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Welcome to the Domestic Violence Project, Inc.

            Domestic Violence Project, Inc. (DVPI), a private, non-profit organization established in 1978 is committed to providing a strong, comprehensive safety net for the families in our community.  DVPI clients are welcomed by a caring and compassionate staff offering supportive services necessary to establish an abuse-free lifestyle. 

The agency’s comprehensive programming serves to address many client needs and services including:

·        A 24-hour confidential hot-line 330.453.SAFE (7233)

·        Emergency shelter in Canton and Massillon for up to 40 individuals

·        Prevention and educational services

·        Support and legal advocacy

·        Renew Counseling and Recovery Center

·        On-going and special topic support

            Breaking the cycle of domestic violence begins with awareness and prevention.  Currently, DVPI provides prevention education in schools, outreach, literature distribution, public awareness speakers and sensitivity training for a variety of community partners touching more than 10,500 individuals during 2008.

            DVPI’s two, 24-hour emergency shelters offer a safe refuge for victims of domestic violence and their children, where healing can begin and hope can be restored.

Did You Know?

Locally…

·        Our hotline received 3,000 calls last year.  Offering guidance for safety planning, crisis counseling and information - the lifeline people need to understand their situation.

·        Annually, about 200 women and children reside in our shelters. Offering a safe, dignified refuge. 

·        Each year, nearly half of our nights in shelter are represented by children – 6500 last year.

·        Our prevention education staff works in the schools and community.  We teach Life Skills - an evidence-based curriculum - that increases use of healthy life skills as an alternative to risky or violent behaviors. We also teach healthy relationships and safe dating to junior and senior high school students.

·        Our Renew counseling staff serves 500 people annually and are all licensed, clinical therapists.  Our therapists treat root causes which greatly enhance the client’s understanding of their situation. Our art therapist works closely with children healing from domestic violence trauma.

·        Renew is certified to provide alcohol and drug treatment, even without disclosed domestic violence.

·        Court Advocacy is another critical service we provide with staff in both Canton and Massillon Courts. For many victims, this is the point of entry to services as they seek a Criminal or Civil Protection Order from their abuser. Our advocates provide court accompaniment and guidance on how to connect with community resources and information.  We serve about 1600 individuals in the courts each year.

Nationally…

·        25% of all women will be victims of domestic violence in their lifetime.

·        1 in 4 teens is shown to be a victim of dating violence.

·        Each year, domestic violence costs over $4 billion in healthcare costs and billions more in workplace absenteeism and lost productivity.

·        60% of victims cited job loss, including being suspended and fired, as a direct or indirect result of domestic violence.

·        Pregnant women are more likely to be victims of homicide than to die of any other cause.

·        75% of domestic violence related deaths occur during or after leaving.

·        Adults who physically abuse their partners typically enacted a first episode of dating violence by age 15.

A letter from our Director…

The power of hope

Breaking the cycle of domestic violence begins with awareness!