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PROGRAMS & SERVICES
S.A.F.E. Place offers a range of intervention and advocacy services that are designed to help victims of domestic violence break the cycle of violence. All of our programs and services are free of charge and stress early intervention, strengthening families, and providing a continuum of care through community resources and referrals. Our programs are generally categorized as follows:
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
Shelter Program
S.A.F.E. Place, a 54-bed residential facility located in Battle Creek, Michigan provides up to 30 days of temporary and emergency shelter for adults and children victimized by domestic violence. Our shelter is open and a crisis line is in operation 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. We provide all services free of charge.
While in residence, clients receive support services which enable them to make informed choices in an environment of support and security. Most clients come to the shelter on an emergency basis, therefore most items are provided. Community donations of furniture, carpet, and household items are provided to those who need to establish a new household.
During a shelter stay, we provide group counseling, crisis and support counseling, information, referrals, and advocacy for legal, health, housing, financial, and transportation needs.
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Children's Program
Our program provides an on-site therapist for the children. This allows more opportunities for one-on-one and group therapy. Counseling services are important because children from violent homes tend to become perpetrators or victims later in life. If these issues can be addressed and altered early on, it can be one of the best ways to stop the abuse from being passed on to future generations.
Age appropriate support groups are held on premises for residential and non-residential children. The groups provide an opportunity for children to process their feelings about the violence they have experienced and to role model alternative ways to handle anger. A therapist provides groups for residential children and for non-residential children requiring aftercare.
Additional activities include field trips, special events, educational activities, and structured play activities. Childcare in the Children's Toy Room, "Under the Sea," is provided by Foster Grandmothers while the adult victims participate in counseling and support groups. Individual counseling is provided to adult victims with children concerning parenting issues and a group meeting is held for developing and enhancing their parenting skills.
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NON-RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
Families First Program
These services are available only by referral from the S.A.F.E. Place staff. In order to be referred to this program, clients must have recently resided in our shelter and must have at least one dependent child in their care.
Funded by the Michigan Family Independence Agency (FIA), the Families First Program provides short-term intensive home-based intervention in order to preserve the family structure by enabling children to remain in a violence-free home. Our staff works with families 10 hours per week for four weeks and focuses on family strengths, safety, and empowerment. Families First has an 80% state-wide (Michigan) intact rate of families remaining together, abuse-free, one year after intervention.
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Family Advocacy Program
Our program, funded by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), provides victims with many important services including court accompaniment, assistance with Personal Protection Orders (PPO's), outreach services, and after care.
The Family Advocacy Program was designed to prevent further victimization and homelessness. Additionally, our program helps many victims pursue their legal options. Many clients have indicated that they would have been too overwhelmed to obtain PPO's, press charges, go to court, etc., without our advocates' assistance.
These services are available to individuals needing assistance, whether or not they have been or are in a shelter. To contact a Family Advocate, please call (269) 965-7233.
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OTHER PROGRAMS
Volunteering
STOP Program
The Calhoun County STOP project works to strengthen the existing support system serving battered adults and their children. This is done by developing and sustaining a coordinated, broad-based, community response that is committed to enhancing and improving the prevention, intervention, and elimination of domestic violence.
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Community Outreach / Public Education Program
We belive that education and community awareness are essential to domestic violence prevention efforts. Our Public Education Program works to educate the public about the issues victims face, such as legal and policy issues, prevention and treatment for victims and assailants, and the social and economic barriers that force victims back to abusive situations. Our program also acts as a liaison with various media to promote awareness of the services provided by S.A.F.E. Place. In addition, we promote our "Battered Hearts: A Story of Family Violence" video that depicts victims and their children. Proceeds from the video support our residential and non-residential programs.
For more information about this amazing video or for information on how to order this video proceed to the Battered Hearts Video.
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