2021 Dubois County Leadership Academy Participants Seeking Support for SWICACC

SWICACC is a non-profit organization founded in 2009 out of the need for a child advocacy center within Southwest Indiana. SWICACC brings together non-profits, mental health and medical services, advocacy, and investigators to wrap services around children who have been victims of child maltreatment and their families. Utilizing a multi-disciplinary team approach along with a child advocacy center reduces the number of times a child must tell their terrifying story, thus reducing trauma. 

Through grants, fundraisers, and donations, SWICACC continues to grow and provide services to children in Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Martin, Orange, Perry, and Spencer Counties. SWICACC recently obtained the previous Fifth Street School building, now being called “The Center on 5th.” This new building will allow them to expand their services, have staff office space, expand programming through onsite treatment for mental health and medical forensic exams, as well as a training facility for investigators, youth workers and the community. 

In the new space, SWICACC will be able to conduct multiple forensic interviews at the same time, especially important when sibling groups come in for interviews. In addition, this new facility will include an activity room, which will be used before and after the forensic interviews to create a safe, relaxing environment to help children feel more comfortable. Children will be able to spend time doing things like making crafts, playing with matchbox cars, coloring, painting, build legos, and many other sensory-type activities. A big part of the DCLA program is a Capstone Project where participants complete a project that makes a positive impact on the community. 

This year’s DCLA group is raising money to outfit the activity room at Center on 5th with the needed supplies and furniture. 

“We strongly believe in the purpose of SWICACC and their plans to expand the impact on the lives of children who have been abused,” said Wayne Murry, a participant of the group. “We want to do our little part in helping them reach their vision for the space.” 

If you are interested in helping support SWICACC, financial contributions should be made out to Dubois County Leadership Academy, with SWICACC in the memo line, and mailed to Dubois County Leadership Academy, 2065 Main Street, Ferdinand, IN, 47532-0007.