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Check out the latest facts about Domestic Violence and
Rape!
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Each year the Family Violence Program serves
approximately 1,100 victims of domestic violence and rape/sexual
assault. The program provides services such a shelter, hotline, court
advocacy, referrals, support groups, and community education. Hitting
or threatening a family member or an intimate partner is not only wrong,
it is a crime. Help is available. The program works closely with the
Bradley County
Sheriff’s Office and the Cleveland Police Department. Referrals are
also made to the District Attorney’s Office, Southeast Tennessee Legal
Services, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, and many others agencies in the
area that are available to assist victims/survivors. |
Key Benefits
The Family Violence Program serves victims of domestic violence and
rape/sexual assault and their minor, dependent children with shelter (for those
in dangerous, abusive situations), hotline, crisis counseling, referrals,
advocacy (court and social service) and groups that offer support and
psychoeducational opportunities. The program also trains and educates the
community on the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence. For more information
contact the Program Director at (423) 303-3525 or the Rape and Sexual
Assault Program Assistant at (423) 303-3522.
Capabilities:
The Shelter (Harbor Safe House)
 | The shelter is for victims of domestic and sexual violence and their
minor, dependent children up to the age of 18, who are in danger. The
facility is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Someone works around the
clock to make sure victims’ needs will be met. The hotline number is (423)
476-3886. Residents from the Polk County area may call collect. |
| Shelter residents attend groups focusing on domestic violence education,
parenting, and goals accomplishment. Children over the age of 2 attend
support groups that are specifically geared to meet their needs. The group
leaders use art, music, videos and curriculum which help children talk about
their feelings and teach them to solve problems in nonviolent ways. In
addition to these groups, victims of domestic violence who do not need
shelter but are particularly interested in attending a support group may do
so on Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. Child care is provided. For more
information and the location of the group, contact the Group Specialist at
(423) 303-3515. |
Court Advocacy
| The program has a part-time Court Advocate whose primary function is to
specifically assist victims with filing for orders of protection and
navigate the court system. The Court Advocate also works very closely with
the legal and judicial system to make sure they are updated on new domestic
violence and rape/sexual assault laws. For more information contact the
Court Advocate at (423) 303-3532. |
Rape and Sexual Assault Services
| In July of 2000, the program received funding through a VOCA (Victims of
Crime Assistance) grant through the Office of Criminal Justice Programs to
begin serving rape and sexual assault victims/survivors. Hotline is
available 24 hours a day at (423) 476-3886, as well as individual crisis
counseling, psychoeducational groups, hospital accompaniment, referrals, and
advocacy. For more information contact the Rape and Sexual Assault Program
Assistant at (423) 303-3522. |
Volunteer Opportunities
| Opportunities are available for those over the age of 18 to answer the
hotline, provide crisis counseling to victims/survivors, help with errands
and paperwork, help with the children, sort and distribute donations, etc.
Training consists of three, 3-hour nights of intensive training on domestic
violence, rape/sexual assault, advocacy and empowerment, history of the
battered women’s movement, crisis counseling, statistical paperwork and
court advocacy. For more information about volunteering for the program
contact the Volunteer Supervisor at (423) 303-3515. |
Funding Sources
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