ANTELOPE VALLEY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNCIL

AGENCY HISTORY

The Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council was organized in 1980 at the request of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.  The Antelope Valley is located in the Northern High Desert area of the county and was experiencing an inordinate amount of family violence at the time.  Spearheaded by Supervisor Michael Antonovich, the Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council was formed.  Through his efforts, a life-long, free-lease on a parcel of county property was obtained.

This property consists of eleven (11) cottages within approximately two and one-half acres of land located in north Antelope Valley.  The shelter serves the entire Antelope Valley, as well as, north to Bakersfield and south to San Fernando Valley.

Subsequent to approval of the free-lease, renovation of the property, and achievement of non-profit status, the Valley Oasis Shelter opened up its doors on September 21, 1981.  Since that time the shelter has served approximately 25,000 victims of domestic violence with twenty-four (24) hour shelter services, around-the-clock crisis intervention and meals which are prepared by the residents in their cottages.

Although the shelter had a small beginning, with a fifty-thousand dollar ($50,000) grant from the County, it was for many years, the largest domestic violence shelter in the state of California.  Ironically, although the Valley Oasis Shelter is one of the largest shelters of its kind in the State of California, it has, by comparison, one of the lowest budgets.  Fortunately, the Valley Oasis Shelter has a high degree of dedicated staff and turn-over is almost non-existent.  One staff member has been with the agency since the shelter opened its doors in 1981, and all others have been with the project from two (2) to seven (7) years.  The dedication of personnel is seen by the manner in which residents succeed with their personal goals.

The shelter has a sixty-five (65) bed capacity and has been able to provide services to men, women and children of all ages who are victims of domestic violence.  The reputation of the shelter is nationally known; and victims from Ohio, Wisconsin, Colorado and, as far away as Florida have sought shelter with the Valley Oasis.  

After ten (10) years of operation, the agency found that it was necessary to seek and generate other resources for essential client items not funded by grants.  On February 15, 1991 the Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council opened the Valley Oasis Thrift Shoppe.  The thrift store not only provides a clearinghouse of donations for use by our residents and clients, but also provides the agency with an additional source of income.

Over the years the Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council expanded with the addition of several programs that were necessary to help and nurture victims of domestic violence and their families.

On July 1, 1997, the agency was funded for a 2-year on-site Transitional Housing program.  The program has a fifty-six (56) bed capacity and has been able to provide transitional services to men, women and children of all ages.  Since the opening of the Transitional Housing program it has served over 280 victims of domestic violence.  In 1997, the Agency once again identified a need not being met in the Antelope Valley and again decided to develop an appropriate program.  The Prevention Center and Mobile Advocacy Trauma Team (M.A.T.T.) team was born on November 1, 1997.  The Mobile Advocacy Trauma Team is the advocacy component of the domestic violence response team (DVRT) that partners with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.  The program has two components, domestic violence advocate who is trained to respond to the scene of a domestic dispute with law enforcement and the legal advocates who provide legal education and accompaniment.  The domestic violence advocate assists with the interview process of the victim and any

children as well as providing referrals and developing a safety plan with the victim, which may include transporting them to our shelter or the hospital. The advocates are also responsible for the collection of all domestic violence reports and for referring them to the legal advocates at our Prevention Program office.  The legal advocates provide education about the court process, assist the victims in completing a Temporary Restraining order (TRO) and will accompany the victim to court throughout the entire court process.  Since 1997 the M.A.T.T. team and Prevention center have served over 4,200 victims of domestic violence.

On July 1, 1998 the Agency opened our CalWORKs Program, a component of the Counties Welfare to Work Program.  The AVDVC CalWORKs program is for CalWORKs recipients in our community who are experiencing domestic violence.  The program has grown to such large numbers that we offer individual, group and family therapy five (5) days per week.  Since 1998 the Cal-Works program has served over 3,000 victims of domestic violence.

Once again, the Agency had to take a step back and see what services were needed in the Antelope Valley and found that there was a lack of affordable legal services for victims of domestic violence.  On July 1, 1999 our CalWORKs Legal Program opened their doors to victims of domestic violence who were Cal-Works eligible.  Since 1999 the Legal Program has served over 500 victims of domestic violence.

In 1999, with the demise of another local domestic violence shelter, the AVDVC was asked to assume responsibility for that shelter’s residents and facilitate the grant for the remainder of the funding period.  Those residents were transferred to the Valley Oasis Shelter and provided with full support services.

On July 1, 1999 the Transitional Housing II was opened.   The agency did so well, that when the funding ended, we were asked to continue with this program, and of course we said yes.  The Transitional Housing II program, known as “Stepping into the Light,” is an off-site 2 year program, where individuals and families live in their own apartments and/or houses and are monitored closely by our trained staff members.  Since 1999 the program has been able to assist over 35 families in living a safer and healthier life free of domestic violence.

The Children’s Playhouse provides childcare with specially trained staff members to guide the children while the parent is in group, off-grounds, in court, etc.  The Children’s Playhouse has a strict daily activity agenda, which includes therapeutic art groups, quiet time, play time, homework tutoring and many other programs that have been designed, based on the age and unique needs of the child.  The Children’s Playhouse has been in existence since the opening of the shelter, but has grown tremendously over the many years.  The Children’s Playhouse was run by volunteers for the first year of the shelter’s operation.  Since that time, we have been able to fund a paid staff to care for the children. 

The Agency has now extended its services to the Glendale area.  We have opened the doors to another Transitional Housing Program as of June 1, 2003.  The Freedom House program, providing transitional services to single women, has been designed to work like the other Transitional Housing programs in the Antelope Valley; however this program is for a maximum of six (6) months.

The Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council is always looking at ways to improve our existing programs and to seek other services and programs for our residents and clients. 

The Agency currently offers services to men, women, children, emancipated minors, gays, lesbians and Trans-genders.  The Agency is known as the “black sheep” shelter, as we do not discriminate against any individuals needing domestic violence services.  It is well known that if someone is willing to go “out on a limb” for a resident or client, it will be the Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council.