The Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) started out as a task force to improve and create a coordinated response to child sexual abuse investigations. It opened in the spring of 1997 and became a full member of the National Children’s Alliance in 1998.
Since its opening, the DCAC has experienced tremendous growth. We have served all of the counties in North Dakota, including the state’s five Native American reservations, as well as northern South Dakota and Eastern Montana.

DCAC History
November 1996
Task Force created in Bismarck to identify how to best serve sexually abused childrenFebruary 1997
Dakota Children's Advocacy Center established in Bismarck and first child servedMarch 1997
Sixteen Steps to a Legally Sound Interview Conference1998
Dakota CAC becomes an Accredited Member of the National Children's AllianceNovember 2001
Child Abuse: A Multidisciplinary Team Approach Conference2004
Added Mental Health ServicesJune 2005
Implemented NCA Trak data base2006
Became a pilot site for the Treatment Collaborative to Traumatized Youth2006
Trained and started offering Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy2007
DCAC staff became Certified Stewards of Children TrainersSeptember 2007
Savor the Flavor Fundraiser developed for the DCACOctober 2007
DCAC moves into its first contiguous space2008
First Lunch and Learn heldJanuary 2009
Sexual Deviance in the New Millennium Conference2009
Increased medical staff availabilityApril 2009
DCAC staff became Certified Happiest Baby on the Block facilitators2009
Maggie joins our staff as our first therapy dog2010
Started offering emergency medical servicesDecember 2010
Started annual Giving Tree CampaignMarch 2011
Sex Offenders: How They Think, What They Do ConferenceJanuary 2012
Started disabilities taskforce2012
Trained and started offering Alternatives for Families Cognitive Behavior TherapyApril 2013
Champions For Children ConferenceApril 2015
Kids with Sexual Behavior Problems ConferenceApril 2015
Trained and started offering Problem Sexual Behavior Cognitive Behavioral TherapyOctober 2016
Trained and started offering Parent Child Interactive TherapyApril 2017
DCAC was awarded the FBI's Directors Community Leadership AwardNovember 2017
DCAC becomes an Independent 501c3 and separates from its umbrella organizationNovember 2017
DCAC moves to its new location
The Dakota Children's Advocacy Center is an integral part of our team members’ ability to investigate and intervene in child abuse cases and to provide essential services needed to ensure Hope, Health, and Healing.