Domestic Violence Project Inc

TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

THE CANTON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER OFFERS FREE HOUSING ON AN EMERGENCY 24-HOUR DAILY BASIS TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN. A CLIENT-CENTERED CONTINUUM OF CARE IS PROVIDED THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES IN A TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE ENVIRONMENT. CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING SAFETY PLANNING AND LINKAGE TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, ARE AVAILABLE AND THE SHELTER PROVIDES FOOD, CLOTHING, AND LIMITED CHILD CARE AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO RESIDENTS. EIGHT ROOMS WITH PRIVATE BATHS AND SIX ROOMS WITH SHARE BATH FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE, WITH A MAXIMUM OF 44 BEDS. FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE CANTON SHELTER PROVIDED SAFE REFUGE TO 191 RESIDENTS FOR A TOTAL OF 7,969 NIGHTS OF SHELTER. DVPI'S 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE IS HOUSED IN THE CANTON SHELTER WITH 891 CALLS ANSWERED IN THE FISCAL YEAR.

WESTERN STARK SHELTER OFFERS FREE HOUSING ON AN EMERGENCY 24-HOUR BASIS TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN A TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE ENVIRONMENT. CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INCLUDING SAFETY PLANNING AND LINKAGE TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, ARE AVAILABLE AND THE SHELTER PROVIDES FOOD, CLOTHING, AND LIMITED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO RESIDENTS. SIX ROOMS WITH PRIVATE BATHS AND A TOTAL OF 19 BEDS ARE AVAILABLE. 56 RESIDENTS RECEIVED 2,088 NIGHTS OF SHELTER IN THE FISCAL YEAR.

LEGAL ADVOCACY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROVIDES JUSTICE SYSTEMS ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. CLIENTS ARE ASSISTED THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS AND GIVEN SAFETY PLANNING ON INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY RESOURCES, CRIME VICTIMS' COMPENSATION, AND THE OHIO VICTIM INFORMATION NOTIFICATION NETWORK (VINE). LEGAL ADVOCATES HELP VICTIMS NAVIGATE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL COURTS AND ASSIST THEM IN UNDERSTANDING LEGAL RIGHTS, ATTENDING COURT HEARINGS, FILING CRIMINAL PROTECTION ORDERS, SPEAKING WITH THE PROSECUTORS AND POLICE, AND REINFORCE SAFETY PLANNING WITH SHELTER RESIDENTS AS WELL AS WITH CLIENTS WHO ACCESS SERVICES EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THE COURTS. A PARTNERSHIP WITH CLEVELAND CLINIC MERCY HOSPITAL AND AULTMAN HOSPITAL OFFERS FORENSIC EVIDENCE COLLECTION FOR CLIENTS, AIDING IN PROSECUTION OF ABUSERS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, 865 CLIENTS WERE SERVED BY LEGAL ADVOCACY STAFF.

VICTIM SERVICES PROVIDES OUTREACH AND AFTERCARE SERVICES TO CLIENTS WHO ARE NO LONGER WORKING WITH OTHER DVPI PROGRAMS AS WELL AS MEDICAL ADVOCACY SUPPORT SERVICES TO VICTIMS IN EMERGENCY ROOMS DURING THE FORENSIC MEDICAL EVIDENCE COLLECTION PROCESS. CLIENTS RECEIVE SUPPORT FOR HOUSING, FOOD, AND OTHER NEEDS AFTER THEY ARE DONE WORKING WITH OTHER DVPI PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE PROVIDING SUPPORT AS THEY WORK TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN SAFE, INDEPENDENT HOUSING. 267 CLIENTS RECEIVED OUTREACH AND AFTERCARE SERVICES WHILE 74 RECEIVED MEDICAL ADVOCACY SUPPORT DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SERVICES WORKS TO RELEASE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM FAMILIES FROM HOUSING CONCERNS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH ADEQUATE TIME TO REBUILD LIVES, TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT HOUSING, AND INTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH ASSISTANCE IN RENT, UTILITY COSTS, AND OTHER LIVING EXPENSES. FAMILIES ARE ALSO PROVIDED WITH ASSISTANCE IN ACCESSING COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO HELP WITH THE TRANSITION PROCESS AS WELL AS ANY OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUCH AS FOOD AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. 48 ADULTS AND CHILDREN WERE PROVIDED WITH 7,179 NIGHTS OF HOUSING DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. ALTHOUGH NO LONGER A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT, DVPI PROVIDES EDUCATION SERVICES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, LEGAL/JUDICIAL PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS, MEDICAL PERSONNEL, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, 532 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS TRAINING THROUGH DVPI SERVICES.