Domestic Violence Prevention Program

YWCA of Central Virginia’s Domestic Violence Prevention Program’s mission is to provide support for the domestic violence victims and work toward the reduction and elimination of family violence.

The Domestic Violence Prevention Programs (DVPP) helps women, children, men, and families recover from abuse, resolve personal conflicts, improve self-esteem and begin new lives. The primary feature of this program is our two VSDVAA certified shelters. The shelters are located in a private, secure and confidential places in both the City of Lynchburg and the Town of Altavista.

Hours of Operation
- YWCA Domestic Violence Prevention Program is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Please call our 24/7 hotline: 1-888- 528-1041 if you or someone you love needs assistance.

Other ways to contact the program include:

YWCA Main Telephone Line: (434) 847-7751 Option 2
YWCA Fax: (434) 847-2529

Services Offered by DVPP

Sadler House Emergency Shelter - City of Lynchburg

Sadler House

YWCA of Central Virginia proud to announce that our Domestic Violence Prevention Program has renamed the City of Lynchburg Safehouse as the Sadler House, joining Frannie’s House in Campbell County to offer safe housing for women and children escaping domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Prevention Program’s Sadler House (DVPP) was founded when the YWCA merged with the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA in 1978.

Sadler House offers:

A VSDVAA certified 30-day, 25-bed facility to house women and children in crisis.
The full-service shelter offers free food, housing, and clothing to victims as needed
Sadler House provides survivors with individual caseworkers, child caseworkers, on-site support groups, parenting classes, court advocacy, and transportation

Frannie's House Emergency Shelter - Campbell County

A VSDVAA certified 8-bed emergency shelter in Campbell County
Frannie’s House is a full-service shelter offering free food, housing, and clothing to victims as needed
Frannie’s House provides clients with individual caseworkers, child caseworkers, on-site support groups, parenting classes, court advocacy, and transportation

Financial Empowerment

YWCA of Central Virginia’s Domestic Violence Prevention Program has partnered with the Allstate Foundation to bring the Purple Purse Moving Ahead Through Financial Management curriculum to the women in our community who are survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence.

Survivors of domestic violence face serious challenges. Many survivors will struggle to find a safe place to live and put food on the table. Others struggle to find and hold a job. Protecting one’s money and other assets can also be a challenge. The Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Moving Ahead Curriculum works to help by acknowledging that domestic violence survivors deserve access to the resources they need. The Allstate Foundation knows that survivors deserve housing, jobs and economic resources for their families — whether they leave abusive relationships or remain in them. The Purple Purse Moving Ahead program will give women tools and information designed to empower them to be self-sufficient with their finances. The classes cover topics such as understanding and rebuilding credit, budgeting, resume building, community resources, career empowerment, etc.

YWCA is proud to have Bank of the James as the local signature sponsor for the Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Moving Ahead Curriculum program. Bank of the James graciously partners with the YW by providing facilitators for the Financial Empowerment groups. Their facilitators discuss topics such as understanding and rebuilding your credit, improving credit, home, and various loan options and saving and investing.

FAQ:

Who Can Participate
- The program focuses on women who are survivors of domestic violence, however, your YW has found that any woman who is at least 18 years of age can be eligible to participate.
How Does the Program Work?
- First Level: For the first level, participants will join a support group. In the support group, we offer the same curriculum two times per month.
- Second Level: Program participants will commit to 10 months of financial education during which they will attend class 2 times per month. The classes will be held at the YWCA’S Town Center typically from 6:30pm-7:30 pm on Monday evenings.
- Third Level: The third level is the microloans and the matched savings. The women will be offered a microloan to assist in rebuilding their lives. The YW financial empowerment program will also offer a matched savings incentive. Throughout the class, the women will be encouraged to create a savings account and start putting money aside for an emergency fund or toward any other savings goal. We can match whatever amount they save throughout the class up to $100!
Is transportation assistance provided?
- YES! Transportation and bus passes will be offered on a first come first serve basis.
Is Childcare provided?
- YES! There will be volunteers to help the children with homework and supervise them while the women are in class.
What about tasty snacks?
- YES! A substantial snack will be provided for every class.
What does the program cost?
- The YW’s Financial Empowerment Program is free for all participants and all classroom materials will be provided.
How do I find out more information:
- Please reach out to Ms. Caitlin Toliver at (434) 847-7751 and select option 2 or email her (caitlin.toliver@ywcacva.org).

Support for Children

DVPP Children:

Our safe houses have an extensive children’s program. We provide caseworkers for children and parenting classes. Over 100 children spend at least one night at the DVPC in one year and most stayed thirty days. The shelter provides their meals, access to their schools, as well as fun and educational activities.

For more information contact Kimberly Towner at 434-847-7751 and select Option 2.

YWCA of Central Virginia’s Domestic Violence Prevention Program
Client Grievance Policy

YWCA of Central Virginia is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. It is the policy of YWCA of Central Virginia to treat all clients with fairness and professionalism and to strive for excellence in providing services to clients. YWCA policy provides clients and their families or legal guardians with the opportunity to express a problem or grievance related to the quality of services. If you feel you have been treated unfairly, unprofessionally or feel that your rights have been breached, the following procedure should be used.

YWCA of Central Virginia’s procedure is designed to provide a means for those potential, current, and exiting clients in the Domestic Violence Prevention Program to bring a grievance to the attention of YWCA and to reach a speedy resolution. YWCA has a strict policy prohibiting retaliation in any form against anyone who files a grievance.

A grievance is defined as any situation or condition that a client thinks is unfair, unjust or inequitable. In addition, if a client merely states they want to file a grievance, and a grievance should be completed. Under this Client Grievance Procedure, you should submit a grievance in the following sequence:

If you have a grievance, the concern can be discussed with a YWCA DVPP team member. If you decided to speak to a YWCA DVPP team member and an agreement cannot be reached, you should proceed to the next step of this grievance procedure. You can also file a grievance without any discussion and proceed to the next step. Grievance forms can be found at the following:
1. The lobby of YWCA’s Sadler House of Promise and Frannie’s House of Hope
2. On the computer assigned for client use. *Please see desktop for grievance icon
3. You can request the form from any YWCA DVPP team member
4. Call 434-847-7751, select option 2 to request a form
5. On our website at ywcacva.org. Please go to the Domestic Violence Prevention Program Page, and click the hyperlink for a Grievance Form.
If the matter has not been resolved to your satisfaction, you may choose to discuss your concerns with the Senior Managing Director for Victim Services (email: victimservices@ywcacva.org | phone 434-847-7751, selection option 2 and ask for the Senior Managing Director)
Once notified in writing, YWCA will initiate an investigation within two (2) business days and provide an acknowledgment to you within seven (7) business days
YWCA will report the outcome of the complaint investigation to you within fourteen (14) business days after the complaint is relieved. If it has not been possible to gather the necessary information that would lead to a resolution by fourteen (14) days you will be notified and given a new date, up to 30 days, by which a resolution or determination will be made.
If for any reason you are unsatisfied with the results, you may contact YWCA of Central Virginia’s Chief Executive Officer to discuss the matter further. The CEO will conduct a review of the matter and will respond to you in writing within ten (10) business days. The CEO’s decision and recommendations will be final.

YWCA Online Client Grievance Form

YWCA DVPP Client Grievance Form

This form is to be completed if you wish to make or file a grievance or complaint. You may also ask someone else who is acting with your knowledge and consent to write or express the grievance. You may file this report anonymously, without your name, however, it may make it more difficult for YWCA of Central Virginia and it's Domestic Violence Prevention Program (DVPP) to address the matter.

REPORTING AND PROCEDURE FORM - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM
This form is to be completed if you wish to make or file a grievance or complaint. You may also ask someone else who is acting with your knowledge and consent to write or express the grievance. You may file this report anonymously, without your name, however, it may make it more difficult for YWCA of Central Virginia and it's Domestic Violence Prevention Program (DVPP) to address the matter.
Date of Report*
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Client's Name
Prefix First Last
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

This field is required to be able to provide you with adequate notices
Phone Number*
This field is required in order to be able to reach back out to you about your grievance.
Program or Location*
When did the event or incident happen?
Specific Date(s)*
Time(s) if known:
List the name or names of all persons involved in the event or incident*
State the event or incident that prompted this complaint or grievance (include all relevant details that will help in following up on this issue)*
Consent*
I agree to the terms below.
I agree that I can be contacted by DVPP staff about my concern or grievance using the information I have provided above. I understand that for action to take place, my concern or grievance will be shared with key YWCA team members in order to attempt to resolve the issue.
Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men

Facts About Abuse

Domestic violence includes physical, emotional, sexual, verbal and financial abuse — even the threat of such abuse — between people in a close relationship. You may be a victim, or know a victim, and not have any physical injuries. Just remember, you are not alone.

Battering is the single, major cause of injury to women, exceeding rapes, muggings and car accidents combined
Domestic violence strikes one family in the US every nine seconds
Domestic violence occurs in all economic, ethnic, racial and age groups
Domestic violence is passed from one generation to the next through socialization.
Children who witness domestic violence are more likely to become abusers or battered adults and 50% of these children are abused themselves.

Virginia specific statistics:

Every 7 days a child dies from abuse or neglect
Every 6 days a child aged 19 and younger is murdered
Every 4 hours a family seeks shelter from a domestic violence program but is denied for lack of
space
Every 5 hours a child witnesses an act of domestic violence
In an average moment, there are 6,700 children in foster care in VA
Every 4 hours a DV program serves a child
Every 88 minutes a child is abused or neglected
Every 46 minutes a juvenile commits a violent crime

All statistics provided above are based on reported incidences in Virginia. Many more incidences go unreported.

Domestic Violence Prevention Program