Hotline
A 24 hour county wide crisis line is provided for victims of domestic
violence, rape and sexual assault. Trained staff and volunteers offer counseling,
crisis intervention, legal, medical, and human services information, as
well as referral and linkage to other helping agencies. In Jamestown dial
661-3897; the rest of Chautauqua County call 800-252-8748.
Agnes Home Shelter
The Salvation Army Agnes Home Women's Shelter is the only licensed
Domestic Violence Shelter in Chautauqua County. We have a contract with
the Chautauqua County Department of Social Services to provide this service.
The Shelter is available to women and children who have a need for housing
due to domestic violence. The Agnes Home provides a safe, protected, and
confidential environment where residents are offered case management services
to assist them in rebuilding their lives. Life Skills classes and an on-site
support group is offered as part of the weekly programming.
The Shelter is operated by trained staff who are on-site 24 hours a
day, 365 days a year.
Accompaniment
This service provides victims of rape the presence of a trained crisis
worker at hospitals, law enforcement agencies, district attorney's offices
and courts. The Salvation Army has a contract with all hospitals in Chautauqua
County to provide emergency room crisis services to any victim of rape
or sexual assault within 60 minutes of admission.
Advocacy
Medical, legal and human services advocacy is available to victims
and their families. Whether an individual just needs someone to be by their
side to support them or needs step by step guidance, trained advocates
are available to help. Volunteers are also available to assist victims
with transportation challenges that may otherwise prevent them from obtaining
services.
Children and Family Outreach Program
Children victimized by abuse often grow up fearful, angry, and with
low self esteem. But help is available! The Salvation Army's Children and
Family Outreach Program provides children ages 5 through 13 weekly opportunity
for clinical play, art and recreational therapy. Itís goal is to foster
safe, healthy lifestyles. Secondary services are offered to the parents and
siblings of these children through individual counseling as well as an educational and supportive outreach
effort. There are no fees to participate and transportation is provided
to children in the immediate program area. For more information about the
Children and Family Outreach Program, contact The Salvation Army at (716)
661-3898.
Counseling Services
Supportive, individual communication and interaction helps a survivor
of sexual assault make healthy choices and act on those choices. Counseling
focuses on the need to provide information which enables a client to make
decisions and facilitates exploration of feelings that affect such decisions.
Through the decision-making process, counseling can help a survivor correct
a situational problem, expand their skills, and restore a sense of well-being.
In-School Sexual Assault Prevention Program
This educational program has provided over 200 educational presentations
to more than 4000 students in Chautauqua County. Each two day session helps
young people discern the difference between healthy flirting and sexual
harassment and ways to reduce their risk of date rape.
Support Groups
Support groups provide an opportunity to be with other women who have
shared similar experiences. In support groups, women learn that the abuse
or assault was not their fault, and that they are entitled to have control
over their lives -- including experiencing safe, healthy relationships. |
