domestic violence program

The YWCA of Richmond understands the complexity of domestic violence and uses its Sexual and Domestic Violence Programs to reachout and provide crucial services to those in need. Our primary services are crisis intervention, education, advocacy, case management, safety planning, and counseling.  These services are offered to every client--both in our residential (safehouse) and community programs. 

 

Residential Services

Our residential services provide confidential safe housing to women and children experiencing domestic or sexual violence. We currently operate five confidential locations within the Greater Richmond area for families fleeing violence. We are the only provider in the Greater Richmond area that allows a teenage son to remain with his mother. Men fleeing domestic violence are placed in apartments and hotels at no cost.

 

Our residential services include individual and group counseling, case management, safety planning, and employment and legal assistance to every client and their children free of charge.

 

Children who have witnessed family violence have unique needs and experiences, separate from those of their mothers. The children receive age-appropriate individual assessments and art and play activities to help reduce their worries and anxieties during their stay in our program.

 

Community-Based Services

Our community-based sevices target those who are not ready or do not need to enter our safehouses. The Community Counselors meet with clients one-on-one and in group sessions at various locations in the city and surrounding counties. Counselors make home visits as necessary and vary their hours to accommodate clients who work during the day.

 

Counselors are masters level clinicians, each "specializing" in providing services to one or more underserved populations, including children/teens, men, older women, gay/lesbian, non-English speaking, and rural residents. After an initial assessment, clients are assigned to the counselor who can best meet their needs.

 

 

 

 

what is domestic violence?

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used by one individual intended to exert power and control over another individual in the context of an intimate or family relationship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

recognizing abuse: warning signs of domestic violence

• When your friend and her partner are together, he acts very controlling and puts her down in front of other people
• You see her partner violently lose his temper, striking and breaking objects
• He acts extremely jealous of others who pay attention to her, especially males
• She becomes quiet when he is around and seems afraid of making him upset
• She stops seeing her friends and family members and becomes more and more isolated
• She often has unexplained injuries, or the explanations she offers don’t add up (Sometimes you will not see any bruises, as batterers target their abuse to areas that can be covered with clothing.)
• She has casually mentioned his violent behavior but dismissed what happened as not “a big deal"
• She often cancels her plans at the last minute
• Her partner controls her finances, her behavior and even whom she sees socially
• Her child is frequently upset or very quiet and withdrawn and will not say anything

 

during an attack

• Call the police as soon as your partner becomes abusive - dial 911. Tell the person who answers the phone that you are being beaten and that you need immediate help. Give them your name and address.
• Try not to let the batterer trap you in the kitchen (too many potential weapons) or the bathroom (too many hard surfaces).
• Do not threaten him with a weapon - it can easily be turned against you.
• Try to proceed with your escape plan.

 

developing a safety plan—before an attack

You may feel that your partner will never be abusive to you again. It is very important that you do not allow this to stop you from developing a safety plan. If you decide to leave, having a safety plan will ensure that you and your children will be as safe as possible and have everything that you need. 

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domestic violence statistics

During the 2008 fiscal year, the YWCA of Richmond provided 9,502 nights of shelter to 225 women and children.

• Each year 1.5 million women are raped or physically assaulted by an intimate partner. (U.S. Department of Justice, 2000)

• In 2004, about 1 in 250 households included a member victimized by an intimate partner, such as a spouse, ex-spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2004)

• Intimate partner violence results in nearly 2 million injuries and 1,300 deaths nationwide every year.  (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003) 

• Fifty to 70 percent of men who abuse women also abuse children. (National Coalition of Domestic Violence, 1999)

• Children exposed to domestic violence at home have a significant risk of ever-increasing harm to their physical, emotional and social development and they tend not to do as well in school. (UNICEF and The Body Shop, 2006)