About Us

History

Recognizing the need for a united effort in combating and treating child abuse in Denton County, the District Attorney’s Office formed the Denton County Children’s Advocacy Center Task force in 1994. This task force was comprised of representatives from the District Attorney’s office, Child Protective Services, law enforcement, professionals in abuse-related fields, and community members.

This group of concerned citizens laid the groundwork for an Advocacy Center – a child friendly place where child victims could be interviewed and counseled during investigations of alleged child abuse. The Center became fully operational in April of 1997.

Today, the Center is a non-profit agency governed by a volunteer board of directors. It is a public-private collaboration that strives to minimize the trauma of child abuse through a team approach to the investigation, prosecution, and treatment of serious child abuse cases. The team approach consolidates law enforcement, Child Protective Services, prosecutors, therapists and volunteers in one location.

Mission

To provide justice and healing for abused children through interagency collaboration.

Priorities

Child abuse has consequences for the community as well as the victims. A National Institute of Justice study found that childhood abuse increased the odds of future delinquency and adult criminality overall by 40%. Children who grow up in violent homes are 6 times more likely to commit suicide, 24 times more likely to commit sexual assault crimes, 74 times more likely to commit crimes against persons, and 50 times more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol.

Prior to the advocacy center concept, the authorities mandated to respond to child abuse operated independently of each other. Investigations were conducted in locations such as police stations, which can be very frightening for a child. Investigators often lacked specialized training on child abuse and the complex issues involved in dealing with child victims. There was no process in place to ensure that victims were offered treatment or referred to community resources.

Frequently, the result of this fragmented approach adversely affected the victim, the family, and the outcome of the criminal case. Victims were not able to heal, and offenders were not held accountable for crimes committed against our most vulnerable population – children.

As the county population continues to grow and child abuse rises in correlation with the increased population, it is clear that the Center continues its original priorities through the services and programs listed above.

The priorities of the Center are:

To reduce the trauma to child victims when they must be involved in a criminal justice process which can add to that trauma

To promote emotional healing through comprehensive counseling services to victims and non-offending family members