Most families who receive services from Denver Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) are navigating many challenges.
“The families I serve are rarely dealing with just one barrier—most are experiencing multiple, overlapping issues,” said Andrea Lopez Lopez, DCAC Bilingual Case Manager/Intake Specialist. “My role is to be a supportive sounding board while also offering concrete resources to help them navigate these challenges. Addressing the serious issues an entire family is facing is crucial for an individual child’s progress in therapy.”
Andrea frequently assists families with securing housing, addressing food insecurity, obtaining healthcare, accessing legal services, and meeting basic needs. “My goal is to help them feel supported through the process, from applying to securing resources,” she said.
Collaborating and Coordinating Services
While Andrea (pictured right) is a newer member of the DCAC, having joined the staff this past summer, case management is not new to our organization as the role has existed for more than two years.
“The role has continued to evolve,” said Marlen Montanez, Intake Manager/Community Mental Health Coordinator. “We are always refining our processes and systems to better support case managers and ensure they are equipped to meet the complex needs of our families. Our current case manager collaborates closely with multiple teams—including treatment and outreach—to provide comprehensive, wraparound services that address the many barriers families may face.”
Andrea works closely with both the intake and treatment teams to provide consistency and coordination, ensuring families are supported in every way possible.
“The bilingual case manager role is important to DCAC because she acts as a client advocate and a liaison between internal and external providers and community resources to integrate and coordinate services,” said Cathy Hay, DCAC Director of Treatment and Assessment. “Her combined role of case management and crisis prevention support are invaluable.”
“Case management is essential to our work because it helps ensure families remain connected to the mental health services they need,” Marlen said. “Many families face overwhelming barriers—such as housing instability, food insecurity, or legal challenges—that can interrupt or prevent them from continuing treatment.”
One recent example of this is how Andrea worked with a mother and daughter to find stable housing and access additional resources.
“Thanks to Andrea’s consistent support, countless phone calls, and persistence in completing multiple applications, the family was recently approved for housing assistance, helping them avoid eviction and move toward stability,” Marlen shared.
Building Relationships, Creating Connections
Andrea works diligently to foster relationships internally and externally, creating connections with DCAC staff and community partners to best support the families DCAC serves.
“I enjoy building meaningful connections with families,” Andrea said. “There have been countless times when I meet with a parent who reminds me so much of my own. Because of my personal experiences, I am often able to better understand their lived experiences, which motivates me to ensure families receive the help and support they need.”
In her dual role as an intake specialist and case manager, Andrea is often the first point of contact for families enrolling their child in therapy services. Once the child is assigned to a therapist, she continues to provide case management support as needed. Andrea’s involvement looks different for every family. For some cases, Andrea connects families with resources and then follows up to ensure they are accessing what they need. For other cases, Andrea sits with them when their child is in therapy, discusses current challenges, and works together to create a plan for addressing the issues.
“By offering this support during their most vulnerable moments, we help families feel seen, heard, and empowered to continue engaging in mental health services,” Marlen said.
“Many of the parents I meet feel overwhelmed or defeated and aren’t sure where else to turn for help,” Andrea said. “I’m grateful that I can be someone they can rely on, providing support to them and their families whenever it’s needed.
“Having Andrea on our team has been an incredible addition,” Marlen said. “She is highly independent, consistently demonstrates initiative, and has accomplished so much in her short time at DCAC. Families connect with her quickly and trust her deeply—something that cannot be easily replicated. We are excited to continue working alongside Andrea to strengthen our processes and find new ways to better support our families.”
Learn more about DCAC’s clinical intake process and get to know Andrea.