THE CENTER FOR TRAUMA & RESILIENCE
Mission Statement
The Denver Center for Crime Victims provides culturally and linguistically responsive services, health promotion and crime prevention education. We are the victim assistance agency for the city of Denver, Colorado, USA. DCCV addresses the root causes of unemployment, homelessness, as well as mental and physical health issues by using trauma-informed care to stabilize the individual emotionally, physically and financially following a victimization. The expected result of implementing our hotline program and wraparound services is that clients receive quality victims’ services enabling trauma reduction, successful navigation through criminal justice proceedings and ultimately self-sufficiency.
About This Cause
The Denver Center for Crime Victims (DCCV) was created in 1987 to provide a single point of entry for victims of crime, with each individual receiving trauma-informed wraparound services that promote healing, safety, justice and restitution. Since 1987, DCCV has provided 24-hour support to over 170,000 victims of crime in the Denver, Colorado community. DCCV counselors work to address the emotional and physical needs of the victim, stabilize the individual following a victimization, assist with navigating the criminal justice system and assure safety and security while fostering self-respect and self-sufficiency. DCCV serves all victims of crime in Denver, including child physical and sexual abuse, DUI/DWI victims, domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, family and friends of homicide victims, robbery, assault, gang-related activity, arson, harassment, kidnapping and retaliation against victims/witnesses. All services are offered at no cost, with 75 percent of those served falling below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Services include our 24-hour Hotline, which is available in English, Spanish and via Relay Colorado. Victims can obtain wraparound services including emotional support, crisis intervention, case management, short-term counseling, support groups, advocacy, financial assistance and information and referrals. Below is an overview of our major programs and individuals served during 2012: 24-hour Hotline: Provided 24-hour crisis intervention to 1,609 primary and secondary crime victims and responded to 7,919 requests for information and referrals. Counseling: Provided 1,236 sessions of trauma recovery counseling at no cost. Staff also coordinated nine eight-week support groups that were attended by 99 survivors. All groups now incorporate yoga as a trauma reduction practice. 87 percent of clients reported a reduction in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder on their post counseling surveys. Children’s Program: Provided specialized services and interventions, including art and music therapy, to 120 children and youth, who were the victims of or witnesses to violent crime. Staff also coordinated nine eight-week support groups that were attended by 86 children within the Denver Public Schools. Our analysis (included as an attachment) continues to demonstrate significant reductions in trauma symptoms in children affected by violence. Elder/Disability Program: Provided specialized services for 158 at-risk adults who are elderly (over 60) and/or disabled and provided 70 personalized in-home crime prevention plans to increase safety and prevent future victimization. Our Senior Companion provided transportation, accompaniment and visitation to all clients served through the program. Emergency Fund for Crime Victims: The emergency fund is available to victims in need of financial assistance related to their victimization. DCCV distributed more than $40,000 to 543 victims, including funds for crime scene clean-up, burial assistance, rent, relocation, lock rekeys, window and door repairs, medications, food and transportation. Mi Gente-VAWA Legal Services: Mi Gente provides legal representation to immigrant victims (women, men and children) of domestic violence or sexual assault by their marriage partner or parent. Our clinic accepted 100 immigrant victims for representation. DCCV is accredited by the United States Board of Immigration Appeals and is managing the largest number of pro-bono Violence Against Women Act immigration services in the state of Colorado. The Translation & Interpreting Center: The Translation & Interpreting Center is an earned-income social venture that reinvests 100 percent of its assets back into the programs of DCCV. The TI Center contracts with interpreters and translators to provide language services to businesses and nonprofits for a fee. Funding from this fee-based service is then reinvested to provide language services at no cost to crime victims. In 2012, the TI Center provided no cost translation and interpreting to 349 Limited English Proficient victims.