Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center Releases 2017 Annual Report

The Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center helped 1,674 children in 2017 and has now helped more than 28,000 children since opening in 1991. These statistics released in their 2017 Annual Report reaffirm the need for the Center’s current expansion project.

In 2017 the Center launched Above and Beyond: The Campaign to Help Children Soar, to fund the development of a second center in Mount Pleasant and the complete renovation of the existing center in downtown Charleston. Once both locations are complete, the Centers will be able to treat 3,500 children annually.

“We need to be proactive about helping children, that’s why we launched our campaign,” says Dr. Carole Swiecicki, Dee Norton’s executive director and CEO. “Our projections show the need for our services is steadily increasing. We are working to increase our capacity, so that no more children are at risk.”

With services such as forensic interviews, mental health assessments, medical and therapy services and parental assessments, the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center continues to achieve its mission of preventing abuse, protecting children and healing families.

By the Numbers

• Sex
  • 54% Female
  • 46% Male
• Age
  • 47% 7-12 (years old)
  • 28% 0-6
  • 25% 13-17
• Race
  • 48% African American
  • 35% Caucasian
  • 11% Hispanic
  • 5% Bi-Racial

Services Utilized

Of the children treated in 2017, 1,460 were assessed through forensic interviews. These interviews are utilized when there is a concern for having experienced or witnessed a crime, such as physical or sexual abuse. Forensic interviews provide a comfortable, unbiased, child-friendly setting and uses non-suggestive, non-leading interview techniques to find out what, if anything, happened. The Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center is the only provider of court admissible forensic interviews in Charleston County.

In 2017, 1,343 cases were coordinated through a multidisciplinary team (MDT). The Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center’s professionals work with community partners including local healthcare professionals, prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, school districts, social services and guardians to take appropriate action as quickly as possible. Case coordination occurs through weekly MDT meetings, where professionals give input into the assessment of needs and the development of safety and treatment plans. Recommendations and updates regarding protection, case management, prosecution and needed services are discussed by the staffing team and the progress of each case is monitored through the MDT process.

To download the 2017 Annual Report, click here.

About Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center

The Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center is the region’s leading resource to prevent abuse, protect children and heal families. Primary services include forensic interviews, medical examinations and mental health assessments as well as immediate support and coordination. The center also provides evidence-based therapy to child victims and their families. For more information, visit www.deenortoncenter.org.

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