F A L L 2 0 1 9 V O L U M E 8 YW MATTERS The latest news and updates from YWCA Hanover IN THIS ISSUE Safe Home Domestic Violence Services Expanding to Serve Adams County: SAFE HOME AT THE YORK YWCAs Partner COUNTY COURTHOUSE Jody Shaffer, Executive Director It was 1981, 38 years ago that Safe Home was GIRLS LOVING LIFE developed by YWCA Hanover to serve victims of 2019 / 2020 domestic violence locally. The program grew out of a need witnessed by a nurse at Hanover General Hospital who agonized over where and how to help victims who ALLSTATE FOUNDATION had been physically abused and had no place to go or SUPPORTS GIRLS IN no one to support them after leaving the hospital. No agency or service existed to help people who were OUR COMMUNITY fleeing dangerous situations in their own homes. EVENTS & PROGRAMS Nearly 4 decades later, Safe Home is a highly respected and comprehensive domestic violence (DV) service FALL 2019 provider for not only Hanoverians but for people in surrounding counties. In fact, Safe Home is the leading local provider of DV services funded, by PCCD (Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency) CONTINUED ON PAGE 2... FALL 2019 • ISSUE NO. 8 CONTINUED FROM COVER... as of July 1, 2019 due to the recent and unexpected closing of Survivors DV shelter and service provider formerly located in Gettysburg, PA. Survivors Inc. operated a 40-bed shelter as well as comprehensive DV services for all of Adams County for over 30 years. YWCA Hanover is pleased to announce we have been chosen to receive grant funding from PCADV (Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence) to provide Clients are advised to call the office Eliminate Racism, Empower domestic violence services to during office hours at (717)632- Women and promote peace, residents of Adams County beginning 0007 or after hours which is the justice, freedom and dignity for October 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022 24/7 hotline. all. Both YWCA’s have met to funding cycle. This funding will discuss ways to fortify our mission include the following Safe Home The location of the office will be together. Survivors Inc. also program services: disclosed when the client calls or a provided services to survivors of 24-hour hotline (717-632-0007) Safe Home Client Advocate will sexual assault under PCAR Temporary safe housing provided arrange to meet a client if (Pennsylvania Coalition Against off site necessary. Rape) grant funding for Adams Referrals to local shelters County residents. Referral and support We are also proud to partner with Options counseling YWCA Gettysburg in serving Adams When Survivors closed, YWCA York Legal advocacy County. While YWCA Hanover’s agreed to provide the PCAR sexual Accompaniment to legal, medical physical location is in Hanover assault services temporarily for and other appointments since 1920, we will now have Adams County as they do in York Support group administrative and client advocate County. Hanover, York and Child and adult therapy Safety planning offices within the Borough of Gettysburg YWCA’s have met to Community education Gettysburg where YWCA of discuss ways to fortify our mission Gettysburg and Adams County is together. This is clearly a Safe Home Gettysburg administrative also located. collaborative effort between the offices will operate Monday through funders and local YWCA’s. Friday, 8am to 6pm. The hotline will This is a best practice method of immediately be accessible during the operation under PCADV yet we are We ask for your continued support hours the offices are closed. excited to forge an even stronger as we further our mission and bond with our sister YWCA to meet expand our territory. It is the duty our shared mission statement… and obligation of YWCAs to support those who need us the most. Thank you for joining us in service. FALL 2019 • ISSUE NO. 8 SAFE HOME AT THE YORK COUNTY COURTHOUSE BY MICHELLE SHAE, DIRECTOR OF SAFEHOME Domestic Violence victims in the Hanover and Adams County areas can take some comfort in knowing that YWCA Hanover Safe Home is here to help and has been for the past four Three years ago, after innumerable Today, there are as many as four or decades. In the last three and a half meetings between the agency Directors five advocates at the courthouse on years the number of clients served has and York County officials, the first any given day, and the County has quadrupled, and there has been a lot advocates staffed an office furnished agreed to install two “pods” inside the of growth within Safe Home. and equipped by the York County office which will have almost floor to Prothonotary. (The Prothonotary is an ceiling walls and a door, bringing the Since 2016 Safe Home has brought on elected official who oversees the Office number of private and confidential a new Director, Michelle Shae, hired of the Prothonotary, where all civil work spaces to 5. The goal is to make four new staff members, added cases are coordinated.) sure every victim who comes through numerous services including the doors will be served by a trained substance abuse assistance, adult and In the beginning there was often only victim advocate. child therapy, civil legal help, case one advocate, and the workload was management and transportation, and heavy, with a steady stream of clients, The PFA Office has gone through we now have advocates in a dedicated phone calls and hearings. In addition to many changes in the last two years, PFA Office at York County Courthouse writing PFAs, advocates must also help adapting and improving services for Monday through Friday. This last victims and their children navigate the clients and cementing relationships addition has been an absorbing and legal system, attend hearings, do with various courthouse offices all to exhausting undertaking but is well referrals, provide crisis and options bring safety and peace of mind to worth it. counseling and file paperwork. victims as well as a trained and empathetic ear to help them work After realizing that Domestic Violence Eventually the work load increased and their way out of what may be the most victims who filed for Protection from advocates were added to accommodate difficult time of their lives. Abuse Orders (PFAs) were not being the growing number of clients. served adequately by courthouse employees, Safe Home and ACCESS York collaborated on a plan to install victim advocates onsite at the York County Courthouse to ensure that victims were aware of and able to GET HELP receive all the services available to 24 HOUR HOTLINE 717.632.0007 them. Our highly-trained advocates are available 24/7/365 to talk confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship. SCHOOL AGE LEARNING PROGRAM Beth Leckrone, School Age Coordinator We had a fun summer in Camp As summer comes to an end and includes days off school and holidays Phoenix. Campers enjoyed many school begins, our School Age at no extra cost. This year we activities such as swimming, walking Learning Academy (SALA) is back in continue to offer art and are excited to local parks, and field trips. We did session. Our program is growing, and to add music once a week as part of a creek study at Messiah College, we have new staff joining us this our after school program. picked blueberries at Hollabaugh year. Orchards, and our favorite field trip For info, contact Beth Leckrone at Enrollment in the SALA program [email protected] or call was to Adrenaline Trampoline Park! us at 717-637-2125. NEW ADDITIONS TO S.A.L.A We are pleased to announce two introduce YW students to a variety of students of all artistic abilities, Sara NEW programs joining the YWCA percussion instruments with a hands Little will find the artist in each YW Hanover School Age Learning on approach to music appreciation. student. Academy (S.A.L.A) - "And the Beat Goes On" with Deb Smith as well as "Art After School" promotes S.A.L.A and the rest of the YWCA "Art After School" with Sara Little. individual expression through the Hanover community welcome Sam & fundamentals of art. Designed for Deb to the team! "And the Beat Goes On" will For more info call 717.637.2125 YW MATTERS PAGE 4 EARLY LEARNING CENTER AT YWCA HANOVER Katie Nelson, Director of Childcare Our Early Learning Center is now Early Childhood, and they a thing while your child is busy registering kids ages 1-5 for our fall participate in annual professional learning throughout the day. programs. We are open from 6:00am- development trainings. Staff have 6:00pm Monday-Friday. Breakfast, current clearances and are First Aid Call now to set up an appointment lunch and afternoon snack are and CPR certified. to take a tour and register your child included. for the Early Learning Center! Daily lesson plans are planned Spaces are limited. We provide a safe, loving and around the PA Early Learning nurturing environment for children Standards to include gross motor For more information, check us out to learn and grow. The YWCA Early and hands on activities. Daily on the web at Learning Center is rated 4 out of 4 activities include water play, sand www.ywcahanover.org or call stars by the PA Keystone Stars and play, art, music and learning 717.637.2125 licensed by the Department centers. of Human Services. We provide daily communication Most staff have some form of including pictures, sent to you via secondary education relating to the class DoJo app so you don’t miss YW HANOVER BUILDING UPDATES Completion of front desk remodel, installation of new floor behind desk and installation of outdoor LED sign thanks to the J William Warehime Foundation.