Bridges Domestic & Sexual Violence Support Services Inc

TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITIES FREE FROM VIOLENCE AS WE SUPPORT VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND STALKING.

DIRECT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO VICTIMS/SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND/OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE. DIRECT SERVICES INCLUDE CRISIS ADVOCACY AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THERAPISTS, LEGAL SERVICES, HOUSING, MEDICAL SERVICES, AND OTHERS. CRISIS ADVOCACY IS PROVIDED TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY BY TELEPHONE, IN-PERSON AT THE ORGANIZATION'S OFFICES, OR AT COURTS, POLICE STATIONS, HOSPITALS, CHILD ADVOCACY CENTERS, OR OTHER SAFE PUBLIC LOCATIONS. COURT, POLICE, AND MEDICAL ADVOCACY INCLUDES PROVIDING SUPPORT WITH THE RESTRAINING ORDER PROCESS, THE CRIMINAL PROCESS, DIVORCE AND CUSTODY PROCESSES, VICTIM'S COMPENSATION APPLICATIONS, OBTAINING LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND EDUCATION ABOUT DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ISSUES THAT VICTIMS/SURVIVORS FACE. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES PEER FACILITATED SUPPORT GROUPS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND CHILD SUPPORT GROUPS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

SHELTER SERVICES PROVIDES SAFE, EMERGENCY HOUSING IN A CONFIDENTIAL LOCATION FOR UP TO FOUR FAMILIES. IN ADDITION TO CRISIS ADVOCACY SERVICES, THERE ARE ALSO SUPPORT GROUPS SPECIFIC TO SHELTER CLIENTS, GOAL PLANNING, ASSISTANCE WITH OBTAINING SERVICES FOR WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN IN REGARDS TO MEDICAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND LEGAL SERVICES, RISK ASSESSMENT AND SAFETY PLANNING, AND FINANCIAL AND TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE WHEN NEEDED. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES TRANSITIONAL HOUSING TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ARE INELIGIBLE FOR OTHER TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS IN THE AREA.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS. SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS INCLUDE BULLYING, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, TEEN DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. COMMUNITY AND CIVIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE ABOVE, AS WELL AS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE. ALL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE.

THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM ENABLES A STAFF PERSON TO WORK AT BOTH BRIDGES AND THE DIVISION FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES' (DCYF'S) NASHUA DISTRICT OFFICE. THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SPECIALIST (DVS) WORKS WITH FAMILIES, REFERRED TO CHILD PROTECTION, WITH DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE ISSUES. THE DVS ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT TO DCYF CASEWORKERS, FOR APPROXIMATELY TWENTY HOURS PER WEEK, ON THE ISSUES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE. THIS INCLUDES CASE CONSULTATION AND INTERVENTION, ALONG WITH EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS ON THE ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.