ACCESS-York (Services)

The Children's Program of ACCESS-York supports children during their time of transition from living in fear within violence to living with safety and non-violence while teaching them life-changing and life-saving skills. Services are provided through one on one interaction with the Children's Advocates as well as in children's support groups. Services provided to children through our agency include: age appropriate support groups; individual emotional support and advocacy; safety planning; tools for building healthy relationships and making healthy life choices; self-esteem building; after school tutoring; domestic violence education; socialization skills; summer family fun activities; emergency school clothing, formula, diapers, food and school supplies; and linkages and advocacy in school enrollment.

Community Education and Training

The Community Education Program provides resource materials and domestic violence educational programs throughout York County. Educational programs are provided to churches, civic groups, businesses, agencies, and any other group that wishes to learn more about domestic violence. Community Education staff provide professional trainings and conduct community wide awareness events to assure that victims of domestic violence and their families and friends know what resources are available. Domestic violence prevention programs are also provided to York County youth through school presentations and at other youth related groups. Discussions with youth center upon the dynamics of healthy relationships and the resources that are available to them.

Community Outreach

Community Outreach provides domestic violence educational programs, options and supportive counseling, information and referrals and safety planning information at several sites throughout York County. The purpose is to link victims of domestic violence and their families with ACCESS services and other resources. Its goal is to make it easier for victims of domestic violence to receive information that may be difficult for them due to geographic location, health status, or other personal circumstances.

The outreach sites include the following locations:

Delta
Dillsburg
Dover
Hanover
Lewisberry
Penn State York
Red Lion
Shrewsbury
York City

Call 717-845-8226 for the specific time when an ACCESS representative will be at the outreach sites.

Emergency Shelters

ACCESS-York, Inc. operates two emergency shelters, one located in York City and the second, Still Waters, The Jane Rice Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence, located in Hanover. The Emergency Shelter Programs provide 24-hour accessible, safe, confidential emergency shelter at no cost to victims of domestic violence and their children. Those who live within the shelters receive safety planning, options and supportive counseling and life skills advocacy. Linkages are made to community resources to assist victims in becoming independent and living their lives free of abuse. Our Emergency Shelters provide food, clothing and personal care needs, as well as the every day needs of residential living.

Homeless Student Initiative Program (H.S.I.P.)

The Homeless Student Initiative Program (H.S.I.P.) seeks to minimize educational disruption for children living in homeless situations. H.S.I.P. provides a variety of services to children from age 3 through ages 18. We offer after school tutoring, preschool educational activities, and when available, individualized sessions. H.S.I.P. has 3 tutoring sites, two of which are within ACCESS shelters. During tutoring, we focus on homework and educational activities. H.S.I.P. also offers additional activities during the summer and school holidays. Our staff provides enrollment assistance, school supplies and uniforms.

Hospital and Medical Advocacy

Staff and volunteers provide support, options and referral information to victims of domestic violence on site at local health care facilities. Volunteers are on call evenings and weekends to provide options to victims of domestic violence when York and Memorial Hospitals Emergency Departments suspect that a patient is experiencing abuse in their relationship. A full time Medical Advocate staff member provides trainings and awareness programs to medical staff, educating them on how to screen patients so they can better identify domestic violence. The Advocate also sees patients in the hospital, clinics, and other health care facilities so as to provide them with safety planning and resource and referral information in a safe and confidential environment. These services are also available to medical staff who may have their own issues with domestic violence. The Medical Advocate can be reached at 845-8226.

Legal Advocacy

The Legal Advocacy Department of ACCESS-York, Inc. plays a vital role in assisting victims of domestic violence who seek relief from the fear and pain of family violence. We are fortunate to have three full-time Legal Advocates and one part-time Legal Advocate working in the shelter and the York County courthouse with the department under the supervision of the Legal Advocacy Director.

Legal advocacy includes providing survivors of domestic violence with emotional support, legal options, technical assistance in filing for protection orders, accompaniment to various court proceedings, safety planning and agency referrals. Systems advocacy with other service agencies in the community is provided in order to stay current with new information and trends in working with victims of violence. Also, training to first responders, service providers and the community is given in order to share information on the dynamics of domestic violence and the effects on the community as well as the family.

More than seven thousand victims of domestic violence have used the services of the Legal Advocacy Department of ACCESS in the past fifteen years. Many of these survivors might have had to navigate the legal system without support if not for the foresight of agency leaders, the skill and dedication of the Legal Advocates and your support. For more information call 846-5400.

Support groups

Support groups are offered by ACCESS-York several times during the week. Groups are designed to address specific needs and concerns. Topic areas such as self-esteem, empowerment, assertiveness, mental health, drug and alcohol issues and relationships are discussed in an informal, safe environment facilitated by staff, volunteers and therapists. All of the support groups are focused on the empowerment model and begin with the message that the group will help participants recognize and affirm that they are not crazy, alone, or responsible for anyone's behavior except their own. Groups are open to residents and non-residents of domestic violence. While parents attend the variety of support groups available to them, children over the age of three years also attend support group in the Children's Program. Many topics are discussed during the children's support group including but not limited to, expression of feelings, safety planning, respect, conflict resolution, self-esteem, domestic violence, and coping skills.

SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

MONDAY 6:30 - 8:00 PM Battered/Formerly Battered Group
6:30 - 8:00 PM Partners in Progress (PIP) *

TUESDAY 10:30 - 12 Noon General Support Group

WEDNESDAY 6:30 - 8:00 PM Growth Support Group
6:30 - 8:00 PM Crisis Support Group *
6:30 - 8:00 PM Empowerment Support Group

THURSDAY 6:30 - 8:00 PM Addictions Support Group, Still Waters, Hanover

FRIDAY 9:30 - 11:00 AM Coffee Club (Parenting Group)

* as needed

Transitional Housing

Bridge Housing is a program offering affordable, furnished housing and supportive services to enable victims of domestic violence and their children to live a life free from abuse. Every family has a separate apartment. The Bridge Housing staff provides case management, life skills training, parenting skills training, developmental play and other activities for children. Families can remain in the program up to one year with one-year follow up services available. The Bridge Housing staff work together with the families to assist them in meeting their goals so they may become self sufficient.

Welfare Advocacy

The Welfare Advocacy Program at ACCESS York, Inc. addresses the needs of victims of domestic violence by offering information, options, and support regarding welfare rules, requirements and benefits. The Welfare Advocate works with the York County Assistance Office staff to assist client obtain benefits and self-sufficiency safely. Some of the services provided by the Welfare Advocate include: assistance in completing applications for benefits, accompaniment and transportation to appointments at the County Assistance Office, assistance in obtaining documentation required by the Welfare Department, and support and accompaniment to welfare appeal hearings.

Volunteer Program

Volunteers assist in providing services to victims of domestic violence and their families in every aspect of our agency. They answer the 24 hour hot line; they are on call to respond to the local hospitals' emergency departments when a victim of domestic violence needs options and supportive counseling; they provide domestic violence educational programs; they provide support to the children through our Children's Program; they assist in the planning of Domestic Violence Awareness events; and they help with tutoring, maintenance, and clerical duties.

Volunteers who wish to provide direct service to domestic violence victims must complete a 45-hour counselor/advocate training which includes 40 hours of classroom training and 5 hours of supervised on-the-job training.

Volunteers are a very important part of ACCESS's work. Becoming a volunteer enables someone to work as part of a team to eliminate domestic violence in York County.