advocacy Center
other names
DCAC
1995
Tax id (EIN)
84-1155873
Category
Mental Health & Crisis Intervention
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
2149 Federal BlvdDenver County, CO, US