Message Regarding Our COVID-19 Policies

Safe Shores – The DC Children’s Advocacy Center is committed to being a safe, helpful, and trustworthy resource, available to everyone who needs our services and support. Due to COVID-19, we are observing federal and local government public health protection guidelines. Upon arrival, visitors will complete a COVID-19 screening (questions and temperature check) and may be asked to wear a mask. If you have recently had COVID-19, you must wear a mask on the premises for the full 10 days from the date of exposure or infection, consistent with DC Health Department and CDC guidance.

To report suspected child abuse in the District of Columbia call 1-202-671-SAFE(7233)
To report suspected internet crimes against children, contact report.cybertip.org

Safe Shores

To report suspected child abuse / Para reportar sospechas de abuso:

1-202-671-SAFE (7233)

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 children in their lives. These resources can range from making connections to partner organizations to providing new clothes from the Safe Shores’ Clothing Closet.

Safe Shores’ Clothing Closet is stocked with brand new and seasonally appropriate clothing, underwear, shoes, and toiletries for children. Some children may need to access the items in the Clothing Closet because the clothing that they’re wearing needs to be taken for evidence, or it may have been damaged, ripped or torn during the abuse they experienced.

For 10-year-old Kay and her mom, the Clothing Closet was a resource they didn’t know existed when they came to Safe Shores following abuse from Kay’s father. Kay’s mom told her client advocate that Kay’s underwear had been ripped during the abuse, and she hadn’t had time to purchase new underwear for her daughter with everything that was happening during the investigation. The Safe Shores advocate quickly took Kay and her mom into the Clothing Closet to pick out new underwear. Kay’s mom told the advocate how helpful it was to not have to worry about taking Kay to the store for clothes after such an emotional day.

After listening to Kay’s story, the Safe Shores advocate realized that Kay was most likely one of many children who could use more underwear when they came to Safe Shores.

The Client Advocacy team decided to start including a week’s worth of underwear in each “take-care” bag of clothing that a child receives. Safe Shores advocates constantly work to evolve the resources we offer to our clients with intentionality and care. As we continue to listen to our client’s stories and work to build services that match what they need, Safe Shores grows.

Your donations go directly toward providing our clients with our life-saving services.

Please make a tax-deductible donation today to help families like Kay and her mom receive the ongoing support they deserve. Your support helps to provide our clients with emergency monetary assistance through our Emergency Crisis Victims Fund, keeping our Clothing Closet stocked, adding to our service offerings, and more. Donations are greatly needed, appreciated and directly impact children affected by abuse in DC.

Click to make a donation to Safe Shores.

Thank you for supporting Safe Shores’ unique combination of intervention, hope, and healing for child victims in our community!

 

With warmest wishes of the season,

 

Everyone at Safe Shores — The DC Children’s Advocacy Center

 

P.S. Next week, stay tuned for an exciting update about growth within Safe Shores and how our Client Advocacy program has expanded to better serve a specific population.

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