|
|
|
Quick Links:
Overview
Domestic Violence Services for
Victims
Sexual Assault Response
Child Advocacy Center - Vantage Point
Violence Response Councils
Time Out Abuser Intervention Services
Safe on Seven
Violence Response
Councils
Domestic Violence Community
Council (DVCC)
In 1999, Family Services, Inc., formed
the Domestic Violence Community Council (DVCC) to coordinate the
efforts of public, private and non-profit organizations providing
services to domestic violence victims and offenders. Our mission
is to strengthen the collaboration between community systems in
an effort to improve the lives of those affected by domestic violence.
The Domestic Violence Community Council
seeks:
| A. |
To improve the coordination between agencies, departments and the courts with victims of domestic violence. |
| B. |
To promote effective prevention, identification, intervention and treatment of domestic violence throughout Forsyth County. |
| C. |
To assist in developing appropriate training opportunities
for professionals who work with domestic violence victims
and offenders. |
| D. |
To provide education and media attention targeting opportunities for professionals who work with domestic violence victims and offenders. |
| E. |
To work with other community coalitions that address issues of violence. |
Over its seven-year history, the DVCC has been
successful in creating stronger relationships between community
agencies, law enforcement, healthcare providers, judicial and legal
representatives, faith community leaders, educators and other community
members dealing with domestic violence issues. The DVCC meets bi-monthly
to provide an opportunity for its members to come together and evaluate
how specific systems are addressing the issue of domestic violence
through prevention, intervention and appropriate response.
Are you interested in becoming a member of the Domestic Violence
Community Council? Please contact Family Services at (336) 722-8173.
Click here to visit
the DVCC website.
Sexual Assault Response Team
(SART)
The Sexual Assault Response Team of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County
is a community collaborative comprised of representation from law
enforcement, criminal justice, medical, educational, advocacy, counseling
and other community systems which respond to survivors of sexual
assault.
Goals of SART are as follows:
 |
Provide SART team members with on-going training
that is compassionate, current, factual and based on client
needs. |
|
Anticipate trends within the community relevant to sexual assault and prepare SART team members for those needs. |
|
Ensure that victims of sexual assault receive appropriate medical treatment that reflects dignity and sensitivity. |
|
Provide bias-free services that are sensitive to victims of this type of trauma throughout each stage of the process. |
|
Promote successful prosecution of sexual assault offenders.
|
|
Connect clients to crisis intervention counselors that are trained to assist with recovery and healing. |
|
Strengthen the ability of law enforcement and criminal justice systems to successfully prosecute offenders of these types of crimes. |
|
Assist institutions of higher learning with resources for effective prevention, intervention and response. |
SART members meet every other month at Family
Services.
Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)/Case
Review Protocol
The purpose of the Multidisciplinary Team is to provide and promote
coordination and communication among the agencies that serve children
who have been referred to the Child Advocacy Center - Vantage Point.
Overall, the goal of the Team is to protect children, preserve families
and ensure that abusers are appropriately punished and/or rehabilitated.
With this purpose in mind, a primary focus is the determination
of the best possible outcome for the child victim. Team members
that are actively involved with a case are encouraged to attend
interview sessions conducted at the Child Advocacy Center, as well
as the MDT meetings. As cases are reviewed at MDT meetings, all
MDT members participate in a full discussion of the investigation
and the information obtained. Team members are required to adhere
to the strictest guideline regarding the confidential nature of
information shared during staffing.
We consistently have representation from the core agencies, including
the Department of Social Services, the 3 law enforcement agencies
in this county, medical professional(s), therapy provider(s), victim
advocacy and the district attorney's office.
In addition to new members receiving an orientation, MDT members
are routinely informed of local and regional training opportunities
and are encouraged to attend.
Safe on Seven: Forsyth Domestic
Violence Center
Safe on Seven: (SOS) Forsyth Domestic Violence Center is a multi-agency
approach to provide services for victims of domestic violence. The
Center is located on the seventh floor of the Forsyth County Hall
of Justice, Winston-Salem, NC. The Safe on Seven Center provides
a "one-stop shop" for domestic violence victims by bringing
together key service providers from the court system, law enforcement,
victim advocates, legal advocates and social services, thus providing
access to a variety of services to victims in one centralized location.
Established in 2005 with a grant from the US Department of Justice, The Safe on Seven Domestic Violence Center was created to allow an integrated team to provide victims access to various services including the prosecution of criminal and civil domestic violence cases. Previously, victims had
to seek out these services at multiple locations throughout the
community. This exciting new concept will mitigate the stress and
trauma domestic violence victims often face as they navigate through
the court system. The overriding focus of this center is victim
safety and offender accountability. Domestic violence victims will
be able to obtain legal advice, counseling, referrals, protective
orders, as well as information concerning their cases from law enforcement
and the District Attorney's Office. The onsite collaborating community
partners include the District Attorney's Office, Family Services,
Clerk of Court, Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, Northwest North
Carolina Legal Aid, Forsyth County Department of Social Services,
Winston-Salem Police Department, NC Department of Community Corrections
and the Winston-Salem State University Center for Community Safety.
 |
|
|
 |
