Are you living the life YOU choose?
The Rebuilding Program:
- Is part of the continued coordinated community response to domestic violence in Alachua County through a partnership with the Black on Black Crime Task Force and the Gainesville Police Department utilizing a culturally sensitive and comprehensive approach to the problem and changing patterns of domestic violence
- Is a volunteer program that addresses gaps in services of domestic violence victims after the criminal investigation and prosecution are usually finished. Identified gaps, thus far, include first: breaking the silence within the faith community where many victim/survivors seek healing, strength and courage. Hence, the faith community must be a “safe place”, a resource and not a road block. Second, according to research, men are harming/killing their intimate partners, therefore men who are NOT harming/killing are needed to communicate and send a new message that “enough is enough” – Stop harming and killing women and girls.
- Provides workshops to educate victim/survivor in the City of Gainesville on ways to overcome domestic violence and lead a safe and financially independent life.
The program targets all domestic violence victim/survivors, but extra attention is directed to the historically underserved, marginalized African American (minority) community in the City of Gainesville.
African Americans make up approximately 24% of the City of Gainesville’s population, but account for 63% of the domestic violence victims who reported to the Gainesville Police Department.
The Rebuilding Program utilizes the Rebuilding and Community Outreach Coordinator (RCOC):
o Uses outreach efforts and referrals to identify victim/survivors within the City of Gainesville. Once victim/survivor (aka Climbers) consents to participate in the Rebuilding Program the Rebuilding process begins while simultaneously addressing any acute needs.
o Provides life coaching, empathic listening, encouragement, challenge irrational thinking/beliefs, role play, identification of road blocks, purpose and goal development, Biblical integration (optional) and plan development to implement steps to obtain goals while addressing real-life-day-to-day problems of domestic violence victim/survivor assisting them to develop new life skills to lead a safe, self-sufficient life.
o Facilitates Rebuilding Workshops covering denial, guilt/rejection, fear, anger, loneliness, self-worth, transition/purpose, letting go and freedom. Climbers may be referred to other services for employment skill, budgeting and parenting.
o Coordinates seminars six times per year to equip the Faith community in Alachua County to respond to disclosures of domestic violence.
o Recruits men for the MOB (Men On Board Against Domestic Violence) are men aware of the safety of women and girls in their daily life and who will stand up and hold men who are harming accountable. MOB is a bystander intervention to engage, educate, model, and/or mentor men to prevent and/or decrease violence against women; hold men accountable for male violence against women, create a space for men to talk about their relationships and commit to and/or support partnerships with women’s organizations already working to stop abuse against women.
o Coordinates Northwood Villas/Pineridge Community Center programming.
o Facilitates Single Parent & Community Service Provider Workgroup meetings to for continuous awareness of community resources.
Program Vision
Healthy families … Healthy community
Program Mission
In a safe and flexible manner support Climbers in the process to rebuild their lives after the storm of domestic/intimate partner violence, converse with faith leaders on their response to victim survivors and recruit men bystanders to take action to stop violence against women and girls.
Program Eligibility
· Services are free
· Must be 18 and older
· Victim/Survivor of Domestic/Intimate Partner Violence who resides or can meet with me within the City of Gainesville.
· When asked, “Are you living the life you choose?” Your response is, “No.”