On Friday, April 28, 2017, the Sanford Health Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center received the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2016 in a ceremony hosted by Director James Comey at FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC. This is the first time in the award’s history that an organization in North Dakota has received this prestigious award.

The Director’s Community Leadership Award, presented by the Director, was formally created in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in America. Visit the FBI website at www.fbi.gov for details on the people and organizations who have most recently been recognized around the country for their service above and beyond the call of duty to help keep America and its kids safe. Press photos will be uploaded to the website by 6 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2017.

The Sanford Health Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) is committed to improving the response to child abuse and works to reduce the trauma experienced by child victims of abuse as they navigate the legal, investigative, social services, and mental health systems after an allegation of abuse. The DCAC offers its comprehensive, compassionate services free of charge to children and families who have been affected by abuse. The center uses a comprehensive multidisciplinary team approach to investigating child abuse. Professionals from social services, law enforcement, prosecution, victim advocacy, and the medical and mental health communities come together under one roof so that children have to tell of their abuse only once.

Special Agent in Charge Richard T. Thornton of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office said, “The Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center joins a long and distinguished list of Director’s award recipients from our region. The entire community benefits greatly from the dedication of these professionals who work so tirelessly to ensure the health and welfare of child victims.”