“Do You Live Here?”

by Kim Collins
DCAC Victim Advocate

"Do you live here?"  This question comes from an adorable five-year-old. It’s obvious that she feels right at home at DCAC’s 2139 building that opened one year ago today. She has me sit in a chair far too small for me, grabs a book from the shelf and asks me to read it to her. Another little girl, whom she doesn’t know, is playing nearby. She invites her to join us. They sit side by side as I read through Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. It’s difficult to believe that just prior to our sharing this story-time together, she was being interviewed by one of our trained forensic interviewers. During that interview, she was able to share about some of the trauma she experienced. Now we sit together, giggling at the picture of the pancakes falling from the sky and sharing the fun with the other child. This is a healing moment; a way to reinforce to her that she is still a child, despite having gone through bad experiences.

As I keep the child preoccupied, I notice the parents have begun to relax and started to process the crisis they have just been through as a family. Members of the multi-disciplinary team have been in the observation rooms discussing next steps. They speak with the parents privately in adjoining rooms and then let them know they can leave. The family gathers their belongings and I escort them to the door. The little girl turns back around and runs to give me the biggest hug ever. That’s when I pause to think about how this facility provides not only a child-friendly space for investigations, but also serves as the starting point of the healing process.

We constantly get compliments on the house from clients and professionals that come to visit. I sometimes wish I could further explain that there is reasoning behind EVERYTHING being the way it is. For instance, couches and chairs provide a level of comfort for families that have to wait nervously (sometimes for hours) through multiple interviews. The lobby is set up to facilitate detectives, social workers, and victim advocates to speak with the parents privately while still being able to keep a watchful eye on the children. The interview rooms are plain, to minimize distraction while interviewing the child. The observation rooms allow multiple cases to be investigated simultaneously, with privacy and space for the professionals. The kitchen gives us community space to eat lunch together and support each other in the work we do. Those examples don’t even scratch the surface of the thought and attention to detail that went into developing this house to be a secure, comfortable place for people to be at during difficult times.

Beyond the facility being a place for the clients, it also better serves the needs of DCAC staff, law enforcement, social services, and community members who all fully utilize the space. The beautiful old Victorian is used for board meetings, multi-disciplinary team case reviews, and meetings of other outside groups. I consider it a privilege to observe and contribute to some of the decisions, case planning, and dialogue that occurs between these walls.

The reality of vicarious trauma experienced by professionals is serious. Working in such a beautiful and healthy environment meets the essential needs of professionals. Having the entire DCAC staff together on the same campus is also a big “plus” by promoting unity, teamwork, and support for each other in our diverse programs. Together with our supporters, we have created a “kids campus,” and there is no greater joy than to see those children running around the space crafted with them in mind.



2139 House Before Renovation

 DCAC relies heavily on private funding through donations. I have had the pleasure of meeting many donors and am always impressed at the diversity backgrounds of people and companies that are passionate about supporting children and families through gifts to our agency.I have much respect for donors because of their willingness to donate to an organization that is required to keep confidentiality of the cases. They don’t get to actually see the families in crisis, hear the stories of the children being interviewed, or participate with the team making important and often times lifesaving decisions. Specifically in reference to donating towards 2139 house, people were asked to give to help build something tangible, a house! I would like to convey my appreciation and respect for all who gave generously toward that end to support DCAC. I am honored to see the intangible rewards happening every day because of this facility. I’ve gotten to see families reconcile, children smile because their secret is out and now they are safe, and team members debriefing and supporting each other after a long day. The building is not just another pretty place; it’s a carefully crafted space that facilitates the healing process in support of our mission to

“Prevent Abuse – Strengthen Families - Restore Childhood.”