The Dorchester Children’s Center (DCC), supported by Children In Crisis, is the only Children’s Advocacy Center in Dorchester County. Prior to our opening, abused children had to travel to receive services from a Children's Advocacy Center. DCC opened its doors in December of 2003 and is currently performing many needed services for victims of child abuse and their families.
A Children's Advocacy Center is a place that offers coordinated, child-focused programs to aid in the investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child abuse. There are many benefits to children’s advocacy centers. For the child, it decreases the fragmentation of services and minimizes the number of times the child has to tell his/her story to professionals involved in his or her case; rather than having to tell the story many different times to many different professionals in non child-friendly settings. This minimizes the trauma to the child and their families.
It has also been proven that child advocacy centers cost communities approximately 70% less than the cost of fragmented services related to investigating, prosecuting and treating child abuse, and conviction rates are much higher when a child advocacy center is involved.
Dorchester Children’s Center offers these services:
- Forensic Interviews and Assessments
- Prevention Programs
- Treatment and Safety Recommendations
- Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Group Treatment for Child Victims and their Families
- Individual and Group Interventions
- Community Case Management Staffings
- Case Consultation with Other Statewide Agencies
- Community-Based Training for Professionals on Child Abuse, Victimization and Family Issues
- Interview Rooms and Videotaping Capabilities
- Advocacy for Children’s Issues
- Computerized Tracking System
Forensic Interviews and Assessments: Staff experts provide this clinical evaluation for a child when there is suspected sexual abuse or physical abuse and/or neglect. This interview is conducted in a safe, child-friendly, and nurturing environment.
Medical Examinations: Our on-site medical partner, The Medical University of South Carolina, which includes a Forensically trained pediatrician and/or pediatric nurse practitioner, are specialists in the area of child sexual abuse and perform the examinations in a sensitive but comprehensive manner.
Therapy: Trained professionals at the center provide Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) for child victims of abuse. Therapy may include one-on-one counseling, family counseling, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) or group therapy.
If you suspect child abuse or neglect call 843.875.1551
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The Seventh Annual Scrumptious Summerville Kitchen Tour, to benefit Children In Crisis, Inc., was held Sunday, October 11, 2009.
Each year the Kitchen Tour is a unique delight for the senses as patrons tour grand homes in Summerville and sample gourmet treats prepared by premiere Lowcountry chefs. Local musicians are scheduled to perform in each home or garden and area florists grace the interior décor with floral arrangements. The homes are toured from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
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