The crisis line is often times the only link to safety available for battered women and their children. The crisis line provides safety planning, information, and support to callers in immediate danger, and to those with questions about people who may be battered. Additionally, the crisis line offers referrals to community resources available throughout Georgia.
Two emergency shelters provide a safe haven for women and their children during crisis. During their stay, the shelters are home to battered women and their children, providing them with legal advocacy, support groups, clothing, food, and referrals for housing, childcare, and jobs opportunities.
A series of programs are offered to help women in the shelters improve communication and to exchange ideas on effective parenting and nonviolent disciplinary techniques.
PADV provides a comprehensive program to help children deal with their feelings about domestic violence. It becomes a safe place where young people can share their feelings individually and with each other. Through an outstanding curriculum, the program emphasizes education and recreational activities.
PADV provides an array of community-based services as described. These services are available for survivors who may not need shelter-based services but do need one or all of the resources listed below, which help them in their quest to live violence free.
The Transitional Program is designed to assist battered women in their efforts to gain independence from their abusers. Specifically, the program offers rental, utility, childcare, employment, legal and educational financial assistance as well as transitional housing to battered women working to live independently.
These services include preparing TPOs (temporary protection orders), assisting clients in completing necessary paperwork, and advocating for the domestic violence survivor in the intimidating and complex judicial system.
Support groups provide assistance to women who have left violent relationships or continue to live with their abuser. These groups provide a safe place for survivors to come together and share experiences, offer encouragement, support, and generate ideas on ways to live violence free.
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is Georgia’s welfare program. PADV interviews and assesses welfare applicants who show signs of being victims of domestic violence, and provides them with service coordination and referrals for community services, employment, and housing opportunities. Domestic violence survivors receive a temporary waiver from certain TANF requirements without losing financial assistance.
Partnering with local schools, PADV is implementing a teen dating violence curriculum that increases their knowledge of nonviolence conflict resolution, communication, and problem-solving skills.
A life-altering program for domestic violence survivors, FACE TO FACE® surgically repairs facial and dental injuries that are a result of domestic abuse. In conjunction with counseling, domestic violence survivors who need facial plastic and reconstructive surgery will receive treatment at no cost helping to heal their psychological and physical scars. FACE TO FACE® can help women rebuild their lives by eliminating the constant reminders of their painful past.
Education is the key to ending domestic violence. Battering is a serious crime and should not be ignored. Towards this end, PADV offers programs to educate police officers, judges, hospitals, businesses, legislators, child protection agencies, clergy, schools, the business community, and media about the issue of domestic violence and the toll it exacts on society. Call today to schedule a presentation for your group.