Services and Programs

DCAC's unique services | Treatment Philosophy

Our Programs: Child and Adolescent Assessment and Treatment Program | Forensic Interview and Evaluation | Court School | Denver Child Fatality Review Committee | Professional Training

DCAC is unique in that it provides:

• Services for victimized children and all the non-offending family members at no cost
• Assessment and treatment services for children ages 2 through 17
• Specialized assessment and treatment services for preschool-age children
• Child-friendly forensic interviews and evaluations
• Bilingual, bicultural services in English and Spanish
• Treatment on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
• Ongoing affordable training for parents and professionals
• Prevention programs and support services for at-risk families

---

DCAC's Treatment Philosophy

Neglect, abuse and trauma alter the developing brain in ways which are difficult to evaluate and treat using the traditional verbal approaches common to most mental health settings. DCAC's therapists use a variety of approaches to come up with a highly individualized treatment plan for each child. Our treatment options include the latest findings in clinical research, but we never lose sight of the practical needs of the families we serve. Helping them to access community resources is a key part of our program.

DCAC's philosophy, in line with the latest in clinical research on abuse and violence, is that the appropriate therapy is determined not so much by the trauma itself, as by the strengths and vulnerabilities of the individual child and the resources of his or her family. DCAC focuses on helping the family as a whole to heal and strengthen.

---

---

DCAC's Programs

• Child and Adolescent Assessment and Treatment Program. DCAC's cornerstone program, it provides assessment and treatment counseling services for children ages 2-17 who have been sexually abused, neglected, or traumatized by witnessing violence. In addition to helping children who are all too familiar with the impact of domestic violence in their homes, an increasing number of our cases involve children referred to DCAC after witnessing the violent murder of close family members. Whatever the cause of the trauma, we ensure that the treatment plan is coordinated, as appropriate, with caseworkers, teachers, and other professionals working with the family.
  
  
• Forensic Interview and Evaluation. This service is of vital importance in the investigation and prosecution of child sexual assault and other crimes against children. DCAC has an agreement with the Denver Police Department and the District Attorney's Office to conduct all of forensic interviews with children where abuse is suspected. We are unique in conducting up to three interviews to ensure that the information provided by the children is both detailed and reliable. Our highly trained forensic interviewers work out of the state-of-the-art facility in the Family Crisis Center, one of our partners inthe fight against child abuse.
  
  
• Court School. A supportive educational program for victims and witnesses of crime who must testify about their experiences in a criminal court proceeding.
  
  
• Denver Child Fatality Review Committee. Administered by DCAC, this is a multi-disciplinary team of public and private agency professionals who meet monthly to review all child deaths in Denver County. The committee has been recognized as a model for other counties to develop similar programs. The primary purpose of the committee is preventive - to identify gaps in services and to recommend changes that might save lives in the future.
  
  
• Professional Training. DCAC holds seminars for professionals involved with child abuse and neglect and also provides specialized training for the law enforcement and social services professionals who conduct forensic interviews with children.