Crisis Counseling/Support

• Help, Inc. offers both individual crisis support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.  In a crisis situation, whether over-the-phone or in person, the Help staff can intervene.  The entire staff, as well as volunteers, are trained in crisis management.  After an initial assessment, when appropriate, clients are referred to either the Mental Health Center or private therapists in the country for long-term, individual intervention, as well.  On call staff is available for domestic violence and sexual assault emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Support group meets every Thursday night from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Help office, 335 County Home Road in Wentworth.  Women in all different stages of the healing process participate in this group.  The only criteria for this group is that women are or have been in abusive relationships and that all is shared in group is kept confidential.  All participants must sign confidentiality agreements to ensure anonymity.  Art, music, and writing are sometimes used as alternative modes of self-expression to help the survivors of domestic violence work through their pain and learn that new, abuse-free llives are possible.  While support group is meeting, a children's group is also conducted to help the children deal with the pain and frustration associated with living in violent homes.

Victim Advocacy(Court and Law Enforcement)

• Last year, the court advocate assisted numerous people in taking legal action against their abusers in the Rockingham County court system.  Help, Inc.'s court advocate provides domestic violence clients with information about their court options and assists victims in the process of obtaining a protective order.  Additionally, the court advocate also accompanies victims to court hearings and assists victims in taking out criminal warrants which can protect the victim and their families.

Shelter Services

• Help, Inc. operates Freedom House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children, which opened in October 1994.  Residents are offered many services at Freedom House.  Emergency shelter, food, clothing, and supplies are available.  Residents also use othe Help services, such as court advocacy, when needed.  Limited transportation, individual goal-setting, and referrals to agencies that can aid in meeting specific individual needs, are other services offered by the Freedom House Staff.  Life skill classes are offered once a week at the shelter.  In addition, when residents leave the shelter to start new, abuse-free lives, Freedom House has created a means by which can get help with furniture, appliances, and small household items for their new homes.
• The only criteria for admission to the shelter is that the woman feels that she is in eminent danger from her spouse or significant other.  The woman can be met by staff at a local law enforcement agency or local hospital, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for admission to the shelter.
• While a the shelter, residents must perform household duties assigned to them and attend the weekly support group meetings.  Curfew is at 8:30p.m. nightly.  The women must sign an agreement to follow shelter rules and sign a substance abuse policy.  After two weeks, an evaluation is conducted to assess progress.  There is a 30-day limit for residents to stay at Freedom House, however extensionsare granted for those whose progress may be satisfactory, but slower due to situations beyond their control.

Community Education

• Help, Inc. offers community education to civic, church, and other organizations in the county.  Help staff and volunteers also go into local businesses, schools, and industries to give presentations reguarding domestic violence and sexual assault and to explain Help, Inc.'s services.  The purpose for the community education program is to raise the community's  awareness in hopes of preventing domestic violence and sexual assault in future generations.  This year, Help's Educator is spending one half of her time addressing teen dating violence issues in Rockingham County.

New Choices....Strategies for Success

• This program provides customers who have been displaced from the workforce with job-readiness services needed to enter or re-enter the workforce.  Assistance with college applications, resumes, and job searches is given.  Individualized case plans are developed with customers to enhance marketability.  Participants must have either worked primarily in their own household raising children or caring for family members and have received no financial compensation for their work or lost their primary source of income due to separation, divorce, disability, or death of a spouse.  Program staff collaborates on site with the local Goodwill Resource Center and the Employment Security Commission.  New Choices focuses on holistic needs and individual case development plans.

Domestic Elder Abuse Program

• The Elder Program includes advocacy, support groups, therapy, shelter, monthly multidisciplinary case review meetings, home visits, and individualized case coordination for elderly and disabled victims.  Special training programs are available for professionals who work specifically with elder and disabled populations. An innovative in-service training is offered to long-term care facilities, collaboratively with Piedmont Triad Council on Governments, Region G, Area Agency on Aging.

 

 Resale Shops

• New Beginnings, New Beginnings Too, and Nouveau Beginnings are our resale shops that sell gently used  women's, men's and children's clothing, as well as infant accessories such as highchairs, strollers and a wide variety of household items.  New Beginnings is located at 138 N. Scales Street, in Reidsville, NC, New Beginnings Too is located as 653 Washington Street in Eden and Nouveau Beginnings is located at 109 W. Murphy Street in Madison.  All proceeds are used for the needs of the shelter, Freedom House.

Statistics for July 2008 to June 2009   

 

PROGRAM NAME                                                   NUMBER SERVED

Family Support Services

• Counseling                                                                      544 Clients for 1032 Sessions
• Support Groups                                                                          183 Clients

Victim Advocacy

• Domestic Violence                                                                    1122 Clients
• Sexual Assault                                                                           104 Clients

Shelter Services                                                                                Residents

• Women                                                                                55 for 780 nights
• Children                                                                                61 for 893 nights

Community Education

• General                                                                36 presentations for 2602 individuals
• Professional Training                                               6 presentations for 163 individuals
• Media                                                                                          2 Events

Elder Abuse Program                                                                        304 Clients

Children's Program                                                                           269 Clients

New Choices Program                                                           200 Community Individuals