Domestic Abuse Services
Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of skill or educational level, race or ethnic background, religion, marital status, physical ability, age or sexual orientation. Batterers choose to be abusive. No one deserves to be abused. YWCA Domestic Abuse Services has been a member agency of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence for 25 years.
Established in 1981 as an initiative of the United Way Planning Council, the YWCA is the only agency in the Town of Greenwich licensed and accredited to provide services to victims of domestic violence. The YWCA provides an environment to help those at a critical time in their lives when they have had their sense of personal safety and freedom taken from them. We turn away no individual. Our services are free, and we provide crucial counseling and court support for clients in need.
Domestic violence continues in Greenwich at an alarming rate. The YWCA has increased services to victims by nearly 420 percent in the last five years. Last year, the YWCA responded to 9,113 Hotline and Crisis calls. That is more than 25 calls per day.
More than 9,600 counseling sessions were held this past year to treat adult and child victims. In the Stamford Superior Court, the YWCA Family Violence Victim Advocate made more than 4,560 contacts to prosecutors, police, batterer intervention programs, State's attorneys and judges, social workers, just to name, a few to help victims after an arrest is made. Through community education, the YWCA provided information about domestic violence and the help the YWCA offers to 8,150 people this past year.
The YWCA collaborates and trains the 12-person Greenwich Police Domestic Violence Unit (which receives up to 6 domestic violence calls a day) and the Town of Greenwich Social Services Department., Greenwich Hospital, & many others to develop coordinated responses to domestic abuse that address the external, systemic barriers that serve to jeopardize victim safety. All services are provided at no charge to the victims.
Services
YWCA confidential domestic violence services include:
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24 Hour Hotline 622-0003
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Crisis Intervention
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Safety Planning
The YWCA offers access to anonymous, confidential crisis intervention, safety planning and supportive counseling 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Only Domestic Abuse Services staff and trained, certified volunteers answer can respond to Hotline calls. Safety planning is a cornerstone of client-centered advocacy and the domestic violence movement. Safety planning is the hub from which all of our services emanate. Assessing the personal safety and emotional well-being of clients/callers is primary function, and professional counselors are available 24/7 to assist domestic violence victims, identify strategies and develop options to enhance and ensure their personal safety in each unique and individual situation.
The YWCA provides shelter at an undisclosed location for domestic violence victims and their families. During a victim's stay at the shelter, YWCA staff work with victims to provide safety planning and supportive counseling, help identify alternative options or longer-term shelter placements, if necessary. The YWCA also supplies victims with basic necessities.
- Adult Individual and Group Counseling
Confidential crisis, short- and long-term therapeutic counseling is offered in English and Spanish to individuals who are being, or who have been, abused by an intimate partner or family member. Only Domestic Abuse Services staff members who hold advanced degrees in marriage, family counseling or social work provide counseling to clients.
- Child Individual and Group Counseling
Childhood experiences with domestic violence can have a tramautic effect on an child's ability to become a self-confident, successful, achieving adult. Early intervention is critical for all age levels. A social worker who specializes in the effects of domestic violence on children provides therapeutic counseling for children. Age-appropriate techniques, such as play therapy and physical activities are incorporated to create a safe atmosphere that fosters a supportive and healing experience.
Established by the U.S. Family Violence Protection & Response Act, the victim advocate assists the victim of a family violence crime in safely navigating the court system so that the concerns and needs of the victim are heard. The advocate also keeps the victim abreast of the case's progression. Recognizing that response to arrest can lead to potential escalation in abuse and/or lethality, the primary focus of the victim advocate is on safety planning, as it relates to court proceedings. Examples of the court advocate's advocacy role includes explaining various types of protective orders, child visitation, offender programs, and notification of the offender making bail/bond or release from jail. The victim advocate works closely with the designated judge, prosecutor and family relations counselor on prosecution of serious "first time" and/or repeat offenders. We see more batterers trying to get custody of children to further victimize their spouse.
- Advocacy with Service Systems
- Legal Information
- Referrals
- Bilingual Services
- Community Outreach and Education
To create public awareness and response to domestic violence problems in our community, the YWCA educates and trains individuals and professional groups. Training focuses on developing a better understanding of the dynamics of domestic abuse, on dispelling myths, and on reducing victim-blaming attitudes that perpetuate violence. The YWCA trains Greenwich Police, clergy, Emergency Medical Services, medical and psychiatric providers, local businesses, educators, social service and community agencies..
- YNet Peer Education Program
Dating abuse is growing among teens in Greenwich. Collaborating with Greenwich High School, the YWCA Domestic Abuse Services offers a staff-supervised leadership program for teens interested in becoming peer educators for the important issue of dating abuse. The program is designed to create teen awareness so they can learn how to negotiate safe and healthy relationships, recognize potentially dangerous situations and know of community resources available to them in the event their personal safety has been jeopardized.
Click here to view our current brochure, which details class offerings and descriptions.
Main Office: 869-6501 ext. 174 Confidential services for adults and children.We are a safe zone.
The YWCA is a Member of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence
24-hour hotline: 622-0003
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