Donna Brooks

Old Dominion University

Task 1

Madeline’s House

 

AGENCY MISSION

            The agency that I chose to select is called Madeline’s House. I have been emailing and talking to the office manager and will meet with her next week. It is a non-profit organization. They provide comprehensive services for individuals who are experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault. They bring public awareness to this issue and want to change attitudes about domestic violence and sexual assault. Their intentions are to inspire women and children to become survivors and assist them in regaining control of their lives. They also help to restore their self-esteem (House, 2018).

POPULATION/LOCATION

            Madeline’s House serves the counties of Southside Virginia. The Farmville location is the only one in the surrounding area. They serve twelve counties. The counties of Amelia, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Halifax, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Powhatan and Prince Edward. This location serves around 100 to 150 people a year (House, 2018).

CHARACTERISTICS/DEMOGRAPHICS

The agency partners with the Southside Center for Violence Prevention to get resources out to those who need them. The agency helps anyone regardless of race, educational background or class. They receive help from civic groups, religious groups, businesses, private citizens, grants and fundraising. Providing temporary housing for their clients, and empower clients to become survivors. They also provide advocacy, counseling and therapy. The agency provides a supportive family environment within the shelters. They help with social services and community support systems.

REASONING

            My reasoning for choosing this agency is personal. I have one point in my life experienced this and would have longed to have information about an agency like this. I can closely relate, I know people who are or have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. I also want others to know about an agency like this. I live in rural area where resources are few and far between. I think people know about things like this and don’t reach out for help because of fear. Others don’t know about it and don’t know that they have the help available to them.

In the future I want to work with this type of population. In the future as a human service professional I would like to work in an agency like or similar to this. This goes back to the mission statement. I eventually want to be a counselor and help change attitudes and  inspire individuals to regain control of their lives and to help them restore their self-esteem. I want to make people more publicly aware of the fact that help like this is available to them.

 

References

House, M. (2018, September 15). Madeline’s House. Retrieved from Madelineshouse.org: Madelineshouse.org