How To Report Abuse

History

In 1997 the founding board of directors of the 501(c)(3) Children in Crisis in Dorchester County, now known as Kay Phillips Child Advocacy Center, met for the very first time. The original vision of the organization was to develop an improved protocol for serving children in the community as they enter the foster care system. The initial goals were to establish a comprehensive evaluation and treatment center, to increase the number and quality of foster care homes, and to establish a temporary safe haven for children taken into emergency protective custody. Through their research, the board of directors changed their initial vision after learning about the Children’s Advocacy Center Model. Instead of opening an emergency shelter for children brought into emergency protective custody, the board of directors determined the need for a Child Advocacy Center in Dorchester County. A child advocacy center helps provide out-patient, evidence-based treatment to child abuse and neglect victims along with forensic services necessary to aid in the investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child abuse, to include forensic interviews and forensic medical exams.

2003

  • The First Annual Kitchen Tour is held in October as a way to raise funds and awareness of Children in Crisis.
  • In December, Children in Crisis opens its doors for the first time in a location off Main Street in Summerville, SC that was generously donated by Mr. Robert Pratt.

2004

  • In February, Senate Bill 500 is signed into law, establishing Children’s Advocacy Centers as the preferred model for providing a timely, coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach for the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse cases; thereby enhancing the safety of children and minimizing the trauma created for children.
  • In August, Dr. Kay Phillips is hired as the Children in Crisis Executive Director.
  • Dr. Phillips hires a forensic interviewer/therapist, bringing the total number of employees to two. They are both trained by ChildFirst to perform forensic interviews.
  • Children in Crisis begins using the dba Dorchester Children’s Center.
  • Dorchester Children’s Center moves to a larger space on West 6th Street in Summerville, SC in December.
  • Services are provided for 50 children and their families.

2005

  • The total number of employees grows to six.
  • The First Annual Troy Knight Memorial Golf Tournament is held in October.
  • Community Awareness Luncheons are introduced to bring awareness to the public.
  • Services are provided for 288 children and their families.

2006

  • In the spring, Dorchester Children’s Center purchases its current home at 303 East Richardson Avenue in Summerville, SC. Renovations are done to meet the needs of a Child Advocacy Center; and in June, the new location opens.
  • MUSC begins offering on-site Forensic Medical Services.
  • Dorchester Children’s Center begins offering Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). This is an evidence-based treatment used to help children and adolescents ages 3-17 cope with the impacts of their trauma(s).
  • The Operation E.L.F Program is created, providing Christmas gifts and winter coats to more than 70 children.
  • Services are provided for 464 children and their families.

2007

 

  • Dorchester Children’s Center receives full national accreditation from the National Children’s Alliance.

  • Dorchester County shows its support for Dorchester Children’s Center by providing funding through a tax referendum.

  • Partnerships are formed with Prevent Child Abuse SC and Darkness to Light to begin providing prevention education opportunities for the community.

  • Services are provided for 763 children and their families.

 

2008

  • The total number of employees increases to nine, as the number of clients served continues to increase and community awareness continues to grow.

  • Dr. Phillips is featured in the Post and Courier in a piece highlighting the importance of Dorchester Children’s Center in the community.

  • Services are provided for 910 children and their families.

2009

  • The back building is refurbished to house additional therapeutic and administrative offices.

  • Services are provided for 901 children and their families.

2010

  • Dorchester Children’s Center begins offering “Be Safe” – a prevention program for children ages 3-8 designed to help them learn about general body safety and okay and not okay touches.

  • Dorchester Children’s Center begins offering Problematic Sexual Behaviors (PSB) Treatment Groups for children and adolescents who have displayed inappropriate or illegal sexual behavior or have sexual behaviors that are beyond their developmental level.

  • A Parenting Column is developed for the Summerville Journal Scene.

  • The First Annual Scout Boats Reel-N-4Kids Fishing Tournament is held in June.

  • Services are provided for 897 children and their families.

2011

  • Over the last three years, the number of employees more than doubles, increasing in size to 20.

  • Dorchester Children’s Center begins offering Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). This is a short-term specialized behavior management program designed for young children ages 2.5-6 who are experiencing behavioral and/or emotional difficulties.

  • A statewide CAC meeting is hosted at Dorchester Children’s Center.

  • The weekly Parenting Column is expanded to Eagle Record and Berkeley County newspapers.

  • Services are provided for 866 children and their families.

2012

  • Dorchester Children’s Center is awarded reaccreditation by the National Children’s Alliance.

  • National Forensic Interview Peer Review with NCA begins.

  • In partnership with Trident United Way, an on-site employee at the Harleyville Ridgeville Elementary School is provided in order for Dorchester Children’s Center to better reach, identify, and provide services for children and families in the upper portion of Dorchester County.

  • Services are provided for 915 children and their families.

2013

  • Training is provided for the entire DD4 School District in Darkness to Light, and reporting, responding, and recognizing abuse and neglect.

  • Services are provided for 977 children and their families.

2014

  • Dorchester Children’s Center receives a $500,000 grant from Roper St. Francis Physicians Endowment, and a $500,000 matching grant opportunity from the Medical Society of South Carolina, allowing construction to begin on a 6,000 square foot addition to the existing center.

  • Since 2006, the Summerville Exchange Club has named Dorchester Children’s Center the beneficiary of their Annual Azalea Classic Golf Tournament, and donations to the center now total more than $50,000.

  • Services are provided for 1,025 children and their families.

2015

  • Dorchester Children’s Center finalizes construction of a 6,000 square foot addition. The expansion includes a new Medical Exam Suite to increase forensic medical exam capacity, four new Forensic Interview rooms with improved soundproofing technology and increased observation capacity for law enforcement and child protective services investigative partners, additional office space, and a larger meeting room to be able to accommodate trainings and community awareness luncheons.

  • A new logo is created and revealed for Dorchester Children’s Center, and the tagline – Hope, Heal, Empower – is officially established.

  • The South Carolina General Assembly Women’s Caucus recognizes the work of Dr. Kay Phillips as a nonprofit director.

  • Dorchester Children’s Center begins offering Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI). This is a brief trauma treatment for ages 7-18 designed to increase family support and communication immediately following a traumatic event.

  • The First Annual Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Conference is held in November.

  • Services are provided for 1,210 children and their families.

2016

  • Dorchester Children’s Center is recognized as the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year.

  • Dr. Kay Phillips is appointed by Governor Nikki Haley to serve on the South Carolina Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children.

  • Dorchester Children’s Center begins offering Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). This is a short-term, evidence-based treatment used to treat symptoms of PTSD in adults and adolescents 16+ designed to teach how to identify and change unhelpful thoughts that often occur as a result of trauma.

  • Services are provided for 1,297 children and their families.

2017

  • Dorchester Children’s Center holds a building dedication ceremony to honor the generous contributions made by Roper St. Francis Physicians Endowment, and the Medical Society of South Carolina.

  • Dorchester Children’s Center begins offering Alternatives for Families Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT). This therapy is trauma-informed, evidence-based treatment designed to improve the relationships between children and caregivers in families that experience frequent conflict by using positive coping and self-control skills, effective discipline strategies, constructive family problem solving, and communication.

  • Services are provided for 1,134 children and their families.

2018

  • Dorchester Children’s Center is awarded reaccreditation by the National Children’s Alliance.

  • Dorchester Children’s Center is rebranded as Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center.

  • Renovations are completed and the new Intake Hub and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Suite officially open.

  • Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center begins offering Risk Reduction through Family Therapy (RRFT). This treatment is designed to address co-occurring symptoms of PTSD, substance use problems, and other risk behaviors that are commonly experienced by trauma-exposed adolescents.

  • Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center begins offering Girls Circle – a support group for adolescent girls designed to increase positive connections, strengths, and competence.

  • Dr. Kay Phillips receives the Project Best Champion Award.

  • Services are provided for 1,082 children and their families.

2019

  • ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) trainings for Dorchester and Berkeley Counties begin as a way to educate the public on the negative impacts unresolved childhood trauma has on communities.

  • Dr. Kay Phillips is named Trailblazer of theYear by the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce.

  • Dr. Kay Phillips is named the recipient of the Trident United Way’s Nonprofit Leader of the Year Award.

  • Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center hires the first Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Program Coordinator and works to establish and maintain a regional CSEC Taskforce for the Lowcountry.

  • Services are provided for 1,045 children and their families.

2020

  • Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center dedicates the newly renovated Intake Hub in memory of George and Gladys Tupper; in honor of the very generous $100,000 contribution made by Mr. Jack Tupper.

  • Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center adapts operations to meet the needs of clients during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Telehealth is instituted for staff to be able to work remotely and continue to serve their clients.

  • Services are provided for 1,237 children and their families.

2021

  • The dream of opening a second location in Berkeley County comes to fruition thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the Cumbie Family and True Homes. The Cumbie Family gifts the center with a 1.64 acre lot in honor of their parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. John and Bonnie Cumbie, in Stoney Landing Executive Park in Moncks Corner; and True Homes chooses the center to be the recipient of a brand new facility, which will be equivalent to the size of a five bedroom home.

  • In September, the SC Child Abuse Response Protocol is signed into law, mandating the CAC model be utilized in response to child abuse in the State of South Carolina.

  • The Kitchen Tour is reimagined due to the ever changing landscape of the pandemic, and so begins what is now the Pinwheel Gala.

  • The First Annual Children in Crisis Golf Tournament to benefit children and families in Berkeley County is held in November.

  • Services are provided for 1,574 children and their families.

2022

  • Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center is recognized as the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year.

  • Dr. Kay Phillips receives the Horowitz Barker Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Children’s Alliance.

  • Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center begins offering a Caregiver Support Group for caregivers whose child has been the victim of CSEC or trafficking. This group provides healthy parenting skills to implement with youth who have risky behaviors.

  • The First Annual Faith Leader’s Conference is held in November, bringing awareness of the critical role the faith community has in protecting and caring for the wellbeing of children.

  • Services are provided for 1,647 children and their families.

2023

  • Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center completes renovations to the front building to include installing ADA compliant restrooms, expanding and updating therapy offices and group spaces, and creating child-friendly art and technology areas in the lobby.

  • Berkeley County Council shows its support for Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center by establishing annual funding for the new Berkeley Center.

  • Dr. Kay Phillips is recognized as a 2023 Woman of Influence by the Charleston Regional Business Journal.

  • Dr. Kay Phillips receives The Order of the Palmetto; the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina.

  • Dorchester Children’s Advocacy Center begins offering “Love 146 Not a Number” – a child trafficking and exploitation prevention program to help youth make safe choices when they encounter potentially exploitative situations.

  • In November, a Ground Breaking Ceremony is held at the future site of the Berkeley Children’s Advocacy Center.

  • Services are provided for 1,388 children and their families.