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)

Welcome to our new board members for 2025!

We’re pleased to announce the election of Safe Shores’ newest board members, who both bring incredible skills and knowledge and are ready to help advance Safe Shores’ mission. Please join us in welcoming:

🎊 Sunny Patel
🎊 Lindsay Nichols

Sunny and Lindsay, we are delighted to have you on board (see what we did there?) and can’t wait to work alongside you!


Sunny Patel, M.D., M.P.H. 

(He/Him)

Dr. Sunny Patel serves as Senior Advisor for Children, Youth, and Families in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Substance Use and Mental Health. He is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, who brings passion for building equitable public health systems. Prior to SAMHSA, Dr. Patel was appointed by President Biden as a White House Fellow and served at the Department of Homeland Security where he worked on issues at the nexus of immigration and public health. He has spearheaded health interventions for vulnerable populations in the United States and abroad, including in India, Thailand, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. Dr. Patel completed specialty fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU and Bellevue Hospital. He trained in adult psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance and was a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School. He received his M.D. from the Mayo Clinic, an M.P.H. from Harvard, and graduated with college and departmental honors from UCLA.

Lindsay Nichols 

(SHe/HER)

Lindsay J.K. Nichols is president of Lumina Link Consulting, acting as the communications director of NAPCOR, the trade association for the PET packaging industry in the US, Canada, and Mexico. A seasoned strategist, her career has spanned industries, supporting international corporations, high-impact nonprofits, and the healthcare consumer and government sectors. Lindsay’s work has impacted public policy, changed behavior, and helped people live healthier, more equitable lives. Before joining NAPCOR, Lindsay was vice president of marketing and communications at America’s Charities. Previously, Lindsay led the communications and marketing team at GuideStar (now known as Candid). Her expertise includes dynamic social purpose communications, B2B inbound lead generation, conversion marketing, branding, PR, content and message development, media relations and training, social media and listening, community building, grassroots marketing, partnership development, crisis communications, public affairs, change management, and team development. Lindsay earned a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Communications and Women’s Studies from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego.


We also have to send along a huge THANK YOU to our board members who have completed their terms of service.

💙 Shana Glickfield
💙 Julie Wadler


Shana and Julie, we are immensely grateful for your dedicated service over the years. You gave your invaluable time, energy, resources, and expertise and continuously showed up for kids! THANK YOU!