Mission: To provide comprehensive services to those who experience domestic violence and sexual assault.
Programs: Battered families services houses victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual asssault and their children up to 90 days. During that time they provide for their basic necessities, food, clothing, referrals to community agencies, assist with garnering income support, gathering documents and crisis calls. Total clients served-259, days of emergency shelter-3440.
legal services- established this department to assist survivors of domestic violence iwth civil legal issues (temporary and permanent orders of protection, child support and custody, paternity, divorce) to date we have provided numerous hours of legal assistance to clients.
batterer intervention program - conduct 2 groups at our offices and one group at the jail. Groups average 10 participants each. My brother's place is a 52 week batterer intervention program that provides case management services for perpetrators of domestic violence.
transitional housing- we have six apartments availabe and all but one has been rented the entire fiscal year. Apartmnents are rented as low income housing to survivors of domestic violence.
Having volunteered with Habiat for Humanity to help fix up some of the apartments, I have noted that the new director is working overtime to prevent the real threat of a lack of funding. The friendly staff are quite supportive towards the traumatized clients. More consideration & services appear to be needed for the children who are ofter left not or poorly attended in the housings.
I was a child witness to Domestic Violence brought on by my father to my mother. In those days there was no domestic violence shelter. Even when the police were called my mother was told "It's a family problem." After my mother was severly beaten by my father, my mother took us to stay at hotel on highway 66. We were cold, hungry and had nothing but the clothes on our back. I can still remember "I don't care, at least I'm safe." Today, I honor Battered Families Services, Inc. as they provide shelter and safety to survivor's of violence. They also provide counseling for women and children; and even to perpetrators to realize what they are doing isn't right. I'm proud to live in a community that has such an organizaiton. Your sup;port of Battered Families Services is appreciated. God Bless You.
