HISTORY
OF
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS FOR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
formerly
known as Shelter Services for Women
Domestic
Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County (DVS),
formerly known as Shelter Services for Women
has provided emergency shelter and a full range
of other support services to homeless victims of
domestic violence and their children since it
became part of the CETA-funded “Violence in
the Family” project in 1977. That
year, the agency opened its first emergency
shelter in Santa Barbara. The second followed in
1978 in Lompoc, and the third in Santa Maria in
1987. All three shelters have been
operating continuously since their opening.
In 1981, DVS became a non-profit corporation
Because
the 30- to 45-day shelter stay typically isn't
long enough for women to establish their own
independent households, in 1993 DVS launched Second
Stage, the first transitional housing
program for battered women and their children in
Santa Barbara County. Second Stage is a 14-unit
apartment building where women and their children
benefit from 18 months of affordable housing,
counseling, advocacy and other support. Nearly 90
percent of Second Stage clients accomplish their
goals and establish their own independent
households - the majority in just a year's time.
Bolstered
by the success of Second Stage, in 2003 DVS
proudly purchased its second apartment building -
this one in Santa Maria - and in 2004 opened Mariposa
House, DVS's second transitional housing
program.
As the only full-service
domestic violence agency in Santa Barbara County,
DVS also operates four 24-hour support lines,
staffs a Domestic Violence Emergency Response
Team (DVERT), which sends trained client
advocates to respond with law enforcement to all
9-1-1 domestic violence calls, conducts a
countywide teen education and outreach program,
and offers comprehensive counseling services to
all family members affected by domestic violence
- including perpetrators.
In
2001, as part of a strategic planning process,
the agency changed its name from Shelter Services
for Women to Domestic Violence Solutions for
Santa Barbara County. Although the mission
of the agency has always focused on providing
safe housing and emotional support to victims of
domestic violence, the original name did not
reflect the depth and breadth of services the
agency provides. We wanted to use the
words “domestic violence” in the name
to counter the silence that feeds domestic
violence. We also wanted to emphasize
"solutions" because we believe that
domestic violence can be prevented and the cycle
of violence can be broken. Finally, we wanted to
include a reference to the countywide nature of
our work, as that is something we are proud of
and value.
Believing
that it is not enough to address victim’s
issues without also addressing perpetrator’s
issues, in January, 2002, DVS fulfilled another
goal by incorporating the work of Anger
Management and Counseling Services (AMCS).
AMCS has been the primary agency in Santa Barbara
County that has worked with perpetrators of
domestic violence. Now, our two agencies
have become one and can address the full cycle of
domestic violence.
The
mission of Domestic Violence Solutions is to
"end the intergenerational cycle of domestic
violence by providing prevention and intervention
services and by challenging society's attitudes,
beliefs, and behaviors to effect social change."
As always, sheltering women and their children,
providing support to those experienecing domestic
violence, and educating the community, especially
teens, about healthy relationships are the
agency's priorities. We are, however, very
excited about the new and groundbreaking ways
that we will strive to meet that goal. For
example, in 2003 we also launched a Men
Against Domestic Violence initiative,
which enlists the support of men in confronting
domestic violence issues.
Our
501©3 and Tax I.D. number remain the same.
Thank you for your interest in Domestic Violence
Solutions! Thank you for being part of the
solution to domestic violence!
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