New name

New name

for shelter

The Women’s Abuse Shelter will be changing its name to Services To Abused Families, Inc. (S.A.F.). The new name will reflect the expansion of services by this agency to all members of a family troubled by domestic violence. Providing emergency shelter is only one function of this organization.

The following services are now available to non-shelter as well as shelter clients in the five-county area.

1. Individual counseling for women.

2. Weekly support group for women.

3. Weekly education/support group for pre-school children.

4. Court advocacy for victims of abuse.

5. Referrals for men to a support group for batterers.

During the year 1986, W.A.S. received 1,546 calls for information and services. This represents an increase of 108 percent over 1984. Of these calls, 951 were requests for services to abused families. The number of families who contacted W.A.S. for help in dealing yith domestic violence increased 75 percent , from 1984 to 1985. W.A.S provided shelter and support servipes to 115 women and children durirfg 1985.

The percentage '' of sheltered women and children from each county for 1985 is as follows: Culpeper County, 39 percent; Fauquier County, 26 percent; Orange County, 17 percent; Madison County, 16 percent, and Rappahannock County, 2 percent.

Volunteers play a vital role in the existence of W.A.S. services. Training for one-on-one volunteers will be held on April 7,10,14 and 17 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Culpeper Presbyterian Church. One-on-one volunteers are trained to provide direct services to battered women and their children. Topics covered will include: The Social and Pyschologi- ** cal Dynamics of Spouse Abuse, Values Clarification and Crisis Counseling Skills for Advocates Legal Issues Related to Domestic VioJence and Community Resources and Shelter Operations.

For more information, call Rachel Saunders at 825-8876 or 349