Agency Details:

Dallas Children's Advocacy Center

The Dallas Children's Advocacy Center serves the most severely abused children in Dallas County and provides national leadership on child abuse issues.

Description:
The Dallas Children's Advocacy Center(DCAC) coordinates the investigation and prosecution of child abuse in Dallas County. Working with more than 24 partner agencies, DCAC provides forensic interview services that reduce trauma for abused children and allow children to tell their story to only one professional. DCAC also provides therapy services for children and non-offending family members for as long as needed, regardless of ability to pay. Lastly, DCAC educates both within and beyond the community to help raise awareness and prevent abuse, to help identify abuse and to help professionals with best practices for investigating and prosecuting cases.

History:
The Dallas Children's Advocacy Center was founded in 1991 when Lt. Bill Walsh decided that "enough was enough." Before DCAC existed, abused children were shuffled from agency to agency to repeatedly tell their story of trauma, resulting in re-victimization as well as poor outcomes when cases when to trial. DCAC forged partnerships with all of the municipal police agencies, the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, Children's Medical Center and Child Protective Services to ensure that cases are coordinated in the best interests of the child.

Contact people:

Ellen Magnis, Chief Operating Officer, (phone), (email) Shari Markey, Volunteer Manager, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (214) 823-4819

Address:

3611 Swiss Avenue Dallas, TX 75204 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.dcac.org

Directions:

From 75, take the Live Oak exit. Turn east on Live Oak, right on Washington, right on Swiss. We are at 3611 Swiss. There is no sign on the building. Street (meter) parking or parking lot. . . (more)

Last updated on August 27, 2009