Interview by Jennie Trejo. Photos provided by Dallas Children's Advocacy Center.
As the holiday season approaches, the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) is gearing up to spread joy and support to children and families in need through its Holiday of Hope program. DCAC’s mission is to improve the lives of abused children in Dallas County by providing resources, therapy, and support to help them heal. Each year, the center supports approximately 12,000 children and their families, many of whom have experienced trauma, such as physical or sexual abuse or witnessing violent crimes. While many people assume the children DCAC serves are very young, the average client is a 14-year-old girl who has been sexually abused by someone she knows and trusts– a stark reality that drives the center’s critical work.
From providing trauma therapy to hosting heartwarming initiatives like the Fa La La Lakewood Toy Drive, DCAC works tirelessly to fulfill its mission. We spoke with Hannah Counter, Director of Support Services, to learn more about how the community can make a difference this holiday season.
Hannah: At DCAC, we work as a multidisciplinary team, or what we call an “MDT,” which ensures that the needs of the children we serve are always at the forefront of everything we do. We follow a comprehensive journey for our clients, starting with our forensic interviewers. When children arrive at DCAC, the forensic interviewer is often one of the first people they interact with. These professionals work closely with law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, medical partners, and CPS to investigate and prosecute cases of child abuse.
Meanwhile, our family advocates are actively working with the families of the children we serve. As the Director of Support Services, I oversee this team of advocates who provide critical resources and help remove barriers to healing. Many families face significant challenges, and our role is to ensure they have access to the support and services they need.
As the journey progresses, our highly trained therapists step in to provide trauma therapy and healing services to both the children and their families, helping them recover from the effects of abuse.
Beyond direct services, DCAC is also recognized nationally as a leader in educating professionals about child abuse. One of our most important initiatives is hosting the largest professional conference in the country for law enforcement, prosecutors, therapists, and others working in this field. Our education teams also collaborate with local communities to train parents, teachers, medical students, and school counselors on how to keep children safe and how to recognize and report child abuse.
Hannah: One of the things I love about Holiday of Hope is that it not only brings hope to our clients and their families, but it also spreads a powerful message of hope throughout our agency and among our staff. It’s a time when the joy of the holidays fills every corner of the building, and honestly, when you step into the organization, you can’t help but feel it.
Holiday of Hope takes place from December 10th to the 23rd, and right now, we’re in the process of gathering gifts and essential items for the children and families we serve. Each year, DCAC works to remove barriers for families by providing brand new gifts and toys for our current clients and their siblings.
The gifts we provide include a variety of thoughtful items: a book, a cozy blanket, three to four age-appropriate gifts, and for each family, we also give one or two games to enjoy together.
Hannah: The toy drive supports our Holiday of Hope program. While it operates separately, it’s a significant contributor to the program. This will be the fifth year of the Fa La La Lakewood Toy Drive. It’s not just a toy drive; it’s also a parade! On Saturday, December 7th, from 2:00 to 5:30 PM, Santa and his elves will parade through the streets of Lakewood, collecting thousands of toys. Residents leave toys in their front yards, and Santa’s sleigh team gathers them up to bring to our center. We are also expanding! In addition to Lakewood, Fa La La will also be in the Sparkman neighborhood of Dallas. That parade will take place the following Saturday, December 14th.
Hannah: Our most urgent need is for gifts for teenagers. There’s a common misconception that the average client we serve is a young child, but the reality is that the typical client at DCAC is a 14-year-old girl. Because of this, gifts for teens are often overlooked in toy drives, with items like stuffed animals and dolls being more common donations.
What we really need are gifts for older kids—specifically new, unwrapped toys and items for teens. Examples of gifts we’re looking for include speakers, room lighting, headphones, and even longboards. These are the kinds of things that really make a difference for our teens.
You can find more information and gift categories on our Holiday of Hope website, which includes a wish list for different age ranges. We have wish lists available on Amazon, Target, Walmart, and HD Supply, so anyone can easily browse and select items to donate.
Hannah: There are many ways that North Texas can get involved with Holiday of Hope. In addition to donating gifts, you can support the organization and the families we serve by hosting your own toy drive or making a financial donation. A $250 donation, for example, will cover the cost of gifts for one child and their eligible family members.
There are also numerous volunteer opportunities for Holiday of Hope, especially throughout December and even into January, as we prepare for and wrap up the event. Volunteers are needed to help stock shelves, shop for the perfect toys and gifts, and assist with many other tasks to ensure the success of the program.
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