Sociology

Domestic violence takes place when one of the partners in an intimate relationship becomes physically violent or threatens of physical violence in order for him or her to control the other. The abusers use blame, fear, shame, and intimidation. The victim may become traumatized, sustain physical injuries, and sometimes even death. Domestic violence happens to people of all races, religions, ages, genders, etc. (Bergen, 2010). Domestic violence involves injuring a partner or spouse, a child, parent, etc. (MedicimePlus, 2010). There are several agencies that deal with issues related to domestic violence and this report explores two of such agencies.

Rainbow Services Providing Help and Hope
Rainbow Services aims (alongside those of other agencies dealing with domestic violence) are to keep families safe, by providing the best possible support and help for children and women directly affected by family violence and end the cycle of domestic violence. The agency caters for those who are afraid of their partners, those who are threatened or hurt by their partners, those who are financially neglected by their partners having control of all the money and those whose partners show signs of inflicting severe physical harm or are forced to have sex. In addition, it caters for those who are stalked by their partners or their partners turn up uninvited at their jobs, or when they have gone out with their friends among other issues. Rainbow Services is committed to helping children and women victims live violence-free lives, by providing counseling which is offered by compassionate, experienced counselors. They cater for those who feel hopeless, desperate, hopeless, confused and even alone and feel afraid or ashamed and helpless to even share their experiences with others. They do this by offering an understanding relationship with victims, built on trust. Rainbow Services also has two shelters, one of which is a 30-day emergency shelter and the other a transitional shelter where women and their children may stay for periods stretching to one year for each particular case. They also offer counseling, parenting classes, case management, life-skills classes and many other programs for children. The agency was started by YMCA members 26 years ago, and receives 65 government funding while 35 funding comes from donations and other sources. Rainbow Services offers many services to victims.

Childrens Program
All children in their 30-day emergency shelter and the transitional housing program, and their on-going outreach center program benefit from the Childrens Enrichment Program, which includes child activities such as reading and language development, arts and crafts, alphabet and color learning, math games and computer lessons, based on a written enrichment curriculum, and which are implemented by Child-Care Workers, in English and Spanish. The program caters for children below the age of 18, with most of them being age 12 and below.

Rainbow Services also conducts a development observation and assessment for children in the one-year transitional housing program. They monitor and evaluate progress by using the California Department of Education  Child Development Division established age-specific developmental targets developmental strengths and even areas that require working on are identified and recorded. Art workshops are also being organized as part of Rainbow Services enrichment program. Its staff is made up of peer-counselors, LCSWs and volunteers.

Community Connections
Rainbow Services is part of an even larger, collaborative effort involving several other social-service agencies whose aim is to protect and, even more, heal all families experiencing domestic violence.

Outreach
Rainbow Services seeks to end the cycle of domestic violence. The Outreach Programs primary task is helping domestic violence victims to survive and to be safe.

Rainbow House
Rainbow House Emergency Shelter houses victims escaping from domestic violence, by helping them start new lives.

Villa Paloma Transitional Shelter
After exiting a domestic violence emergency shelter, women can be provided with transitional housing for longer periods, getting safety and help.Their offices are located at 453 West 7th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 and the vast majorities they cater for are Latino, handling approximately 600 adult and children cases every year, most of who are females or males aged around 30, and children, all of whom live at poverty level. Rainbow Services has an emergency number, 911, for those who are in immediate dangers, an EnglishSpanish hotline number (1 (310) 547-9343) and also a main office number (1 (310) 548-5450) (Rainbow Services, 2010).

Overall Impression
Located on the quiet 7th Street in San Pedro, the entrance needs some flashy sign to announce its presence. The office has a small, simple waiting room they could do better with a larger, decorated room. There were no reading magazines or any handouts, so they could provide visitors with at least some handouts, such as information on help. The receptionist too, needs to be a little friendlier. The LCSWs room, though it has adequate space, needs a window and the decoration, too and also needs to be brighter.

WomenShelter of Long Beach Everyone Deserves a Violence-free Home
WomenShelter is Long Beachs oldest agency serving domestic violence victims, having been established in 1977, thus it has 30 years experience. It has helped victims overcome pain resulting from emotional and physical abuse and also helped them move on to healthy, productive lives for themselves and also for their children. WomenShelter of Long Beach seeks to eliminate violence in families domestic through compassionate intervention, personal empowerment and education.

WomenShelter is located at 930 Pacific Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813 and handles individuals, and also groups (but never couples) of all age groups, mostly females (although males are also welcome) from poor backgrounds. Most of the clients are non-English speakers, 60 of whom are Latino, 15 African-American, 15 Caucasian, and 10 Asian. Also, most of them are unemployed. WomenShelter of Long Beach gets over 80 percent of its operational funding from government sources including the County of Los Angeles, Office of Emergency Services, Department of Mental Health, State of California and City of Long Beach. However, due to the recent budget cuts, WomenShelter now relies more on contributions by individuals and groups, grants from private foundations, and fund-raising events.

WomenShelter of Long Beach employs forty two full and part-time staff, which includes an executive director, a licensed clinician and counselors. There are no social workers but they are trying to raise funds to open the position in the near future. WomenShelter has a 24-hour Crisis Line (562) 437-4663) through which its trained advocates can answer victims questions, give information and appointments, provide shelter and also conduct intakes. Its emergency shelter has 8 bedrooms, with 29 beds and provides victims with 30 to 45 days of safe, emergency shelter. Inpatient, outpatient, referral from hospital, crisis hotline, emergency responses are available.

Their Domestic Violence Resource Center offers non-sheltered victims a number of services, which include counseling, case management, group counseling, legal advocacy, social services and also emergency food and clothing. The Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) has trained advocates who respond to 911 calls atdomestic violence incidents scenes, and collaborates with police to help the victims and provide services (WomenShelter, 2010).

Overall Impression
Their location is on a busy street, with a bus stop just in front of the facility, making it easily accessible. They have many handouts information, a TV, toys, couches and news articles in the waiting room, which would be quite helpful to those who just walk into the office by providing them with enough information to begin with. Ms. Perez, the social educator and volunteer coordinator, answers questions and shows people round the building.  The building is not big, but has two middle-sized rooms for group sessions for victims one for adults and another room for children. The two rooms have different themes. For adults, they have books and a long table, while for children they have many toys, books and lots of pictures, signs and drawings.  On the hallway, they have many drawings and signs done by victims. The drawings portray confusion and anger. Ms. Perez explains that all drawings are not only by children victims but also by watched women and men victims.

WomenShelter of Long Beachs has enough space for victims to discuss or find out more information and also feel safe. However, the rooms are a little too dark, so the paint could be changed from blue to baby yellow and lit up but not by direct light. This could help light up victims faces. Other than that, staff members are very friendly and make the impression that sound they are ready to assist those who need their help.