Domestic Violence Crisis Center

DVCC touches more people in the community than any other social service agency and addresses a need that no one else can meet. I have seen first hand the impact of DVCC when answering hotline calls from women who are terrified and have no where else to turn. We provide a safe place and a friendly voice, and hopefully, we are able to make a woman and her children feel just a little less alone.

After going through the training and certification program for DVCC (which is very emotional on so many levels -- from despair to an overwhelming sense of hope) I knew I wanted to be involved in a pro-active program within DVCC. I was encouraged to look into the community educational programs and immediately focused on the childrens' program -- reaching out to children in nursery school (yes, nursery school 3 and 4 year olds) thru second graders! The program is Stop Take 5 and Think ... and utilizies puppets! I was a puppeteer and loved every moment of the experience. The children understood angry feelings and hurt feelings and were eager to problem solve and come up with positive solutions rather than using hurtful words or fists. They also realize that there are consequences for hurting someone on the inside with words just as severe as the child who may hurt someone on the outside by hitting. The program proves that children are capable of empathy, know right from and wrong and truly are honest, helpful and loving at their core. The program is available to all schools within our community. Schools invite us back year after year and the children remember us and the lesson we leave them with even though it may 12 months later from our last visit! I am very passionate about this program and believe it is critical to childhood development. I moved out of the country two years ago and have lobbied very hard to bring this program my adopted home because I know the good that this program is capable of within a community. Additonally their PeaceWorks and e-voices newsletter are a welcome and creative addition to the Center!

DVCC does the work of a million, with just a small, dedicated and amazing staff. They are highly organized and run by a fearless leader. Their coverage area is large and one of the richest in the country, making their expenses also one of the largest. Just securing space and resources is a huge time committment and this agency reaches out to every dark corner of Domestic Violence - from medical professionals to legal and court help, counseling to women and children to prevention in the schools.

This agency is dedicated to serving victims of domestic violence and helping them get on with their lives. It offers counseling, safe houses, court assistance and much more. The staff is dedicated and works tirelessly. It is also involved with prevention starting with programs for kindergartners up to anti-bullying prgrams for teenagers. Once you become involved with this agency, it's got you for life.

The Domestic Violence Crisis Center has always ranked as one of the two organizations I most admire in my community. I began my association with them by attending their annual luncheon. I was then asked to be on the luncheon committee and finally to fill a position on the Board of Trustees. The DVCC provides comfort and safety for abused women and their children in the form of safe houses in two of the seven communities which we serve. It also provides counseling and advocacy, both judicial and medical. And, of equal importance, it enters the schools in each of the communities on every age level and provides courses for the students teaching them the skills needed to be a responsible member of society.

The DVCC provides support, education, and advocacy (including medical and legal advocacy) for victims of violence who come seeking a safe place and services for themselves and their families. DVCC is committed to providing respectful, non-judgemental and discreet care and counsel by ensuring that all those at the agency who provide client facing services are adequetely educated and trained. The agency strives for excellence in all it does and continues to create programs to stop violence before it starts as evidenced in PeaceWorks, the part of the agency that educates children on how to deal with anger and respond to bullying behaviors.Teen dating violence is actively addressed in collaboration with high school students and the agency. Fund raising events are held to support the solvency of the agency so that services will continue to be available for this most vulnerable population.

DVCC is a great organization helping abused women and their children leave abusive situations, while reclaiming their rights and their life.

DVCC is an incredibly dynamic agency that offers comprehensive legal, counseling, and safe house services to victims of IPV. Its Peace Works programs reach a majority of the school children in our area with violence prevention education. It offers vital training to teachers and administrators, police and judges, doctors, nurses, and EMT's. DVCC is active locally and state-wide in advocating for stronger laws and more effective practices for victims and potential victims.