About the Dolphin House
Mission Statement
The Children's Advocacy Center of the 7th Judicial District provides coordinated and professional assessment and investigation of child abuse, and a safe place at the Dolphin House for children and families to get help.
HISTORY of the
7th JUDICIAL DISTRICT
CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
Approximately 40 people came together for a “brainstorming session” January 16, 2003 to talk about developing a child advocacy center for the 7th Judicial District. People came from Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose and San Miguel Counties, representing a variety of child and family serving agencies, law enforcement, medical community, DA’s office, and interested citizens. The consensus was that the 7th Judicial District would benefit from a child advocacy center to coordinate investigative strategies and integrate services in cases of child maltreatment in order to minimize trauma to the victim and their family.
The above group evolved into a Steering Committee and began to meet on a regular basis to do the educating, planning and strategizing necessary to realize the goal of a child advocacy center. Teresa Cain, then Director of the Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, consulted with the Committee and facilitated a strategic plan.
As a result of this training, four subcommittees were formed: public education; program; facilities; fund raising/grants. Throughout the summer and fall, the bulk of the groundwork for the child advocacy center was done in subcommittees with monthly Committee meetings.
The Public Education Committee met with law enforcement, human services, mental health providers, judges, child-serving agencies, schools and elected officials to educate people about the child advocacy center model and solicit support for the effort. Presentations were also given at service organizations, such as the Rotary, Kiwanis and Altrusa to educate the general public. Even though most of the activity was in Delta and Montrose Counties, there was outreach to agencies and individuals in Gunnison, Hinsdale, Ouray and San Miguel Counties, all of which make-up the 7th Judicial District. As a result of these efforts, $5200 was raised as initial support of the program.
While the Facilities Committee explored possible sites for the child advocacy center, the Program Committee worked on how it would operate. The Fund Raising/Grants Committee identified potential grants and other sources of support. The Steering Committee wrote the board by-laws and responsibilities, the job description for the director, the “draft” memorandum of understanding between agencies, and the protocol for the case review process.
In September 2004, the Steering Committee applied for a Program Development Grant through the National Children’s Alliance, the umbrella organization for child advocacy centers, and was awarded a Grant in the amount of $45,500 to start-up the program in January 2005. The Dolphin House began seeing victims of child abuse on July 15, 2005.
More: What is a Child Advocacy Center?
