We know that abuse is not going to stop during this crisis. If anything, it’s expected to increase as more people find themselves isolated with their abusers and kids are not in school where school staff are mandated to report child abuse.  In the past week our staff has helped survivors of domestic violence get emergency orders of protection, provided confidential emergency shelter, helped survivors plan for safety, and helped clients getting food, diapers and other practical needs met.

Our Education Staff has worked to make sure that the community knows that we’re here and available. We’ve supported professionals in our community as they move to supporting vulnerable youth remotely. Our Educators worked quickly (so quickly!) to move scheduled trainings to a brand new online format so that our important work in the community and on college campuses continues.  Our Leadership Team worked to roll out more secure digital tools to communicate with survivors and made sure our county’s Sex Abuse Investigation Team and Domestic Violence Case Review Team were set up for secure remote meetings so that our coordinated community response to abuse continues.

We thank you for your help getting the word out that our services are still available. For following us on social media and sharing our posts.  For emailing and asking what you can do to help. And thank you to those who have made donations in the past week. We see you and your support is so appreciated and so needed right now!

We are really happy to partner with FLX Girls Pint and ithaca.community out for a Virtual Happy Hour next week (details below).  We had an in person event scheduled in March that got cancelled and decided that now it may be even more important for us to create opportunities to gather with the community, take action, and support local businesses.  In this case, our local breweries. I hope that some of you can join us (virtually) next week!