PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Crisis Call Line ~ Advocates to End Domestic Violence operates a 24 Hour Crisis Call Line at 775-883-7654. People seeking help with Domestic Violence related problems can call this line and receive help and advice any time day or night.

 

 Shelter

Advocates to End Domestic Violence operates a 51 bed shelter that is designed to provide temporary refuge for women in crisis. The priority is to provide shelter to battered women and their children that have no place else to go. We operate under the beliefs that:

  • Every person is entitled to a safe environment free from violence, and the fear of violence.
  • Every person is capable of change, and can assume responsibility for their own lives.
  • Every person has unique needs, and is capable of making a unique contribution in life.

During a stay at the Shelter, staff at Advocates works to help you achieve those goals necessary for you to take control of your life, in order to have a life free of abuse.

How do I know if I should come to the Advocates' Shelter?

Your first step is to contact Advocates at their 24 hour Crisis Call line. Generally, after this conversation an Advocate can help you decide if shelter is a viable option. If you do take shelter with Advocates, the stay at the shelter typically falls into one of 3 categories:

  • Emergency 72 hour time-out - This is a safety and cooling off period. During this time you and an Advocates staff member will meet to help you decide if shelter is the right option for you.
  • 72 Hours to 2 weeks - If you remain at shelter for this period a more comprehensive program is available for you. Assistance is offered in seeking other community assistance, employment opportunities are explored.
  • Long-Term Shelter - If you remain at the shelter on a Long-Term program Advocates works with you to realize an abuse and violence free life. Advocates continue to work with you to obtain housing, employment, necessary training programs or whatever else is needed to leave the shelter on a fully-functioning basis.
    For those needing additional time, we offer a Transitional Housing program.
  • Transitional Housing - Advocates maintains a 15 bed long-term housing program that can offer an additional 12 months of housing and shelter to clients that have successfully completed the Long-Term Shelter program.

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Support Groups

Advocates to End Domestic Violence Support Groups are designed to offer mutual support to victims of domestic violence. These groups are offered three times weekly. No reservation is required at any group and drop-in attendance is welcome. Childcare is provided. Group times are:

Tuesday Morning at 10:00am - 11:00am
Wednesday Evening at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Friday Afternoon at noon

 
Drug and Alcohol Support Group - Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m., 32 Sierra Avenue
Facilitator - Dr. Sheri Skidmore


Please call the 775-883-7654 for location or additional information.

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Teen Dating Violence Program

Teenagers can experience violence in their families, as well as in social relationships. Many times these teenagers do not where to turn for help or guidance. Advocates to End Domestic Violence is proud of its collaborative relationship with the Carson City School District that strives to educate Carson City's youth about the unacceptability of violence.

Through this collaboration, Advocates annually visits Carson City classrooms and helps students learn the dynamics of healthy relationships and the 'red flags' of an abusive relationship. If you or your organization is interested in arranging for a Teen Dating Violence presentation from Advocates, please call 775-883-7654.

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Advocates at Court

 Advocates to End Domestic Violence maintains an office at the Carson City Courthouse. Court Advocates help clients with obtaining protection orders and stalking orders, and accompany domestic violence victims to court. To contact the Court Advocates please call 775-884-1886.

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Parenting

 Parenting is an important part of the Advocates to End Domestic Violence program. The Parenting Advocate works with Advocates' clients and the community with training for more effective parenting. Emphasis is placed on effective, nonviolent discipline methods, as well as a wide variety of other parenting issues. Clients work to develop necessary skills and change negative behaviors.

Clients at Advocates have access to one-on-one parenting sessions. Call 775-883-7654 for location and information.

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Rape Crisis Intervention

 24 Hour Rape Crisis Intervention can be obtained through Sexual Assault Response Advocates (SARA). These advocates can assist with hospital accompaniment and court accompaniment, and reimbursement for related hospital and counseling costs. For additional information please visit the Sexual Assault Response Advocates website at http:\\www.saraadv.org.

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PATH Program (Positive Action Toward Hope)

The needs of domestic violence victims are extensive. Financial dependence is often the reason women remain in or return to an abusive relationship.

The PATH Program creates a pathway towards self-sufficiency and success for the women and families in the shelter. We aim to simplify and outline the steps necessary to get ahead using proper direction and development of collaboration with community vocational training agencies and adult education programs. Through case management Clients are assisted in setting realistic goals, registering/enrolling in career related education/training, increasing their understanding of budgeting/managing personal finances, and assisted in job readiness and job seeking strategies.

The PATH Program hopes to remove obstacles and provide opportunities to gain the confidence, self-reliance, and accountability needed to lead a full and productive life.

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Budgeting Classes

About the Classes

Basic Budgeting Classes are offered weekly to clients in the shelter and are modified to the needs of the majority of current clients with independent study for clients who may be more advanced in this area.

Classes Offered

The Basics
Setting It Up
Getting Ready to Move On
Create a Saving Budget
Leases, Landlords, and Housing
Interview Skills I
Interview Skill III		 Banking
Just Do It
Credit
Debt
Review
Interview Skills II
Online Job Searches

 

The Format

A Pre-test and a Post-test is administered as a client enters and leaves the shelter. This helps evaluate if the needs of the clients are being met.

Each class is one hour long. Although it is a formal setting often using Power Point Presentations, clients are encouraged to interact with questions and share budgeting tips that have worked for them. Each week a money saving recipe is handed out, often being used by the Shelter Manager in cooking classes. The community is accessed for Guest Speakers, not only for their expertise but to raise clients’ awareness to community resources.

Money is not the only thing that is budgeted so budgeting time and emotions is also addressed.

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Individual Counseling

Advocates to End Domestic Violence offers counseling for all interested parties through its Support Groups. In addition referrals to individual counselors are sometimes arranged for those outside of the shelter. Shelter clients are able to receive individual counseling at no cost. Please contact the Advocates office at 775-883-7654 for additional information.

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Women to Work - Clothing Program

The Women to Work program began when Advocates to End Domestic Violence recognized that many of the women who were returning to the work force needed appropriate interview clothing and were unable to afford it. In response Advocates, working through it's Classy Seconds thrift shop and a number of offices and community organizations, have gathered work-appropriate clothing and made it available to these women. This service is available to anyone who is in need in the community, and the program receives referrals from JOIN, the Nevada Department of Employment, CPS, Welfare, and many other organizations.

If you would like to help Advocates is actively soliciting donations of work-suitable clothing. If you are able to place a donation bin at your place of employment or wish to assist in placing informational fliers in the community, please contact the Advocates office at 775-883-7654.

Speakers available Advocates is willing to provide speakers about the Women to Work program for various community organizations. We would be able to provide information about who is helped, what types of items are needed and how the program works. Please contact Terri at the Advocates office 775-883-7654.

If you need work appropriate clothing (or know someone who does) Referrals are available from the Welfare office, Job Opportunities in Nevada (JOIN), the unemployment office, in addition help can be sought by contacting the Advocates office at 775-883-7654.

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Information & Referrals

Advocates to End Domestic Violence maintains a database of community resources for employment assistance, educational opportunities, housing availability, child care, legal referrals, medical and counseling providers as well as many other resources available in the community. Contact the Advocates office at 775-883-7654 for more information.