What is your role within the agency?
As a Family Advocate, I provide wraparound support services to clients and their non-offending family members. There are so many ways to support the families that walk through DCAC’s doors, and the primary way I do that is by facilitating trauma screenings after a disclosure of abuse. These screenings help to determine if a child would benefit from trauma-focused therapy provided at the Center.
What does an average day look like for you?
Each day can look very different for me, but it typically consists of talking with children and their primary caregivers about how things have been since their forensic interview. I try to arrive at the office 30 minutes before my first appointment to prepare for the day by reviewing my calendar. From there, the day takes off and I meet with the families we have scheduled for a screening. I often have lunch with a colleague in our staff breakroom and make it a point to eat outside in the courtyard if weather permits!! Throughout the day, I make phone calls to families to check in on them and provide any support they need. When I need more information on a case, I call the partner agency representative assigned. Usually, this means reaching out to the detective or the Child Protective Services Investigator who is working the case. I usually end my day by reviewing how the appointments went and making note of any next steps for myself.
What is your favorite part about your job?
This is a hard question to answer. My favorite part of this job is the opportunity it gives me to help kids be kids. Equally, I consider myself lucky to be able to watch a caregiver support their child to heal from abuse.
How does the work you do play into the Multidisciplinary Team at DCAC?
I work very closely with our Clinical Services Team at DCAC. Each week, we discuss the families I worked with and how the therapy DCAC provides could benefit and help them. I also maintain regular contact with law enforcement and CPS to ensure ongoing safety for clients and help caregivers navigate the investigation. Finally, I communicate with organizations in the community that could be a resource to the families we work with. When a family needs assistance with something that DCAC doesn’t provide, our goal as Family Advocates is to connect our clients with local resources that are best prepared to help, like food pantries, shelters, or medical services.
Why is Child Abuse Prevention Month important?
I think that childhood is one of the most precious stages of life, and everyone is worthy of a childhood they enjoy. Child abuse can take that away from a person, but certain resources, like therapy, can help restore it. All kids who have suffered abuse deserve resources that will help them heal. Child Abuse Prevention Month sheds light on how important it is to make these resources attainable.
Share the importance of child abuse prevention with your friends, family, and community. The more conversations we have, the more we will learn how to help.
To learn more about DCAC’s Family Assistance Team and the services they provide, visit https://dcac.org/what-we-do/family-advocacy/.
