Family Advocacy
Much like a tree without roots, a child cannot grow without a healthy support system. Our goal is to support the child’s family however needed, including shared resources and enriching connections.
Supporting Our Families
The success of a child’s recovery is a multi-faceted journey that requires healing in complex ways. Our team strives to lay the groundwork for this success by advocating however needed along the way, until the journey is complete.
Your Family Advocate
The Family Advocate Team is committed to guiding and educating families through each step of the investigation, prosecution and healing process.
Services available through your Family Advocate:
Crisis Intervention and liaison between the family, law enforcement, Child Protective Services, the Juvenile Justice System, the Denton County District Attorney’s Office and medical professionals.
Education on the legal process in relation to child abuse.
Case management services and case updates.
Available food pantry and clothing closet for emergencies only.
Connection to community resources for assistance.
Referrals for counseling and/or appropriate outside treatment providers.
Referrals to Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.)
Assistance in applying for Crime Victim’s Compensation (CVC) and U-Visa’s.
Court accompaniment as necessary.
Coordination of on-site and offsite medical evaluations.
Seasonal Programs which include: Back-to-School, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Resources
We encourage the use of these resources to supplement the efforts to educate, empower and inform our clients and their families, as well as our partners.
Texas Attorney General’s Crime Victims’ Compensation Program
The Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC) Program helps crime victims and their immediate families with the financial costs of crime. CVC covers crime-related costs such as counseling, medical treatment, funerals, and loss of income not paid by other sources.
The National Center for Missing Kids and Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization. NCMEC works with families, victims, private industry, law enforcement, and the public to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation. The Texas Regional Office provides child safety education, specialized law enforcement training, and child sex trafficking programs across the state.
KidSmartz
KidSmartz is a child safety program that educates families about preventing abduction and empowers kids in grades K-5 to practice safer behaviors. This program offers resources to help parents, caregivers, and teachers protect kids by teaching and practicing the 4 Rules of Personal Safety using tips, printable activities, quizzes, articles, music, videos, and more.
Darkness to Light
Darkness to Light empowers adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse through awareness, education, and stigma reduction.
Help Families Going Through Crisis
Our Family Advocate Team helps families in crisis with three seasonal assistance drives—Back to School, Thanksgiving, and Christmas—to alleviate stress and support them as they go through the process of the investigation and therapy.
Back-to-School Drive
To provide needed school supplies that help children enjoy a sense of normalcy and fitting in.
Holiday Drives
The Center’s team coordinates two seasonal assistance drives to provide families the opportunity to receive a traditional Thanksgiving day meal and Christmas gifts.
Rainbow Room
Throughout the year, the Rainbow Room serves as a resource for families in need of basic necessities including food, clothing, and toiletries.
FAQs
What are the recommended resources for families?
Visit 211texas.org or dial 2-1-1 by phone. Find help with food, health, housing, and many more services.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255
National Human Trafficking Hotline (888) 373-7888
Do I qualify for victim compensation?
If you or your immediate family have financial costs because of a crime, you may be eligible for the Crime Victim's Compensation Program (CVC). Please go here for Eligibility Guidelines, Covered Costs and Application.
How do I sign up to get help for Back to School or the holidays?
Our Family Advocates are committed to providing on-going support to families through our seasonal programs which include: Back-to-School, Thanksgiving and Christmas. All current clients of the Center are eligible to participate in these programs. Please see your assigned Family Advocate and/or Clinician for registration.
Do I have to have a SANE? What is it? Where do I go?
A Sexual Assault Nurses Exam (SANE) is a medical evaluation conducted by a nurse with advanced training to ensure a child is healthy, both physically and emotionally. A SANE determines whether a child has injuries that need to be cared for; answers any questions the child may have, assuring them that he or she is healthy and that their body is normal; screen for pregnancy and/or STI, and may determine if the child may benefit from counseling.
How long do you stay involved with my family?
Family Advocates meet a family upon arrival to the Center and will remain connected with the family to provide ongoing support throughout the course of a criminal investigation, prosecution, or crisis stabilization.