At Safe Shores - The DC Children’s Advocacy Center, our Forensic Services program is made up of highly trained Forensic Interviewers who conduct neutral, fact-finding, and developmentally sensitive interviews with children affected by abuse or are witnesses to violence, on behalf of our MDT partner agencies. (Learn more about these agencies here.) ...
News and Events
Healing Isn’t a One-Way Street
Safe Shores’ Clinical Services helps children and families heal from the trauma of violence. Mental health treatment is a crucial part of healing but can often be too expensive or difficult to access. To remove any barrier to healing, we provide services for as long as necessary, free of charge. “Safe Shores has been the only constant in our ...
Annie Didn’t Know Who to Ask for Help
Teenage survivors of sexual assault have a new resource: Safe Shores’ Teen Advocates. While Safe Shores has always served child survivors from age zero to seventeen, the implementation of the Sexual Assault Victims Rights Act Amendment (SAVRAA) of 2019 gives us new tools for responding to adolescents’ unique needs in ways that respect their rights, ...
Even the Smallest of Things Can Bring Hope – Kay’s Experience at Safe Shores
A Family's First Point of Contact with Safe Shores Often the first point of contact a family has with Safe Shores is through our Client Advocacy program. Client Advocates provide a safe, welcoming environment for kids coming to Safe Shores, and help non-offending caregivers identify and access the resources they need to be supportive of the ...
How You Can Share Joy This Season for Safe Shores’ Holiday Giving Drive
Hip, hip, HOORAY…for the kiddos and you! Not only did we reach our $40,000 goal, with the help of many generous donors and a matching grant from the V&S Foundation, we surpassed it! Our team is happily distributing gift cards for over 200 child victims of abuse this holiday season. That’s what we call SHARING JOY! Nonetheless, 365 days a year, ...
What makes the perfect gift? Donate to Safe Shores Holiday Giving 2021 Drive
Hip, hip, HOORAY…for the kiddos and you! Not only did we reach our $40,000 goal, with the help of many generous donors and a matching grant from the V&S Foundation, we surpassed it! Our team is happily distributing gift cards for over 200 child victims of abuse this holiday season. That’s what we call SHARING JOY! Nonetheless, 365 days a year, ...
Domestic Violence and the Pandemic – Domestic Violence Awareness Month
With almost 5 million deaths due to COVID-19 worldwide and over 730,000 of those from the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered communities, populations, and people. Beyond the effects of the disease itself, COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on domestic violence incidents, in what some experts are calling a “shadow pandemic.” ...
Affirming and Celebrating Queer Kids Protects Them | National Coming Out Day
On National Coming Out Day, an important reminder that understanding, embracing, and celebrating children’s gender identity and expression, as well as their sexual orientation, is part of their safe and healthy development. Using children's correct pronouns protects kids. Embracing and celebrating children's sexual orientation protects ...
How to Talk to Kids About Suicide | National Suicide Prevention Month
Two important facts: 1. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for teenagers in the United States, and 2. It’s PREVENTABLE. For adults, talking with children and teens about suicide may seem extreme and feel difficult, but it could literally save a life. With so much at stake, it’s important to know what to say, and there are experts to ...
Back to School Pictures: To Share or Not to Share?
First day of school photos are a favorite tradition for many, even during a pandemic. But wait! Be sure to take a quick look through a slightly different lens. Before posting any back-to-school photos on Instagram, Facebook, or elsewhere, do a quick safety scan. Do the pictures have any identifying information about your child you may not have ...
