Safe Berks

Programs: Provide safe emergency shelter for up to 30 days within any six month period for victims of domestic violence and their children. While living in shelter, women and children have the option of receiving supportive counseling, advocacy and referral, as well as education about various options and assistance during and after shelter in an effort to enhance safety and quality of life. In fy 2016-2017, safe berks provided adults 7,411 nights of shelter and provided 8,227 nights of shelter to children. The shelter program operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

the counseling department provides support to victims of domestic and sexual violence and their families in understanding the dynamics and effects of abuse. In fy 2016-17, safe berks provided 7,060 hours to 2,444 victims, 740 hours of counseling to 399 children and 463 hours (295 individuals) counseling for significant others of victims. Additionally, 450 calls for immediate crisis response were handled. The counseling services program is free, and available in english and spanish.

the legal department is committed to providing quality legal services and advocacy to victims of domestic and sexual assault. Safe berks attorneys represent victims on protection from abuse (pfa) actions. Legal advocates provide accompaniment to persons seeking emergency or temporary pfa's as well as to criminal court hearings and police interviews. In fy 2016-17, safe berks provided legal representation and advocacy to more than 3,107 victims of domestic and/or sexual assualt. The legal services program is free and available in english and spanish.

transitional housing & community education and outreach. The transitional housing program provides housing to assist women and children with an opportunity to start over, by learning how to be on their own, making their own decisions and securing a new home. The program assists victims of domestic and sexual violence by providing instruction in life and money management skills, creating a safe environment, building self-esteem and self-awareness, and understanding the effects of domestic and sexual violence. The program also provides individual case managers, along with support and housing meetings. The community education and outreach program provides services through three different programs. The programs are designed specifically for business professionals, educators, community organizations and members of the greater public. The first program is peaceworks which develops educational presentations and training programs that focus on the issues of domestic and sexual violence. The second program is 60-hour training. The intensive training session is designed to educate employees and volunteers who work directly with victims of domestic and sexual violence. The third program is an educational program that is designed specifically for school age students and delivered in the classroom. The presentations offer educators several opportunities to learn and understand the effects of domestic and sexual violence on children.