Our Services are available to ALL Victims Advocacy: Court Advocates can accompany victims/survivors to Court in order to provide emotional support as well as availability to explain general Court procedures so that individuals can deal with issues in an informed manner. Advocates can also assist with obtaining and understanding restraining orders. Social Service Advocates can assist victims/survivors to help ensure fair & non-judgemental treatment. Guidance to obtain appropriate services is available and advocates can interface with other social service providers to ease difficult times. Helpline Advocates offer compassionate support to victims,their families and friends. They listen,offer feedback, suggestions and referrals to resources available to assist them. Peer Support Advocates help victims/survivors with one on one personal support. This advocate may also be the person to assist with other advocacy support as well,such as court and social services,housing etc. Expert Witness Program: If you are involved in legal proceedings involving issues regarding Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence and need expert testimony,please contact us. We have expert witnesses that can help you! This is a fee-based program,with the fee paid to the witness and a portion donated to VIP/SAFE-NH to enable us to continue our free services. Mentors: 'Life skills Buddies' provide positive feedback to families trying to deal with life issues while getting their lives back on track. Mentors in this program are much like an extended family member who offers guidance to families in crisis as they re-build their lives. Many individuals and families have no family close by to be a comforting and common sense influence during times of stress.This program attempts to create that kind of atmosphere between the mentor and their'adopted' family. We hope that this program will help facillitate families moving forward in the process of creating an emotionally stable environment. Support Groups: Support groupsavailable for men, women, elderly, teens and children.These groups are for those who have been ,or are currently being affected by violence, abuse or bullying in their lives. Support groups are also available for gay, lesbian and transgendered individuals who have suffered violence, abuse and bullying. These individuals are welcome to participate in any of our support groups but we also offer groups specifically dealing with issues unique to their situations and relationships. 'Discussion' groups are offered 'on-site' to schools, organizations and businesses. These 'discussion' groups are useful in helping to create awareness in our communities regarding domestic violence, abuse, bullying and related issues that affect their students, members and employees. 'Discussion' groups can help individuals be able to determine if they are in fact involved in an 'abusive' relationship of some kind. 'Discussion' groups assist individuals by allowing them to seek out support and information regarding resources without specifically 'exposing' their circumstances. They are also useful in helping to bring awareness and involvement regarding these concerns to our communities. A 'discussion' group sponsored by a school, organization or business could literally 'save a life'! Education and Outreach: We offer information, presentations and other services to build strong, safe and peaceful communities. Schools, businesses and organizations may request or sponsor an outreach or educational presentation or make a request to have materials available on -site for their students, employees or members. Some of the topics covered are: Domestic Violence, Bullying, Child Abuse, Elderly Abuse, Workplace Violence and other related issues. Resource Database: Services and goods available to victims, accessible by calling our office during business hours. Referrals and Networking of Services Peer Support Program Consultants Collaborations and 'contract' services to other Agencies 'Life Skills Buddy System' mentoring program Parent/Child Social Events Programs in development: Emergency shelter for ALL victims of Domestic Violence: Shelter will be available to Men, Women and their children. Shelter will also be available to Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered individuals who are seeking safe shelter from abusive relationships. While in shelter,residents will be offered all advocacy services,support groups,assistance with planning for the next steps in their process,peer support and whatever else may be needed to help facilitate moving on in their lives without the threat of violence. Average stay will be 6 -8 weeks. Transitional Housing: Low cost housing will be developed for those families that continue to need assistance in moving forward after suffering trauma and crisis from abuse. These will be individual apartments leased for a year while families continue the process of re-building their lives after coming out of emergency shelter. These families will continue to benefit from services provided that were initially established while in shelter and any continued support as neccesary.
