The Domestic Violence Counseling Unit provides crisis, individual, and group counseling and advocacy services to victims of domestic violence and elder abuse, and to children who witness violence in their homes. Elder services are provided on-site at our offices and at numerous senior centers throughout the county. Our Child Witness program utilizes art therapy and play, as well as counseling to work with children aged three through teens. Victims' needs for safety and physical well being are met through emergency safe housing, provided through our shelter, or short-term emergency housing. Over 2,100 women and children fleeing from violent homes have turned to NCCADV's shelter, the Safe Home for Abused Families (SHAF) since it first opened in 1981. The Coalition's primary goal in operating the Safe Home is to secure the health and safety of the women and children residing at the Safe Home. At the same time, we seek to provide these families with the everyday experience of a secure and healthy environment, and to make available a comprehensive array of services to assist these families in the difficult work of rebuilding their lives. A special Children’s Services Project addresses the needs of child witnesses to domestic violence. The shelter provides a safe haven for up to 15 women and children at any given time, day or night. They may stay for a maximum of 90 days in accordance with New York State Law.

For the past four years the Coalition has operated a steadily growing transitional housing program which provides apartments and case management services for 20-30 families a year. We are able to subsidize the cost of each apartment for up to two years, to assist women who have fled violent homes to reestablish safe and stable environments for themselves and their children.

Coalition Legal Services are available to clients of the agency. Victims of domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault are informed of the legal options available to them and receive assistance in using them. This includes Court advocacy, legal consultations and pro bono representation in Family Court in family offense and child custody/visitation proceedings on a limited basis. Bilingual (Spanish) advocacy is also available. Our advocates are stationed daily both at Family Court and at the recently opened dedicated Domestic Violence Part, which Coalition played a role in developing. To date, advocacy assistance has been provided in more than 13,700 proceedings.

The Education and Community Services Department informs county residents of NCCADV's services, and educates the community about the issues of domestic violence and rape/sexual assault through presentations to a wide variety of community groups. Department staff trains and supervises a Volunteer Speakers Bureau, and implement special youth programs directed at intervening in dating violence and date rape. An educational program has been initiated for children in primary grades, aimed at preventing violence. Educational support is provided to faith-based and community services, as well as to research students. The Men Against Violence Against Women Volunteer project provides advocacy and education countywide.

http://www.cadvnc.org/