April 20, 2016

Applewood Plumbing Supports Denver Children’s Advocacy Center

Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric has chosen Denver Children’s Advocacy Center as the March winner of the $1,000 Caring Community Giveaway.

The Denver Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) works to improve the lives of children traumatized by sexual abuse and violence, as well as those at risk, with prevention, education and direct services. Their mission is to prevent abuse, strengthen families and restore childhood. They achieve this mission by providing a continuum of care that includes prevention programs, forensic interviews, assessment, mental health treatment and family support in a safe, welcoming environment.

“It’s encouraging to know that there are organizations in our community providing treatment to children who are victims of abuse,” said John Ward, president of Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric. “We’re fortunate to be able to help Denver Children’s Advocacy Center.”

Denver Children’s Advocacy Center was founded in 1995 after over 300 professionals in Denver came together to report that child victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence were “falling through the cracks” in a system that was supposed to save them.

In 2015, Denver Children’s Advocacy Center celebrated their 20th anniversary. From serving fewer than 300 children annually in 1995 and no bilingual staff, DCAC now serves more than 6,000 people with a staff of 19, more than half of whom are bilingual. “As we grow the capacity of our Children’s Campus, we are also expanding our outreach into the community. We don’t wait for high-risk and fragile families to find us – we go to them,” said Kristin Walker, Director of Development at Denver Children’s Advocacy Center.

“All of our efforts to prevent abuse, strengthen families and restore childhood are funded through generous gifts such as this one from Applewood,” said Kristin. Their funding comes from private gifts, grants and some city and federal funding. No child or family is charged for the services they provide which include prevention through their Safe From the Start Program which they do in partnership with Denver Public Schools for children ages 3-8, their parents and teachers. In 2015, they served 2,908 children, 106 parents and 183 teachers through the Safe from the Start program.

DCAC serves all traumatized children but specialize in very young ones ages 0-6 with Assessment and Mental Health treatment. In 2015 they served 1,512 children, plus 811 parents and caregivers received in-depth family support services. It costs an average of $2,500 to treat one child.

For more information or to nominate a local nonprofit for the “Caring Community Giveaway,” click here.