Every child deserves a childhood filled with hope. Yet, thousands of Colorado children experience abuse every year. They need us to speak up, step up, and show up. By creating a Hope Starts Here fundraising page, you can help raise much-needed awareness and funds in April during Child Abuse Prevention Month for Denver Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC). Your funds will help DCAC provide therapy, advocacy, and support for kids who have experienced abuse.
Why Participate in the Fight to End Child Abuse?
There are countless reasons to fight child abuse, including these:
- Roughly 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys will experience sexual abuse at some point in childhood. Yet, the vast majority of child victims don’t disclose their abuse to anyone for at least one year, nearly half wait almost five years to say anything, and many never tell anyone. This means many victims of sexual abuse wait years or never receive the support they need to heal from their trauma.
- Approximately 1 in 7 children will experience some form of abuse, yet this number is likely underestimated as for every case reported, two cases go unreported.
- More than 3 out of 4 victims of child abuse were abused by a parent or legal guardian–someone they trusted. It can take years for children to regain trust. However studies show that evidence-based treatment (EBTs) like those offered through DCAC help reduce the effects of trauma. And national data shows EBTs can help eliminate Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in up to 75% of children by the time they complete treatment.
- Abuse affects children long after the immediate pain and can contribute to depression, PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health problems; behavioral challenges, including violence and substance use disorders; and physical health problems ranging from injuries and infections to heart disease and diabetes.
When children have safe, stable environments and are surrounded by people who provide nurturing relationships, they are less likely to experience abuse and are more likely to report abuse if it occurs.
DCAC helps educate children and their caregivers about child abuse prevention and supports families who are navigating abuse and its effects. This past year, we reached 5,308 children, 541 parents, and 430 teachers through our community outreach and prevention work. We conducted 843 forensic interviews and provided case management, mental health assessments, and treatment for 614 clients.
Give Something, Get Something: Why You Should Take Action To Help Fight Child Abuse
There’s more we can do, which is why we need you. This April, during Child Abuse Prevention Month, please consider fundraising for Hope Starts Here. Your support will benefit kids (and you can win some great prizes, too).
At DCAC, every donation makes a difference. Here’s how your fundraising can make a lasting impact on child abuse prevention and support services:
- $500 provides prevention programming for one classroom
- $900 provides a forensic interview and victim advocacy for one child
- $3,000 provides a full day of therapy sessions at DCAC
- $5,750 provides a full treatment cycle for one child
- $10,000 provides prevention programming for one school
- $60,000 provides a full month of therapy sessions for DCAC clients
Whether you can raise $500 or $5,750, every dollar helps a child who has experienced abuse. You can fundraise as an individual, or rally your friends, co-workers and family members to raise funds as a team.
Set up your fundraising page today! In addition to helping fight child abuse, by raising $500, you will receive a ticket to Swing for Hope Celebration on May 8th. This fun event includes food, drink, two hours of golf and an awards ceremony. If you raise $1,000, you’ll also receive limited edition DCAC Art Coasters (these are always a HUGE hit every year). And, by raising $4,000, you will receive 6 tickets to Swing for Hope so your top friends (or donors) can join in on the fun.
- Learn more about Hope Starts Here
- Visit our Swing for Hope page
- Download our complete sponsorship package
- Visit our Donate Page
- Reach out to Michelle Davis, DCAC Development Director, at mdavis@DenverCAC.org or 720.974.7231.