DOLPHINS TO STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INC

Empower individuals to live healthier lifestyles by removing obstructions or by creating a path around obstructions through counseling and training.

Empower victims of domestic violence to take control of their lives through advocacy of the collaboration between religious and secular leadership.

Educate and equip community leaders and residents to be effective in the process of stopping the violence by making the systemic changes necessary and developing collaboration between secular and religious leadership all which includes providers.

Educate and raise the consciousness of the Upper Keys community on the societal effects of domestic violence.

We are proactive against domestic violence in that we work to empower and equip residents and leadership to create and live out new ways to live hope and play in nonviolence and safety. This is accomplished through certified pastoral counseling, minimal case management, classes to improve and strengthen families, classes for how residents can support their neighbors who struggle with addiction and their families as they learn to live with healthier lifestyles. When people struggle to afford health care, food for the table, a roof over their heads, this stress can lead to addictions and violence. Therefore we have set a very generous sliding scale for our services and we have hired a grant writer to write grants to help cover the fees our clients can't afford. So while we assist our clients in developing and living out healthier lifestyles and offering this assistance in a way they can afford, our clients come through empowered because not only have they created better ways of living but they have the satisfaction of contributing financially as best they can and being affirmed for that.

We have an ordained clergy person who has completed training and certification as a Certified Pastoral Counselor and endorsed by the Global United Methodist Endorsing Agency and Bishop. We have a vision where we will increase our staffing as needed and our presence and educational influence among the young adults in our community who are surrounded by violence and addiction. We regularly collaborate with 30-70 local organizations each year. Collaboration is key to improving community health and living.

We are in the process of accomplishing: group support counseling, classes and educational artistic components into the counseling process. Since COViD, we are excited to begin our Spiritually Social groups which will accompany clients taking part in our Certified Pastoral Counseling Services.


This was the first year that we've been able to pay a small salary, but nevertheless a salary, to our Pastoral Counselor. We have provided 42 free pastoral counseling sessions for people making less than $20,000 from January through June. Twenty-seven clients have received prescription assistance to the amount of $1,900 during that same period. We have counseled 32 clients this year.