Yes, we are open!!!!!
Because the stay-at-home order which started in March 2020 is continuing to affect our communities, our agency has made the following in-house adjustments:
- Created care packages for clients that includes child/adult size masks, gloves, disinfecting wipes, bleach, paper towels and toilet tissue.
- Purchased underwear garments and sun dresses for survivors in the hospital.
- Purchased Zoom “Pro” which allows for unlimited time usage and at least 100 participants per virtual event. Group check-ins for staff are conducted at least twice a week at 10:00 a.m. using Zoom. (Feel free to join us one morning).
- Provided awareness of our services and hosted trainings, community meetings, youth summits and webinars via zoom
- Participated in community inter-agency meetings i.e., MAP (Multidisciplinary Assessment and Planning), SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) etc… via Zoom.
- In dire emergency cases, provided face-to-face services with clients, making sure that we follow the safety practices outlined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) such as wearing masks, washing hands, sanitizing the building and taking temperatures.
- Offered individual counseling sessions by our therapist via telehealth.
- We are continuing t0 host online group chats, and group conference calls with survivors, at least once per month.
- Enhanced our Fluent Cloud online telephone system to include texting directly to our office line.
- Each staff has a free “Google Voice” line on their personal cell phone. This allows them to utilize their personal phone to make business calls via the google app. The staff can also opt to allow our answering service to connect incoming calls to their personal telephone without divulging their personal ID.
These adjustments will remain in effect throughout the pandemic.
Unfortunately, several of our volunteers and staff are at high-risk for contracting COVID-19; therefore, they are encouraged to work from home as much as possible.
In these very difficult times, we will continue to make adjustments and utilize best practices for all staff, volunteers and clients.
We're excited that we received a Payroll Protection Loan to cover the cost of retaining and hiring additional staff to help us continue to provide direct and prevention services.
We have a major funding need for our shelter program. We need to purchase two central air/heating units
(an estimated cost of $10,500).
It is safer to utilize the central air unit instead of window units because an offender can take the window unit out and gain easy access into the facility. Safety for our clients is always first!!
Sincerely,
Dr. Patricia Ann Davenport
Executive Director
Our Current Services
ABEL Program
This program is for Survivors of Homicide Loss who need advocacy support, financial assistant and/or help with understanding the criminal justice procedures. Trained staff assist families with completing a Victim Compensation Application to apply for reimbursement for lost wages, mental health and medical treatment, funeral expenses and other expenses incurred. We help them understand the legal procedures in seeking justice for the violent crime and will provide court support/accompaniment:
Contact Person Ms. Doris Lee
AADPP -
A
frican
A
merican
D
omestic
P
eace
P
roject
The mission of the AADPP team is to provide a culturally specific, faith based multidisciplinary response to healing and prevention of domestic and sexual violence.
Contact Person: Dr. Patricia Ann Davenport
Behavioral Modification Training Institute:
This program was established to provide domestic violence and sexual assault training for laypersons, social workers, law enforcement personnel & clergy.
Contact Person: Mrs. Felecia Thomas
Healthy Relationship Curriculum
Our Healthy Relationship curriculum is a federally approved evidence based 14-week curriculum implemented at local middle and high schools. Specially trained instructors are prepared to help students understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Topics such as
“Focus on Sexual Abuse
,”
“Understanding Boundaries”
and “
21 Warning Signs of an Abusive Person”
are addressed. Upon completion of the 14 weeks, the students are empowered and impacted in such a way that they despise the thought of the class ending.
Contact Person: Mrs. Felecia Thomas
L.E.A.H. -
L
etting
E
ach
A
ffliction
H
eal
This program offers outreach services primarily to adult victims of domestic violence. Services include, but are not limited to: counseling at NO COST, referrals to safe shelters, advocacy services for legal representation, and referrals to local social services programs.
Contact Ms. Doris Lee
Let’s Talk About It (LTAI)
Our Let’s Talk About It support group sessions offer opportunities for young victims/survivors of sexual violence to deal with their trauma through peer discussions and holistic approaches.
Contact Person: Mrs. Dilworth Ricks
M.A.S.H. -
M
en
A
gainst
S
pousal
H
arm
M.A.S.H. is for court ordered domestic violence abusers. It is a 26 or 52-week behavioral modification program that is based on the nationally known Duluth, MN Domestic Violence Prevention Project model. The goal of M.A.S.H. is to hold abusers accountable for their abusive behaviors and to empower them to change.
Contact Person: Dr. Patricia Ann Davenport
New Beginning Shelter (
House of Hope)
At our New Beginning Shelter, we provide 24 hours safe shelter, support groups, legal advocacy and make referrals for victims of domestic violence & their children. We support them in making healthy plans for their lives without abuse. Currently, our shelter is under repairs. We are making referrals to other shelters until our repairs are completed.
Contact Person: Dr. Patricia Ann Davenport
R.E.S.T.O.R.E.-
R
enewing
E
ach
S
urvivor
T
hrough
O
ptions
R
espect and
E
mpowerment.
If you have experienced a sexual assault, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! R.E.S.T.O.R.E. was designed to provide emergency room assistance; 24 Hour crisis intervention; assistance with crime victim compensation, court advocacy & counseling services.
Contact Person: Mrs. Dilworth Ricks
Sisters of Faith - Conference Call Support Group
Our Sisters of Faith support group addresses the needs of adult children of sexual and domestic violence, offering non-judgement peer to peer support
.
Contact Person: Dr. Patricia Ann Davenport
S.O.A.R. -
S
trength
O
pportunities
A
wareness
R
esults
This is a special branch of the Y.E.S. program that is based at our partner's apartment complex. Contact Person:
Ms. Doris Lee
SOS -
S
afe
O
nline
S
pace for
Healing Conversations
SOS is an anonymous and secure online chatroom for local sexual assault victims/survivors to connect with one another and get help. Sessions are held on the third Monday of each month.
Registration Information.
Contact Persons:
Mrs. Dilworth Ricks or Mrs. Felecia Thomas
Y.E.S. -
Y
outh
E
nrichment
S
ervices
Y.E.S. is a recovery program for youths who have been directly impacted by the death of a loved one due to a violent crime; children who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence in the home; and relatives of victims of sexual violence. It is designed to provide encouragement, support and guidance to youth instructing them as they develop in the areas of self-esteem, educational goals, leadership skills and dating violence prevention.
Contact Person: Ms. Doris Lee
W.A.V.E. -
W
orking
A
gainst
V
iolence
E
verywhere
W.A.V.E. is Our House’s youth public awareness group. Members provide prevention services to youth and young adults ages of 13-24, targeting those who have been exposed to interpersonal violence.
Contact Person: Mrs. Felecia Thomas
Key staff/consultant's titles and number of years as an advocate to end interpersonal violence in our community
.
- Executive Director: Dr. Patricia Ann Davenport (35 years)
- Victim Service Specialist: Ms. Doris Lee (38 years)
- Healthy Relationship Director: Mrs. Felecia Thomas (26 years)
- Victim Service Advocate: Mrs. Dilworth Ricks (22 years)
- Financial Officer: Ms. Yvette R. Garner (27 years)
- Victim Service Advocate: Mrs. Vinceysha Bunton (1 year)
- Student Intern: Ms. Jaqueline Houston (1 year)
- Volunteer: Mrs. Ruby Johnson (2 years)
- Consultants/Presenters:
- Joe McCall (30 years)
- Bishop/Dr. Roderick Mitchell (26 years)
- Pastor/Dr. Thomas Paul Williams (25 years)
- Ola Alexander (35 years)
- Dr. Frances Brisbane (12 years)
- Alfred "Coach" Powell (8 years)
Primary service counties in Mississippi:
- Bolivar
- Leflore
- Holmes
- Humphreys
- Sunflower
- Washington
Contact Information:
- 662-334-6873 (office line)
- 662-332-5683 (24/7 helpline)
- 1-833-279-LOVE (5683) 24/7 helpline
