2023 Annual Report

People Are Our Programs

Exploring DCAC’s impact through the client journey.

MISSION

The mission of Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center is to improve the lives of abused children in Dallas County and to provide national leadership on child abuse issues.

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.

DCAC was built on the belief that all child victims and their families deserve safety, justice, and healing.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for making 2023 another remarkable year for Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. Within these pages, you will see the culmination of the impact you have made at DCAC over the past year and read about one of the many lives changed forever through your support.

We began last year celebrating a significant milestone—DCAC’s 10-year building anniversary. In January 2013 we moved into the newly constructed Rees-Jones Center for Child Protection, a state-of-theart 56,000 square foot building four times the size of our previous Center. And while this move marked an incredible turning point in the agency’s history, we cannot help but be in awe of what has been accomplished at DCAC in the 10 years since.

Since 2013, DCAC has more than doubled our number of full-time staff members, adding new programs such as Multidisciplinary Team Coordination, Problematic Sexualized Behavior (PSB), Children’s Programming, and our Doctoral Psychology Internship Program. Our wraparound support services have expanded to include things like caregiver “drive-thrus,” client graduations, and CHAMP Camp. We’ve increased our capacity to provide education and leadership on child abuse issues— launching DCAC’s Lecture Series for professionals and educating over 700,000 individuals through community outreach. Our annual Crimes Against Children Conference has increased its regular attendance from 3,000 to nearly

6,000 professionals, all who are now better equipped to protect the children in their own communities across the country and beyond.

Most importantly, this growth has allowed the agency to serve more children than ever before. In 2013, DCAC served just under 2,800 children and families. In 2023, DCAC provided services to over 13,000 children and their eligible family members On behalf of our clients , as well as our staff, board, and partners, thank you. This significant growth is possible because YOU believed in and supported our mission.

DCAC was built on the belief that all child victims and their families deserve safety, justice, and healing. And as we look ahead to the next 10 years, this same belief will anchor us as we continue to fight on behalf of children across Dallas County and beyond.

With sincere gratitude,

Irish S. Burch President & CEO

Sally Pretorius Hodge Board Chair

AGE AT FIRST SERVICE

15% 0-5 years

30% 6-12 years

34% 13-17 years

20% 18+ years

1% Unknown

Allegation of Abuse for Primary Client

64% Child Sexual Abuse

16% Child Physical Abuse or Neglect

20%* Other Abuse

*Includes witnesses to violent crime, human trafficking, a combination of allegations, etc.

1,897 Forensic Interviews

GENDER RACE

*Client refers to both DCAC’s primary clients as well as any eligible siblings or caregivers who received services in 2023.

Relationship to Alleged Perpetrator

20% Biological Parent

8% Non-Biological Parent (stepparent or foster parent)

7% Parent’s Boy/Girlfriend

8% Sibling (biological or stepsibling)

18% Other Relative

10% Acquaintance or Neighbor

2% Teacher, Daycare Worker, or Babysitter

5% Stranger

22% Other non-relative

21,740

Client Hours in Therapy

518 Trafficking and High-Risk Youth Served

IMPACT BEYOND DALLAS COUNTY

Training and Prevention

individuals educated by our Training and Community Outreach Team

• Lecture Series, Live Presentations, and Tours

• Online Curriculum

lecture series offerings to professionals in the field of crimes against children

new trainings added to DCAC Lecture Series

+ Where Do We Go from Here? A Family Advocate Response to a Homicide Case

+ Eye Movement Desensitization and Re-Processing and Sand Tray Therapy

+ Grooming (Part 1) Memory and Trauma (Part 2)

35th annual Crimes Against Children Conference

50, 874 23 3 580

Training Provided To:

Schools and Daycares

PTAs and School Boards

Professionals in the Field (e.g., law enforcement, CACs, DA’s offices, etc.)

Corporate Groups

Places of Worship

Medical Students and Hospitals

Nonprofits, Foundations, and Community Groups

Internationally recognized, the Crimes Against Children Conference is the premier conference of its kind providing practical and interactive instruction to those fighting crimes against children and helping children heal.

5,648 individuals attended in 2023

• All 50 States

• 32 Countries

• 68% 1st Time Attendees

Professional Fields Represented

• Law Enforcement

• CPS

• Medical

• Mental Health

• Probation

• Prosecution

• Children’s Advocacy

• Technology

Workshops and Case Studies 283 Speakers

On-Demand Sessions

Sponsors and Partners

Being able to learn about how the offender’s mind works and how the choices they make directly affect their victims will allow me to better meet my families where they are at emotionally.

DCAC Lecture Series Attendee

Sexual Assault of Children 360 –Two Day Master Class

We believe education and training is one of the community’s best defenses against those who seek to harm children. DCAC’s Training and Community Outreach Team delivers high-quality training for professionals working in the field of crimes against children, mandated reporters, parents and caregivers, and the community at large.

ZARA’S JOURNEY

Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center provides a safe haven for victims of criminal child abuse and their families to receive comprehensive services in one central location.

DCAC helps children feel safe and comfortable after a traumatic event has occurred so they can begin to heal. And it is the people behind every step on a child’s journey at DCAC that make this possible.

Within its doors, DCAC houses specialized staff who conduct forensic interviews, deliver wraparound family support services, and provide free, evidence-based therapy for children and eligible family members. Also located onsite is the Child Abuse Squad of the Dallas Police Department, six specialized units of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), and an Assistant District Attorney.

While the children who walk through the agency’s doors each day face enormous challenges, DCAC is committed to clearing any

roadblocks on their pathway toward healing—providing all services free of charge to families in both English and Spanish.

Over the next few pages, you will read the story of just one child whose life was changed forever by her time with Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. DCAC is honored to have worked with Zara* as she bravely disclosed her trauma. Beginning with her initial outcry through therapy and court preparation, DCAC’s multidisciplinary team walked alongside Zara and her family on their journey toward justice and healing.

The resources provided by Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center both during and after the investigations have been completed are invaluable for all entities involved.

Detective Corey Foreman

Dallas PD Child Abuse Detective

*Client name and certain case details have been altered to protect anonymity. Zara’s story reflects what a child’s journey can look like at DCAC from beginning to end.

1. | An Outcry or Report of Abuse is Made

Zara was a teenager when she divulged her darkest secret: an adult cousin had been sexually abusing her for several years. A man her family loved and trusted had subjected her to ongoing predatory assault from a young age.

Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center welcomed Zara to services following a report made to law enforcement expressing concerns of sexual abuse. The detective investigating her case referred Zara for services and scheduled an onsite forensic interview.

Every child abuse report made in Dallas County is also read by DCAC so every child receives the support they need. With eight full-time Multidisciplinary Coordinators on staff, DCAC facilitates a comprehensive, collaborative approach that not only results in more successful investigation and prosecution outcomes, but also provides a better and less traumatic response for child victims and their families.

ZARA’S JOURNEY

A lot of kids will say, ‘I am afraid to tell.’ As forensic interviewers, we are trained to explore [those feelings] and get down to the bottom of what is behind that behavior. Validating and acknowledging what they have to say, and being honest with them, is how you build that trust [with a child].

Janeth Peterson Assistant Director of Forensic Services

2. | Forensic Interview

Zara’s first step at DCAC was to meet with a specially trained staff member, called a Forensic Interviewer, to tell her story. The goal of the forensic interview was to create a space for Zara to share her experience in her own words and capture crucial evidence for the investigation team.

Zara’s interviewer asked her open-ended questions, and Zara was able to tell her story in her own words. Zara felt safe and supported during her interview and gave clear details about the abuse she had endured.

The DCAC Forensic Interviewer was able to reduce trauma for Zara by ensuring she was only interviewed once—rather than answering questions from a detective, then attorney, and so on. Later, her forensic interview would provide a strong foundation for when Zara’s case reached court.

DCAC has seven Forensic Interviewers on staff to conduct interviews like Zara’s, each of whom are experts at establishing rapport, determining a child’s understanding of the importance of telling the truth, and asking specific questions to help professionals uncover if a child has been coached to falsify statements.

3. | Family Advocacy

Following Zara’s interview, the Center’s multidisciplinary team worked together to investigate and collect the evidence to build a case. Her family was immediately connected with a Family Advocate to review what would happen next in the case and answer any questions. The advocate then took Zara’s family to the DCAC Clothes Closet, where they were able to pick out some items the family would need over the next few weeks.

As a case goes through the investigation, prosecution, and healing process, DCAC’s Support Services Team helps families understand the process, learn about their rights, and successfully access resources that will help their family during crisis. Comprised of 15 Family Advocates, this team provides wraparound support for the entire life of a case.

FAMILY ADVOCATE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT —

C.H.A.M.P CAMP

Ongoing Support for Healing

While Zara received services at DCAC, her Family Advocate suggested she attend an upcoming session of CHAMP Camp.

CHAMP Camp, which stands for Children Healing from Abuse with Maximum Potential, is a free day camp for DCAC clients. The goal is to provide kids the opportunity to gather with a community of peers who have experienced a similar trauma in a space where they can learn together. Family Advocates plan fun, engaging activities that also allow campers to work on self-esteem, conflict resolution, goals and dreams, and personal safety.

Zara blossomed at CHAMP Camp— she loved walking into a familiar space every day and meeting new friends who understood her. Between arts and crafts and outdoor games, she became more comfortable with sharing her experience and what brought her to DCAC. Her time at CHAMP Camp gave her the confidence to tackle what lay ahead.

ZARA’S JOURNEY

Holistically, we address all the different elements of the client journey which is why kids leave feeling not just healed but ready to handle whatever comes next.

— Reanna Bell, LCSW

4. | Therapy & Graduation

Zara also began regular therapy sessions with a member of DCAC’s Clinical Services team. Her therapist was trained in TF-CBT, or Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, which is an evidence-based treatment for children impacted by trauma. Using this method of counselling, Zara and her therapist were able to address her difficulties relating to the ongoing trauma she had endured. Zara and her parents also learned new skills to help her cope with ordinary life stressors that were symptoms of her abuse.

After months of hard work, Zara showed immense progress and healing from her trauma symptoms. She was ready to “graduate” from therapy at DCAC! Zara was given the choice of a public or private graduation ceremony to celebrate all she had accomplished during her time in therapy. Zara chose a public graduation ceremony, and the partners and staff at DCAC gathered together to honor her and her family.

DCAC’s Clinical Services team consists of masters- and doctoral-level therapists and clinical social workers who provide evidence-based, trauma-informed therapy. Because trauma affects the entire family, therapy services are provided to each child and their eligible family members at no cost to them.

5. | Court & Long-Term Case Management

Some time after Zara’s graduation, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office reached out to her DCAC Therapist. Zara’s case had reached the court; her perpetrator was on trial after refusing the DA’s initial plea deal. Being a part of the Center’s multidisciplinary team, the assistant district attorney on the case asked Zara’s therapist to help prepare Zara for court.

Zara returned to DCAC to work with her therapist in court-readiness sessions. Together, they were able to put into context the purpose of testifying and how her testimony would influence justice. They revisited the coping skills she had learned in therapy. As the trial date approached, Zara’s Family Advocate provided her with a court-readiness bag to bring with her and help keep her calm as she waited to testify.

Should a case go to court, DCAC staff serve as expert witnesses and help prepare the family for trial. DCAC clients can return for services at any time at no cost, even past the age of 18. After trial, a long-term case manager continues to follow up to ensure ongoing safety is in place.

ZARA’S JOURNEY

6. | Finding Justice

While her daily life had moved on from processing her trauma, being in court triggered old feelings and struggles. Reconnecting with her DCAC Therapist helped Zara reclaim her voice and hold her abuser accountable.

Zara testified in a closed court using the coping skills she learned at DCAC to advocate for herself. Testifying was a realworld application of what she had learned in sessions at DCAC.

Zara’s remarkable testimony helped allow for justice to be served. Her perpetrator was convicted and received a sentence over twice the length originally offered in his rejected plea deal.

Mahjong for a Mission

OVER $66,000 RAISED

Over 120 mahjong players gathered for a “Galantines”—themed tournament to raise funds and awareness for DCAC’s mission. Special thanks to event chairs Laura McCallan and Linda Gardner whose dedication helped raise over $66,000!

Aim for Advocacy

OVER $380,000 RAISED

DCAC’s 11th annual Aim for Advocacy raised over $380,000 on behalf of children and families and brought a host of new experiences and activities! From an afternoon flight to live music and dinner, we had such a great time. Special thanks to co-chairs Corbett Nichter and James Mitchell and the 2023 Aim for Advocacy Committee for their hard work and innovative ideas.

Top image: Leah Ewing, Molly Hardy, and Sally Pretorious Hodge.

Bottom image: Event Chairs, Laura McCallan and Linda Gardner.

Event Chairs Corbett Nichter and James Mitchell with Irish Burch, DCAC President & CEO

Art for Advocacy

OVER $1.6 MILLION RAISED

DCAC’s 16th annual Art for Advocacy broke every record, raising over $1.6 million for the children and families DCAC serves! Hosted by Stephanie and John Roberts, with co-chairs Adriane Crosland, Megan Filgo and Kacy Tolleson and artist Melissa Ellis serving as curatorial chair, the evening included cocktails, dinner, and a silent and live art auction. The gala featured work from 79 unique artists and five exclusive gallery sponsors.

Top

Bottom right image: Jacquelin Sewell Atkinson and William Atkinson, Donating Artist Volunteer and In-Kind Support

600 Unique Volunteers

9 ,376 Total Volunteer Hours

$298 ,156 in donated volunteer time

6 Family Advocate Drives • Trunk or Treat • Thanksgiving • Holiday of Hope

• Easter Baskets

• Summer Safety

• Back to School

120 community-led toy drives for DCAC’s annual Holiday of Hope program

Over $260 ,000 worth of toys and gifts donated to DCAC’s annual Holiday of Hope program

image: Irish Burch with event chairs (left to right) Megan Filgo, Melissa Ellis, Kacy Tolleson, and Adriane Crosland.

FINANCIALS

2023 OPERATING REVENUE

Private Grants & Contributions

$2,262,360

Special Events (Net)

$1,577,150

Public Funding & Government Grants

$5,881,771

Education Revenue

$4,518,095

Investment Income

$1,330,529

Rent from Partner Agencies

$188,527

In-Kind Contributions

$332,623

Other

$153,729

*DCAC’s Crimes Against Children Conference and Sales

On behalf of DCAC’s leadership, thank you for your investment to support justice and healing for those impacted by criminal child abuse. DCAC is deeply committed to stewarding your gift with integrity and responsibility to make the greatest impact.

2022–2023 Board of Trustees

Sally Pretorius Hodge Board Chair

Chad Barrett

Immediate Past Chair

Shelley Anbouba

Corbett Nichter

Bill Eifert

Lisa Sheppard-Davenport

Dr. Philip Ewing

Shamir Gonzalez

Christian Gournay

Kirsten Hill

Brooke Hopkins

Chuck Jacaman

Dr. Julie Linderman

Rafael Maya

Laura Moore

Christian Moreno

Sean Murphy

Hon. Valencia Nash

Bill Richmond

Erin Schuhmacher

Ashley Thomas Kisner

Amy Derrick

Agency Representative

Dallas County District Attorney

Elizabeth Gambrell

Agency Representative

Crystal Charity Ball

Jourdan McClish

Agency Representative

Junior League of Dallas

Dr. Christopher Menzies

Agency Representative

Children’s Health

Toni Sutton

Agency Representative

Child Protective Services

Lt. Cyrus Zafrani

Agency Representative Dallas Police Department

2022–2023

Foundation Board

Dawn Blankenship

Brian Buffington

Tanner Cope

Jeff Dunn

Michael Skipworth

Staci Roy

2022–2023

Executive Team

Irish S. Birch

President & Chief Executive Officer

Stephanie Adams

Chief People Officer

Mark Bradford

Chief External Relations Officer

Mariama Maiga Chief Financial Officer

Madeline Reedy

Chief Program Officer

Dianna Smoot

Chief Education and Training Officer

Katie Sperry

Chief Advancement Officer