Dependency Advocacy Center was founded by four dependency attorneys, AnnaLisa Chung, Preeti Mishra, Hilary Kushins and John Nieman, who knew both the promise and the flaws of Santa Clara County's child welfare system. Each had practiced and supervised in the county, and they believed the work could be done better, for clients and for the people doing the work. When the previous provider chose not to renew its county contract, they bid for it together, and DAC opened its doors on October 1, 2008.

DAC was built on the belief that traditional legal advocacy alone is not enough to fully represent parents and youth. Our interdisciplinary team of attorneys, social workers and mentor parents gives families a fuller network of support and more pathways to success. Today that client-centered approach reaches thousands of families across Santa Clara County.

The founders built DAC through evenings and weekends on top of their day jobs. Their trust in one another, and their conviction that a system that has too often caused harm could deliver justice instead, remain at the heart of DAC today. Our staff are grateful for their vision and dedication, and we carry that legacy forward in our work with families every day.