About Us

 

About DAC

Dependency Advocacy Center (DAC) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization providing free legal services to indigent parents and children involved with the child welfare system in Santa Clara County. Our clients face the removal of their children due to concerns of abuse and neglect with a myriad of issues presented, including substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health, among others. DAC’s goal is to promote timely reunification and preservation of families in a safe, healthy environment.

The four founders established DAC in June 2008 out of a passion for helping this underserved population as well as a strong belief that due process is of paramount importance in these highly sensitive cases. Along with asserting precise legal strategies, DAC has implemented innovative programs to serve families in a comprehensive manner including employing in-house social workers and mentor parents. This multi-pronged approach to advocacy, which focuses on both protecting the client’s legal rights while simultaneously engaging the client to better his or her circumstances, is targeted toward making the family whole again.

DAC is funded almost entirely by a state agency, the Administrative Office of the Courts, with some additional limited grant funding to sustain its Mentor Parent Program . Given the nature of the services DAC provides and the marginalized population it serves, this is truly a public interest endeavor. DAC is passionate about our mission and our commitment is reflected in the thoughtful work that we do.