The Family Crisis Center (FCC) is a program operated by Denver County Department of Human Services that offers “Hope and Opportunity” for the children and families served. The FCC contains four main program components:
1) Residential Care for Boys & Girls:
The residential programs can serve up to 64 boys and girls from age 10 through to age 18. Children placed in the program may need:
- Temporary shelter while awaiting a more permanent placement setting
- Assessment of therapeutic needs of the child and family
- Provision of therapeutic services to the child and family
The program utilizes a clinical “systems” approach which emphasizes working with the child’s family and environment. These therapy services that begin in the program are able to work with the child and their family as the child transitions home or to the next placement, in order to ensure continuity of care. Other services available include psychiatric services, drug and alcohol services, and recreational programming. Several hundred children per year are placed at the FCC.
2) A Medical Clinic:
In a partnership with Denver Health & Hospitals, the program houses a doctor trained at the Kempe Center as an expert in child abuse and neglect issues, as well as a nurse practitioner and a nurse. This program sees all youth entering out of home care in Denver County and all youth who are placed in the FCC residential programs. The facility has state of the art equipment that can detect incidents of trauma and abuse of the children served, as well as identifying and treating the children’s general medical conditions.
3) High tech setting for interviewing children suspected of being abused or neglected:
In a partnership with the Denver Police Department and the Children’s Advocacy Center, those parties and social caseworkers from Denver Human Services use interviewing rooms to interview families when their children are suspected of being abused or neglected. The rooms allow observation and recording of the interview processes. Staff has specialized trained in child interviewing techniques.
4) A location for the Denver Department of Human Services to hold “Team Decision Making” meetings:
When a child is in need of out of home placement or while in out of home placement, Denver Human Services works with the biological family, their supports (i.e. clergy), and other involved parties, such as therapists, in meeting to attempt to jointly make decisions regarding what is in the best interests of the child.
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