New Beginnings Programs
The Community Advocacy Program works to assist survivors within the community to establish a network of support for themselves and their families. We provide (in English and in Spanish) individual advocacy-based counseling and five weekly drop-in support groups in several locations, including Shoreline and North Seattle.
The 24-hour Help Line acts as a community resource line and a gateway to all of New Beginnings services.
The Emergency Shelter is an 18-bed space for those in danger from domestic violence. Shelter residents receive comprehensive services for themselves and their children for up to 56 days, with an emphasis on establishing stable housing, self-sufficiency and safety.
The Transitional Housing Program (THP) is comprised of 17 fully furnished apartments for women and children in immediate danger from domestic violence. Adult residents work with women’s advocates to meet their individual, parenting and program goals and rebuild their lives. Children’s advocates provide youth with support groups and individual advocacy to help them heal from the effects of abuse.
While each program is unique, the following services are provided throughout: individual advocacy for women and children, legal advocacy, support groups for women and children, chemical dependency support, mental health counseling and childcare.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Take the First Step Campaign In 2012, New Beginnings launched the Take the First Step campaign, which enables the greater community to take part in the work to end domestic violence by providing education opportunities, events and a comprehensive website to build community.
Serving the Youngest Victims of Domestic Violence We provide services to help alleviate the trauma experienced by children and teens, and address the fear, anger and guilt that results from living with abuse. The following services are offered to children in one or more of our direct service programs:
- Individual Advocacy Children’s advocates spend one-on-one time with a child and/or a mother. During this time the advocate can safety plan with the child, be present to validate his or her feelings, and educate on domestic violence.
- Children’s Domestic Violence Response Team The CDVRT (Children’s Domestic Violence Response Team) is a collaboration between New Beginnings and Sound Mental Health to provide professional counseling services for children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence.
- Kids’ Club- At Kids’ Club we help children learn how to express and articulate their feelings more openly. There are planned activities to help the children share their feelings and learn positive ways to express themselves in a group setting.
- Teen Violence Prevention Education New Beginnings’ has facilitated violence prevention “Owning Up” groups in Seattle middle schools since February 2006.
Parenting Group The parenting curriculum is designed to help those who have experienced domestic violence understand the impact on their children and themselves and to support parents in strengthening their relationships with their children.