In THE NEWS

DCAC Public Service Announcement:

 

DCAC in the News - February 2010, 9News

DCAC Receives National Recognition for Prevention Program
The Office of Justice Programs approved DCAC for one out of only six Federal grants under the FY 09 Promoting Child and Youth Safety: Community Initiatives and Public Awareness.

The grant is a two year award for the expansion of DCAC’s already excellent prevention program which educates children, teachers and parents in high risk communities about safety in a matter-of-fact, easily understandable way. The program is unique in its three-fold focus on sexual abuse prevention for such a young population. It works to

• Improve educators’ knowledge about childhood sexuality, provide them with access to resources to prevent child abuse
• Improve parents’ protective parenting skills, help them talk with their children about sexual abuse, provide them with access to resources
• Teach children age-appropriate self-protective skills

Since 2005, this small-scale program for Head Start children 3-5, has shown strong results in sexual abuse prevention as well as improved, protective parenting in general. This grant will allow DCAC to expand the curriculum to K-3 and test a “train the trainers” component to enable the program to reach many more low-income, at-risk families. DCAC expects to see strong gains in participant knowledge about abuse prevention and changes in attitudes and behavior. Progress will be measured through research-based pre- and post-tests developed and analyzed by the University of Denver’s Department of Psychology. 

DCAC Goes Green with Energy Outreach Colorado
Energy Outreach Colorado is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to helping improve the energy efficiency of homes. The Denver NEEP initiative in partnership with the Denver Office of Strategic Partnership extends this to non-profit organizations. With utility bills on the rise, improving the energy efficiency of nonprofit facilities will also reduce energy consumption, thus reducing energy bills and the carbon footprint of such organizations. NEEP is funding the contractor Sun Power to upgrade the existing 2149 Federal house to get it more energy efficient. The following upgrades have been approved for funding and are almost complete!

• Replace the current Air Conditioning Unit with a 17 SEER unit and change the location to the west side of the building under the stairs (to be completed in August)
• Replace bathroom vanity lights with CFL's
• Install 1 gpm aerators at bathroom sinks to slow use of water
• Install smart strips at work stations that will keep phantom loads to a minimum by turning off power after a certain period of no use
• Re-attach crawlspace wall insulation to foundation and insulate rim joist where missing.
• Reduce infiltration: (Air seal rim joist and rim to foundation transition in crawlspace; Replace trim kits with airtight trim kits-top floor is the most important, but infiltration at all recessed lights; Reduce window air leakage by installing foam at sill, caulk b/w frame and rough opening, and consider weather-strip where two sashes meet at double hung windows)
• Re-connection of ductwork found loose in crawlspace with immediate results in comfort level on all floors of house.
• Education of staff in energy conservation.

Additionally, EOC and NEEP are paying for a new tankless water heater for the new 2139 Federal house.
We are very grateful for all the work that Energy Outreach Colorado and Sun Power have done to help us go green and look forward to implementing a plan of energy efficiency that will help us in our endeavors to become even more energy efficient!

DU Study needs participants
The Denver Children’s Advocacy Center and the Stress Studies Group (University of Denver) are launching the The Family Health Study/Estudio de la Salud de la Familia. This exciting new study is designed to better understand how stress affects Latino families. By interviewing Hispanic/Latina mothers with at least one child between the ages of 8-12 years, we hope to learn more about the kinds of health concerns that Latina families face. If interested in learning more about the study, please contact us 303-871-7407.