Dallas Children's Advocacy Center

The mission of the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center is to improve the lives of abused children in Dallas County and provide national leadership on child abuse issues. DCAC’s clients are children who have been sexually abused, severely physically abused, experienced extreme neglect, or have witnessed a violent crime. They are referred by law enforcement or Child Protective Services, come from all residential zip codes of Dallas County, and closely mirror the ethnic make-up of the community. Statistically, the average client is a 9-10 year-old girl, who has been sexually abused by someone she knows and trusts. Last year, DCAC served more than 2,400 children (and their non-offending family members).

DCAC houses the Child Abuse Unit of the Dallas Police Department, five units of Child Protective Services, and an Assistant District Attorney. Having all of these professionals under one roof drives collaboration and communication in the very sensitive cases that DCAC coordinates. Children who are victimized need help to process what they have experienced in order to heal. DCAC has expert child therapists who provide art therapy, play therapy, animal assisted therapy and music therapy. Services are free of charge.