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Umbrella Main l Emergency Shelter & Crisis Services l Victim & Family Counseling l Court Advocacy Services |
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Community Education & Outreach l Beyond Shelter Program l Volunteer Opportunities l Domestic Violence Myths & Facts |
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The Umbrella offers a
temporary emergency domestic violence shelter for women and children
who are fleeing from physical and psychological abuse.
Individuals/families can stay at the shelter for up to 90 days and
receive supportive services such as counseling, medical attention,
court advocacy, and financial, and/or housing referrals in a safe,
anonymous, and confidential environment.
Family Violence
The Umbrella's Family Violence Victim Advocate Program was specifically designed to provide advocacy for victims of domestic violence both in the court system and in the community. The Umbrella's Family Violence Victim Advocate meets with victims after arrests have been made, ensuring that their concerns, needs, and fears are being appropriately addressed. Victims are given information, resources, and help in planning their safety. The Family Violence Victim Advocate is also able to assist individuals in securing protective orders after an arrest has been made. In addition, The Umbrella staff can assist individuals in obtaining temporary restraining orders without an arrest, and/or advocate for clients in a variety of areas of the legal system.
Victim and Family Counseling Services
The Umbrella offers individual, family, and group counseling for victims of domestic violence and their children. Parenting workshops are also available for adults and children.
Funded by a partnership grant between The Umbrella, TEAM, Inc. and A.C.T. (Area Congregations Together), the Beyond Shelter program provides coordinated services to newly housed families and their landlords in order to prevent a cycle of homelessness. The program focuses on preventing the recurrence of homelessness through early intervention, skill building, and follow-up services that foster housing stability and teach families the skills necessary to retain housing. Among other things, the Beyond Shelter program connects families with a Housing Stability Coordinator who helps to identify and resolve potential problems; provides information about landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities; assists the family with food, clothing, transportation, money management, and parenting issues; and assists with securing household items. For more information about the Beyond Shelter program, contact The Umbrella at (203) 736-2601.
Community Education and Outreach
The Umbrella has always been at the forefront of educating the public about the complex issues of domestic violence and its effects on individuals, families, children, and ultimately, the community. The Umbrella has developed a variety of presentations and professional workshops which address these topics and can be customized for any group. Special programs such as TAPP (Teenage Abuse Prevention Program) have also been created to specifically address local middle and high school audiences. Schools, businesses and groups of all types may contact our Community Educator at (203) 736-2601, ext. 357, or at rmoore@bghealth.org , to request a presentation from The Umbrella at any time.
Volunteer and Training Opportunities
As part of our community education and outreach efforts, The Umbrella has developed various training programs for police officers, care providers, universities, and persons interested in becoming Umbrella volunteers and/or interns. If you are interested in attending or hosting a training, or becoming an Umbrella volunteer or intern, please contact us at (203) 736-2601.
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For more information about The Umbrella, our programs and services, or about domestic violence, contact The Umbrella at (203) 736-2601 today!
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