Domestic Violence Program
The Domestic Violence Program is comprised of a team of caring professionals who assist women, men, and children with a wide range of counseling and advocacy services. This program provides ongoing support services after a victim leaves shelter and assists those victims who do not have a need for shelter services.
The following services are provided, free-of-charge, to meet client needs:
· Crisis Hotline – The crisis line provides crisis intervention, support and referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is staffed by trained employees, volunteers, and student interns.
· Individual Counseling – The Domestic Violence Program Director and the Domestic Violence Case Worker meet with individual clients to develop and implement progressive service plans that are geared toward client empowerment.
· Support Groups – BAWC provides four ongoing weekly support groups to assist and support individuals involved in domestic violence relationships. Two groups are held at the Bay City site. An Arenac County support group is available to serve the clients of Arenac County and is held at the satellite office in Standish. A group is also provided to incarcerated women at the Bay County jail who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Through a support group setting, these women are allowed to gain a better understanding of themselves and the dynamics of their victimization. In all the groups, members have the opportunity to give each other support, and work on issues such as the dynamics of domestic violence, safety planning, recovery from trauma, self-determination, goal setting, self-esteem, and a wide range of human potential topics.
· First Response / SANE Pager - Non-Residential Domestic Violence Program staff participated in the on-call program for domestic violence and sexual assault calls in Bay and Arenac County.
· Personal Assistance - Non-residential clients are provided with clothing, food, and personal needs, and they are referred to other providers for additional assistance in these areas.
· Referrals - Clients are referred to other agencies or other services within the agency as needed or requested by the client. Bay Area Women';s Center maintains a strong commitment to collaboration within the community.