Crisis Services
The 24-hour hotline is in operation 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Callers can receive referrals, and counseling or crisis intervention on a variety of issues, including notifying the police, how to obtain a restraining order, alternate options, etc. Domestic violence victims are screened by telephone for admittance to our emergency shelter. Abused men as well as batterers can also receive referrals for counseling by hotline staff.
The emergency shelter is confidential facility with a home-like environment, where a woman and her children can seek refuge from an unsafe living situation. Families can stay in the emergency shelter for up to three months while they work on self-sufficiency goals and receive counseling. While living in the emergency shelter residents receive an array of support services and referrals. Services include: crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, bilingual services, legal advocacy, referrals to community resources, work readiness career training, and a children's program.
Individual and group counseling are provided for both women and children. One major goal of SOS is to enable clients to look clearly at their present situation and to make changes based on their strengths and options. SOS offers the following group counseling sessions: the Battered Women’s Support Group, focusing on family violence and breaking the cycle of violence; the Community Group, for goal setting; the Mother’s Support Group, on parenting skills; the Self Esteem Group, where household issues are addressed and a Substance Abuse Awareness Group.
Individual counseling focuses on client-centered issues. Most battered women have been stripped of the opportunity to make their own decisions. In a more trusting environment, residents regain their self-esteem and self-confidence by receiving support from other residents, and by working with their counselors on concrete goals.
Male victims may call for service referrals.
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