News Details

Solano County office of Family Violence Prevention awarded federal funds to combat domestic violence

September 25, 2014

SOLANO COUNTY – Federal grants totaling $750,000 have been awarded to the Solano County Office of Family Violence Prevention and will be used to continue support programs designed to keep victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, child and elder abuse, safe.

An estimated 5.3 million cases of domestic violence occur annually among U.S. women 18 and older, resulting in nearly 2 million injuries. Domestic violence remains a central focus of the National Football League and its fans following the recent release of a video showing Ray Rice, now suspended by the Baltimore Ravens, punching his then fiancé in the face and knocking her unconscious.

"The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women has been incredibly supportive of our work to address domestic violence in Solano County over the past dozen years," said Carolyn Wold, Family Violence Prevention Officer with the Solano County Office of Family Violence Prevention. “These recent awards will help us continue to provide critical services at the Solano Family Justice Center.”

In January of this year, the Office of Family Violence Prevention was awarded $65,000 from the Avon Foundation for Women, to implement a victim empowerment program at the Solano Family Justice Center.

The second is a three-year grant totaling $300,000 will support the Solano Family Justice Center. Located in Fairfield, the center is a diverse coalition of community and government agencies conveniently co-located in one place, making it easy for victims looking to gain access to services.  Services include counseling for victims and their children, access to crisis and transitional shelter, assistance with restraining order applications, court advocacy, life skills coaching, and many others.

The third is a two-year, $450,000 grant under the federal Justice for Families grant program.  Funding from this grant will expand the Safe Harbor for Kids supervised visitation program to include supervised exchanges.  These services, often ordered by the court, occurs when a judge is concerned about victim and child safety, and parents are no longer together but share custody of children.  This program provides a safe, nurturing place where visits with noncustodial parents take place.  Safe Harbor for Kids operates by appointment after hours and on weekends at the Solano Family Justice Center.

“I'm extremely excited to continue our relationship with the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women,” Wold said.  “Their support over the years has made a tremendous impact on our ability to provide critical services to victims and their children.”

The Solano County Office of Family Violence Prevention is the lead agency on the family justice center project and Safe Harbor for Kids supervised visitation program, working in partnership with LIFT3 Support Group, a community-based domestic violence shelter services agency, Child Haven, Catholic Social Services, the Solano County Sheriff, Youth and Family Services, Children’s Nurturing Project, Solano Health and Social Services, Kaiser Permanente, North Bay Healthcare, and many other community and government based service providers.  For more information on services provided, call (707) 784-7635 or visit www.solanocounty.com\stoptheviolence