Bethany House of Northern Virginia, Inc.

Aftercare Program – Upon leaving the shelter, clients have the option to participate in Bethany House of Northern Virginia’s Aftercare Program. The Aftercare Program typically runs two years but may be extended based on individual client need. Follow-up helps to ensure that clients do not relapse into abuse. Clients may receive assistance with employment counseling, housing searches, personal hygiene items, back-to-school and other daily living needs. On average, 86% of clients report remaining abuse-free for up to two years after leaving BHNV’s shelters.

The Trauma Recovery Initiative: This initiative helps clients process trauma they have experienced from domestic violence and work through the multifaceted issues that arise during recovery from abuse. Counselors and counseling interns conduct individual and group therapy, helping victims of all ages to reframe perceptions of reality, recognize and correct cognitive distortions. The goal is to moderate behaviors in order to achieve emotional stability. Therapy for children allows younger victims to heal, learn to interact, communicate, and respond to parents and other authority figures appropriately. Clients develop coping and communication skills to lead healthy and productive lives, learn self-actualizing behaviors, and press ahead toward goals. Clients also participate in support group activities that reinforce the skills they acquire.

BHNV provides assistance to victims of domestic violence through its Family Assistance Program (FAP). The FAP consists of five service areas:

The BHNV Helpline: Provides immediate assistance, counsel and advice to women and children forced from their homes by abusive partners. Trained BHNV staff and volunteers accept calls from women and children in crisis and at risk of becoming homeless. Victims receive an immediate assessment of their physical safety and needs and assistance with requested services—in addition to shelter, these services may include safety planning, assistance with protective orders, and referrals to legal resources, food and clothing. BHNV will also place callers in a hotel when space in its shelters is not available.

Emergency Shelter—BHNV operates two emergency shelters with the capacity to house 25 women and children for a period of 4-6 months (or longer depending upon individual need). In contrast, most other shelter programs limit client stay to 30–45 days. Clients residing in BHNV’s shelters receive intensive case management, counseling and supportive services throughout their stay. Upon acceptance into the program, clients work with an assigned case worker to develop an Individual Service Plan (ISP). The ISP identifies the client’s goals for recovery and is used to chart her progress on the road to self-sufficiency. While in the shelter, clients receive referrals for transportation, clothing, food, employment counseling, medical, dental, and legal assistance and a wide range of other services. Staff and trained volunteers conduct regular life skills training (e.g., parenting, budgeting, stress management and self-care), financial education, and job preparedness mentoring to equip clients with the tools they need to become self-sufficient.

The Trauma Recovery Initiative: This initiative helps clients process trauma they have experienced and work through the multifaceted issues that arise during recovery from abuse. Counselors and counseling interns conduct individual and group therapy, helping victims of all ages to reframe perceptions of reality, recognize and correct cognitive distortions. The goal is to moderate behaviors in order to achieve emotional stability. Therapy for children allows younger victims to heal, learn to interact, communicate, and respond to parents and other authority figures appropriately. Clients develop coping and communication skills to lead healthy and productive lives, learn self-actualizing behaviors, and press ahead toward goals. Clients also participate in support group activities that reinforce the skills they acquire.

Aftercare Program – Upon leaving the shelter, clients have the option to participate in BHNV’s Aftercare Program. The Aftercare Program typically runs two years but may be extended based on individual client need. Follow-up helps to ensure that clients do not relapse into abuse. Clients may receive assistance with employment counseling, housing searches, personal hygiene items, back-to-school and other daily living needs. On average, 86% of clients report remaining abuse-free for up to two years after leaving BHNV’s shelters.

Community Outreach – BHNV strives to strengthen interactions with public safety officials, community leaders, social and human service providers, religious leaders, and private individuals. We do this to enhance crisis intervention efforts by referring domestic violence victims to our services. Staff also educates the community about what domestic violence is and how to offer practical, appropriate support to victims of domestic violence.

During fiscal year 2016/2017, BHNV provided:
• Emergency and crisis intervention services to 192 women and their children
• Emergency housing to 46 women and 52 children
• Counseling services to 46 women and 23 children
• Aftercare services were available to 76 women and 92 children who had graduated the program in the last two years