While domestic violence is not perpetrated only on women and girls, the vast majority of those who suffer abuse are women and children. Typically, though not always, Safe Haven visitations follow court orders where the father must have only supervised visitation with his children, while the mother is the custodial parent. Safe Haven serves a woman in this situation by ensuring that her children need no longer fear abuse when with their father, due to Safe Haven supervision. SHN also handles scheduling of visits and ensures parents never see or hear each other, enforcing staggered arrival times and separate entrances. This also provides great relief to female clients. And, since child exchanges are prime times for domestic violence to occur, eliminating unsupervised exchanges reduces domestic violence and trauma for women and children. SHN also provides educational resources and connects clients with services from which they may benefit economically and otherwise.
This grant request seeks funds to hire and retain our specifically, highly trained, currently all-female employees with tiered bonuses (a need not met in our current budget). Staff retention is absolutely critical to serving SHN families with highest-quality services.