The District Of Columbia Childrens Advocacy Center

SAFE SHORES PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO CHILD VICTIMS OF ABUSE AND THEIR FAMILIES.

CLIENT ADVOCACY SERVICES PROGRAM: SAFE SHORES' CLIENT ADVOCACY SERVICES PROGRAM IS A CHILD VICTIM'S FIRST POINT OF CONTACT WITH SAFE SHORES. IT WORKS WITH CHILDREN AND THEIR NON-OFFENDING CAREGIVERS THROUGHOUT THE CONTINUUM OF SERVICES. THIS MEANS HELPING THEM ACCESS CRITICAL INFORMATION, SHORT- AND LONG-TERM RESOURCES, AND TAILORED, INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT AS THESE YOUNG CRIME VICTIMS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS MOVE TOWARD HEALING, RECLAIMING THEIR SENSE OF AGENCY AND SELF-EFFICACY, AND RESTORING THEIR SENSE OF TRUST AND HOPE. THE CLIENT ADVOCACY SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES CRISIS SUPPORT, ONGOING ADVOCACY, FOLLOW-UP, REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND INFORMATION ON CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS AND PROGRAMS TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, SAFE SHORES ALSO PROVIDES CHILD VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH NEW TRANSITIONAL CLOTHING, MEALS, AND EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

CLINICAL SERVICES: SAFE SHORES' CLINICAL SERVICES PROGRAM HELPSFAMILIES ON THE ROAD TO HEALING FROM TRAUMA AND ABUSE BY PROVIDINGTRAUMA-INFORMED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OFTRAUMA-FOCUSED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (TFCBT) THE CLINICALSERVICES TEAM PROVIDES A SAFE SPACE FOR CHILDREN TO IDENTIFY ANDOVERCOME CHALLENGES, DEVELOP POSITIVE COPING SKILLS AND BUILD HEALTHYRELATIONSHIPS THROUGH TALK THERAPY, PLAY THERAPY, ART THERAPY,SAND-TRAY THERAPY AND OTHER MODALITIES PROVIDED TO CHILD VICTIMS, THEIRNON-OFFENDING CAREGIVERS, AND SIBLINGS. DURING FY2020, THE CLINICALSERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDED 1,162 THERAPY SESSIONS TO 32 CHILDREN ANDPROVIDED 1,172 CONSULTATIONS WITH PARENTS/CAREGIVERS, SERVING 75 CHILDREN AND 90 CAREGIVERS.

FORENSIC SERVICES: SAFE SHORES' FORENSIC SERVICES PROGRAM (FSP)COORDINATES AND CONDUCTS NEUTRAL, FACT-FINDING ANDDEVELOPMENTALLY-SENSITIVE (FORENSIC) INTERVIEWS WITH CHILDREN AFFECTEDBY ABUSE AND CHILD WITNESSES TO VIOLENCE ON BEHALF OF FELLOWMULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM MEMBER AGENCIES. THE GOAL OF FORENSIC INTERVIEWSIS TO ENSURE THAT CHILDRENS' VOICES ARE HEARD AND TO MINIMIZE THENUMBER OF TIMES A CHILD MUST RECOUNT ANY INCIDENT OF ABUSE. FORENSICSERVICES ALSO SUPPORTS MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM COLLABORATION, UPDATINGPROTOCOLS AND ENSURING BEST PRACTICES. IN FY 2019, 702 FORENSICINTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED BY SAFE SHORES, WITH CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS THREE-YEARS-OLD UP TO ADOLESCENTS AGED 17. ON OCCASION UPON REQUEST BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, FSP CONDUCTS FORENSIC INTERVIEWS WITH INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED ADULTS.

TEEN ADVOCACY INITIATIVEADOLESCENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 TO 17 WHO HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HAVE THE RIGHT TO AN ADVOCATE PURSUANT TO DC'S SEXUAL ASSAULT AND VICTIMS' RIGHTS AMENDMENT ACT OF 2019. SAFE SHORES TEEN ADVOCATES ARE ON CALL AROUND THE CLOCK TO BE DISPATCHED TO HELP TEEN SURVIVORS IN THE MIDST OF CRISIS UNDERSTAND THEIR OPTIONS AND SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR CHOICES. TEEN ADVOCATES TRAVEL TO WHERE THE SURVIVORS IS--AT A HOSPITAL OR ELSEWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY, AS SOON AS THE CRIME IS REPORTED. EXAMPLES OF THE SUPPORT A TEEN ADVOCATE MIGHT PROVIDE INCLUDE REFERRALS TO MEDICAL CARE, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, OR LEGAL AID.