DCAC provides tangible resources to children

By Britt Carmen

North Texas Giving Day season kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 27 and culminates on Thursday, Sept. 17, and Communities Foundation of Texas and White Rock Lake Weekly are once again highlighting nonprofits that serve the White Rock Lake area.

In 2025, more than 100,000 North Texans gave $78 million to more than 3,000 local nonprofits through North Texas Giving Day. This local generosity movement has grown to become the largest community-wide giving event in the nation, and it all centers around giving from the heart at NorthTexasGivingDay.org. 

More than 3,000 local nonprofits participate in North Texas Giving Day, representing more than 25 cause areas across 20 North Texas counties. Communities Foundation of Texas, sponsors and generous givers cover all transaction and technology fees, so 100 percent of donations go directly to nonprofits.

North Texas Giving Day 

participant spotlight: 

For Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC), the day provides an opportunity to support some of Dallas County’s most vulnerable children and their families. Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center coordinates the investigation, prosecution and healing services for the most severe cases of child abuse in Dallas County, cases that rise to the level of a criminal offense. DCAC is the first stop for children in Dallas County who have been sexually abused, severely physically abused or witnessed a violent crime, such as a homicide. The average child served by the organization is an 11-year-old girl who has been sexually abused by someone she knows.

Last year alone, DCAC provided services to more than 12,000 children and family members affected by criminal child abuse across Dallas County. 

Child abuse does not discriminate or stop at city boundaries. DCAC serves children from across the 900 square miles of Dallas County, from Highland Park to Hutchins, Dallas to DeSoto and everywhere in between.

DCAC is the only nonprofit in Dallas County involved in the investigation of crimes against children. Children are referred to DCAC exclusively through law enforcement and Child Protective Services, beginning a coordinated process designed to put the child first while helping families navigate what can be an overwhelming and traumatic experience.

DCAC’s team of forensic interviewers works alongside law enforcement, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, medical partners and Child Protective Services on the investigation and prosecution of cases. Family advocates work directly with children and their non-offending family members to connect them with critical resources and remove barriers that could stand in the way of healing. DCAC’s specially trained therapists then provide trauma-informed therapy to help children and families begin rebuilding their lives. DCAC also houses detectives from the Dallas Police Department’s Child Abuse Unit, six units of Child Protective Services and a Dallas County Assistant District Attorney. Bringing these professionals together under one roof allows for greater collaboration and communication while reducing the burden placed on children and families throughout the process.

All of DCAC’s services are provided at no cost to families and are available in both English and Spanish. For North Texas Giving Day, donations of all sizes can directly support those services and provide tangible resources to children throughout the investigation and healing process.

For example:

A $25 donation can provide a Court Readiness Bag for a child preparing to testify. In Texas, a person accused of a crime has the right to face their accuser, even when that accuser is a child. 

The bags include items such as a stress ball, coloring book, snacks and water to help make an intimidating experience a little more comfortable.

A $50 gift can provide a child with new clothes and a stuffed toy, offering comfort and a sense of normalcy during a difficult time. 

A $250 donation can cover the cost of a forensic interview, giving a child a safe, child-friendly environment to share what happened. The interview is recorded so the child does not have to repeatedly recount the details of their abuse.

For some children, even returning to their own bedroom can be difficult because it is where the abuse occurred. A $2,000 gift can fund a bedroom makeover with new furniture, bedding, toys and personal touches, helping transform that room into a place where the child can begin to feel safe again.

A $5,000 gift can cover therapy services for one child. DCAC provides trauma-informed, evidence-based therapy tailored to each child, free of charge and available until the child turns 18. 

Support raised through North Texas Giving Day helps DCAC continue providing these critical services without families ever receiving a bill. Learn more at dcac.org or via the NorthTexasGivingDay.org website. 

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