Our History
In the early 1990s, Nettie Dickerson and her family took a significant step by acquiring the Ludeke Touring Home in West Columbia and leasing it to the South Carolina Department of Mental Health. Their goal was to establish a children’s advocacy center. In February 1995, the Lexington County Children’s Center was officially inaugurated by Lt. Governor Bob Peeler, First Lady Mary Wood Beasley, and Rev. Steve Eagle, focusing on the evaluation and treatment of abused children.
This center later became known as the Dickerson Children’s Advocacy Center. Now, three decades later, the Dickerson Children’s Advocacy Center remains steadfast in its mission to combat child abuse, supporting over 500 children and vulnerable families each year, even as the demand for its services continues to grow.
We are the designated children’s advocacy center for the South Carolina Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Offering services to Lexington, Saluda, McCormick, and Edgefield counties.
Our Mission
Our mission is to deliver comprehensive assessment and treatment services to children ages 0–18 who have experienced physical or sexual abuse, serving families across the Midlands of South Carolina with compassion, care, and collaboration.
Our Goal
Our goal is to establish further community partnerships in rural areas to alleviate the burden of travel cost and time away from work for families.
The Team Behind the Mission
The staff of Dickerson Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) is deeply committed to supporting the children, families, and communities we serve. As a nonprofit Children’s Advocacy Center, our team provides trauma-informed therapeutic and investigative services to children who have experienced abuse, along with support for their non-offending caregivers.
Made up of compassionate, highly skilled professionals with backgrounds in child development, mental health, medical care, law enforcement, education, and advocacy, our multidisciplinary staff brings a wealth of expertise and empathy to their work. United by a shared mission, we create a safe, healing-centered environment where every child can receive the comprehensive care and support they need to begin their path to healing.
Flavia West
Executive Director
MSW, LISW-CP, VSP
April Bledsoe
Operations Director
VSP
Eric Russell
Director of Forensic Services
VSP
Darlene Paradise
Director of Development
B. Th., VSP
Meredith Hardage
Programs Manager
B.S., M.Ed., VSP
Emmaline “Emmy” Leysath
Clinical Services Manager
LMSW, VSP
Shell Kozemko
Family Services Lead
LMSW, VSP
Hallie Hart
Therapist/Forensic Interviewer
LPC-A, VSP
Madison K.B. Wilner
Therapist/Forensic Interviewer
MSW, LISW-CP, VSP
Maggie Fant
Therapist/Forensic Interviewer
LMSW, VSP
Selena Otero
MDT Coordinator
BS, VSP
Gabrielle "Gabby" Heraly
Safe Babies Court Community Coordinator
B.S., VSP
Sarah Gibson
Family Advocacy Coordinator
BS, VSP
Jen McGee
Forensic Services Coordinator
BS, VSP
Stacy Paris
Human Resources Coordinator
BA, M.Ed.
Nadia Gordon
Special Initiatives Coordinator
BS, VSP
Haley Shealy
Director of Donor & Community Relations
Jen McGee
Forensic Services Coordinator
BS, VSP
Stacy Paris
Human Resources Coordinator
BA, M.Ed.
Nadia Gordon
Special Initiatives Coordinator
BS, VSP
Haley Shealy
Director of Donor & Community Relations
Our Board
Linda Dickerson, President
T. K. Woods, Treasurer
Elizabeth C. Taylor, Vice Chair
Craig Aull
Trey Castles
Terri Dooley
Abby Green
Ray Hill
Nicole Maffett
S. Kirk Morgan, Jr.
Kelty Riddle
John Welsh
Katie Marvin
Robert “Wally” Price, III