Deecilla Comfort Center

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a significant health issue with considerable societal costs, resulting in survivors experiencing issues such as mental health problems (depression and PTSD), and cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, reproductive, musculoskeletal, and nervous system conditions which are chronic in nature. These survivors are also more likely to engage in high risk health behaviors such as smoking, binge drinking, and HIV risk behaviors. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “the lifetime economic cost associated with medical services for IPV-related injuries, lost productivity from paid work, criminal justice and other cost was $3.6 trillion (2014 US dollars). The Lifetime per-victim cost was $103,767 for women and $23,414 for men.”

In Arizona, housing continues to be the most urgent need for survivors, with 223 requests for housing services unmet on a single day in 2015 (NNEDV, 2015). The lack of available housing provides the means for re-victimization, which in 2017, 90 reported people lost their lives due to domestic violence in Arizona, 63% were female. As of 15 April 2019, there were 33 domestic violence-related deaths reported according to Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence (ACESDV.ORG). These are only the tracked are reported cases.

The process for individuals in IPV, DeeCilla Comfort Center aims to bridge the gap between identifying the need for help and obtaining help. The center will provide basic needs for IPV, SV, and trafficking survivors with specialized services for youth and young adults 16-28. We will provide both support and intervention program services to prevent revictimization and promote the prevention of IPV, SV, and trafficking.

Our centers will be in our local area, which is missing centralized and collocated resources, and provide an environment with community partnership support to help survivors understand that a community is behind their healing. It is essential for survivors to feel a genuine sense of community and support in their process. The support provided empowers and encourages the healing process and road to independence and healthy living while working with clients to achieve personal goals.

The development of the center is in response to the needs of the community. If DeeCilla Comfort Center Resource Center is not implemented, this community remains at a higher risk. Lack of accessible resources places victims back in dangerous situations, therefore never fully gaining the ability to receive what they needed to start over. Victims remain vulnerable and at risk of increased sexual and domestic violence victimization, which may lead to homelessness and fatalities.

We plan to accomplish our goals through a three-part integrated process.

• Our established Co-operative Resource Center - The DeeCilla Comfort Center coop resource center combines the strengths and resources of agencies across the “valley” to fight domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking. The Community Resource Center aims to provide integrative services and programs to include access to emergency shelters, professional counseling, legal advocacy, food distribution, housing/rental assistance and recovery programs to support the needs of the general community, especially victims of abuse, to promote a healthy and holistic community.

- Establishing three transitional homes for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and human trafficking. These transitional homes with established programs operated through a collaborative community partnership approach would provide safety and security for survivors to start over based on their set goals. We understand the issues we wish to help our neighbors through do not affect one demographic, therefore we aim to establish three separate facilities with programs focused on the needs of each specific population (single men, single women, and single parents and children).

• Collaborative community outreach focusing on filling gaps in both the needs of the community and agency partners to provide maximum impact for our community. Through collaborative outreach DCC partners with community partners sharing similar missions to provide tools and resources to target specific audiences equipping them in the fight against domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking.

Our expertise and background in Hospital Administration, Medical Management, Social Work, Counseling, Ministry, and Community Outreach, as well as our local partnerships with agencies sharing the same mission, place DeeCilla Comfort Center in a unique position to make a significant difference. Furthermore, While some agencies, such as the Phoenix Dream Center and Phoenix Rescue Mission take in people with various challenges, DeeCilla Comfort Center will narrow the target market to focus on a unique set of societal issues: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking.

There are programs in the Phoenix area with limited access to the West Valley. Most programs focus on the care and recovery of young girls affected by these issues, yet there are few that offer crisis care and recovery with an established program designed to assist with aftercare. DeeCilla Comfort Center will offer a uniquely designed program that assists in aftercare to promote healing and restoration in the community.

DeeCilla Comfort Center will not only offer gender-focused programs but programs designed to focus on the challenges of specific generations. It is important to promote a healing environment in the community with those the residents share generational similarities.

Agency Collaboration
As active community participants, we aim to take the lead in cooperation with and support from our city elected officials, to connect agencies and resources from across the valley to the citizens of our community. Developing strong partnerships, with resources our community members are unaware of, we aim to work collaboratively to organize community service outreach events to further enhance the life of our overall community residents. We believe by working together to enhance our community, we can also provide education and tools to prevent or deter future accounts of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

Outreach Programs
Outreach programs are designed to capture the audience of the general community, to bridge the community together. Each outreach will not focus solely on serving “an underserved population,” but events will draw communities together to serve and provide the needs for everyone who resides within the community.

Transitional Homes with Aftercare Programs
DeeCilla Comfort Center will offer a unique aftercare program that is a standard part of the resident’s restoration program. Aftercare will guide and residents in living out their “new beginning” action plan.

Five months, Six events , 21 hours , DeeCilla Comfort Center collected items and raised funds to support the following:
February
First Volunteer Orientation held at Goodyear Public Library. Two Volunteers
March
AME Zion Women’s Conference – Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention. Speaking Engagement and Table Display. The importance of creating safe spaces for open conversations to break the cycle of abuse Reached over 50 women. (4 hours)
April
Arizona State University (Phoenix) Community Impact Expo - Teen Dating Abuse and Community Involvement. 100 ASU Students and local community members on the importance of community involvement and how one can make a difference to prevent Teen Dating Violence. (3 hours)
Volunteer Outreach Event held at Enroute Coffee and Tea.
City of Goodyear, Hop and Hops Easter Extravaganza - Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention. Over 300 families. Innovative engagement project focusing on protecting the Dreams of Children, which provide Hope for the future. Information provided on Teen Dating Abuse, Child Abuse Awareness, and Early childhood development for children birth to five with resources to support families. (4 hours)
Faith Assemblies of God Church, Community Outreach, Phoenix, AZ
Table display set up, providing resources to the local community served by a local church. Assisted a local family of five living in a car on a church parking lot with resources for housing, food, and veteran services. Provided ministerial support and worked with the church to provide immediate clothing, food, and toys for children. Connected with community members for immediate temporary housing. (6 hours)
May
Women’s Health Week. Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness. Four total hours of training provided to twenty representatives from eight organizations on Teen Dating Violence and The Period Poverty. Community outreach conducted to support Domestic Violence Survivors. Over 2000 Items collected and donated (4 hours)
Arizona Governor’s Youth Leadership Day – attended with four youth volunteers for development at GCU. Each attended two seminars during the day to encourage community leadership and engagement.
July
Christmas in July. Focus Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention, Domestic Violence Awareness, and Prevention. Provided services to five families with children birth to five, provided services to aid in early childhood development. Total of 20 attendees (4 hours)
Collected donated items totaling $ 2000 to families with community partners providing wellness and development services totaling over $1500k

For year two, we have increased partnerships to provide more program-based services to include Grief, Loss, and Recovery Counseling, Managing Stress and Anxiety through Declutting workshops, Teen Dating Violence Prevention, Youth Financial Empower Workshops, and Parenting support groups for survivors.