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Domestic Abuse causes scars that can last a lifetime. Women who decide to leave their violent homes for safety precautions are in need of basic life necessities. Family Service offers emergency services for victims of domestic abuse and their children including shelter, clothing, meals, financial assistance, transportation, medical assistance and counseling. These crisis services help stabilize immediate dangerous situations, as well as offering a means of protecting victims of domestic violence. All services to victims of domestic violence are provided free of charge.
The Heartland Family Service Domestic Abuse Program was established in 1979 to provide an array of comprehensive services to domestic abuse victims. Services are offered primarily in Sarpy and Cass Counties in Nebraska. For more information on domestic abuse or services, call 291-6065 or the crisis line at 1 (800) 523-3666.
24-hour Crisis Line
Our 24-Hour Crisis Line provides support, education, crisis intervention, and referrals to community resources. Staff and trained volunteers also offer referral services to counselors and social service agencies. Victims, abusers, family and friends will find a supportive individual to speak with who is educated on domestic violence issues. Call (800) 523-3666.
Choosing Non-Violence Batterers’ Group
The Choosing Non-Violence Men’s Batterers Group’s primary focus is the education of batterers. The group is meant to be educational for the abuser; however, the interests of victim safety and autonomy supersede the interests of the abuser. Anger management techniuqes are included. The group advances the premise that domestic violence is a criminal activity and is learned behavior, and therefore, changeable. Batterers are to be held accountable for all acts of abuse and intimidating behavior, as they are solely responsible for their actions. Groups meet once a week for 25 weeks. Individual therapy sessions are available as well. For more information, call 402-552-7400 or email info@heartlandfamilyservice.org
Children’s Support Groups
The Children’s Support Group provides support, education, and therapeutic intervention to children from violent homes. The group offers an environment that encourages nonviolent behavior and teaches constructive, nonviolent behavior methods of coping with their emotions and the situations in their lives. Children also are provided with a positive environment where they feel free to discuss their thoughts and feelings about the violence in their homes. The children’s group meeting time coincides with the Women’s Educational Support Group, once a week on an ongoing basis.
Professional Counseling
The Heartland Family Service Domestic Abuse Program has several masters’-level therapists on staff to meet the mental health needs of domestic violence victims, children and abusers. These services are available at both at the Family Service Safe Haven facility and on an outpatient office basis.
Criminal Justice Advocacy
Criminal Justice Advocates assist victims with civil and criminal matters within the criminal justice system by explaining to clients the legal terminology, decisions, available options and the process of proceedings. Protection order assistance is also provided to victims. Heartland Family Service is responsible for coordinating the activities of the Cass and Sarpy County Coordinated Response Teams. Under our staff guidance, these teams cooperatively created unified policies and procedures to conduct a consistent response in domestic violence cases, to collect accurate data and to prevent duplication of services.
Community Education & Training
Community education and training includes providing educational presentations for area schools, businesses, agencies and other community groups and organizations. It also includes providing domestic violence training seminars for clergy, law enforcement, physicians and other professionals. Some of the topics that are discussed in both the presentations and the seminars are: how to recognize abuse, dynamics of abuse, effects of abuse, safety plans, and why women stay in a violent relationship.
Comprehensive Emergency Services
The Domestic Abuse Program offers a variety of emergency services which include a 24-hour crisis line, the Safe Haven Shelter, crisis intervention, counseling, and assistance with food, transportation, and medical services. These crisis services help stabilize dangerous situations, as well as offer a means of protecting victims of domestic violence.
Enhanced Advocacy
Enhanced advocacy in Sarpy and Cass Counties begins when an abuser is arrested. Law enforcement contacts dispatch, which then contacts Heartland Family Service. Our on-call victim advocates immediately go to the victim’s house to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, referrals and information about the criminal justice system. When the abuser "bonds" out of jail, the jail contacts Heartland Family Service and staff, who then attempt to inform the victim.
Safe Haven Shelter
Services at the Heartland Family Service Safe Haven Transitional Shelter are provided to victims of domestic violence as a means of protecting victims from the threat of further abuse. Residents may stay up to two years while they stabilize their living situation. The Safe Haven can accommodate 20 women and children at one time. Residents attend weekly individual therapy sessions, as well as groups teaching life skills and stress management. Safe Haven residents are assisted by program staff to develop short and long -term planning goals such as securing employment or other financial assistance and seeking permanent housing. Caseworkers work with the clients in identifying options that are available while connecting them with other agency and community services to empower them to succeed.
Women’s Educational Support Group
The Women’s Educational Support Group provides support to women who have experienced abuse in intimate relationships. Women receive information regarding options available to them whether they decide to stay or leave the situation. They are also educated in the dynamics of an abusive relationship and strategies to keep themselves and their children safe. The contacts made through group help women overcome feelings of isolation, guilt and shame. Groups are open to the community and meet once a week on an ongoing basis.
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