$960 — Counseling for Clients and their Children in Need
Participating Seniors at Teton High School were touched by the work Family Safety Network does in their community. Through their quiet dedication, Family Safety Network works to partner with individuals and communities to eliminate violence, abuse, and oppression.
Victims of domestic violence and sexual assault can be effectively helped by individualized counseling that is often beyond their means to afford or otherwise obtain. Counseling can provide a victim with the tools to overcome the trauma of their victimization so they can find the strength to make healthy decisions. Domestic violence victims are at a high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or stress-related mental health conditions. Learning to cope with residual emotional pain and fear is essential to healing. Access to this avenue of healing is often limited by the victim’s lack of financial means. The inability to obtain counseling can lead to unhealthy choices by a victim, including staying in a place where future victimization is likely and an inability to develop tools to move ahead with their lives.
In 2019, Family Safety Network experienced an increase in the need for counseling not only for victims but for their children as well. The desire of Family Safety Network is to equip and empower victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to make choices that lead to safe and peaceful living. Family Safety Network supports the healing of the primary victim as well as their children who are often greatly affected by the presence of violence in their homes. Access to counseling is an area of great need in Teton Valley, and access to these critical services can make our valley a safer and healthier place. For victims/survivors and their children who are on a path of healing, individual counseling can be the stabilizing and equipping force they need to move forward.
Family Safety Network’s program to address the need for individual counseling of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children includes a vetted list of ten counselors that our clients are referred to for services. These counselors have a demonstrated history of success in treating trauma survivors. If a client is actively engaged in the process of working with FSN to make healthy choices in their life, we deem the client eligible for referral services. FSN will pay the counselor directly for up to three counseling sessions, funds permitting, to assist the client in obtaining counseling services. The counseling sessions are available for adults, children or adolescents. FSN has negotiated a discounted rate with these counselors of $80 per session.
The goal of this program is to ultimately be able to expand our funding to assist all clients who seek counseling services but cannot afford them. Counseling is so instrumental in providing a victim the necessary tools to move ahead in their lives that this program is one of community need and one that Family Safety Network prioritizes.
Seniors recognized that this program notably fills a desperate community need by providing victims of domestic and sexual violence, and their children, access to individual counseling sessions. They fully funded this grant request of $960 to help bridge the gap in available funding and ensure all victims get the counseling services that will help them make healthy choices to move ahead and make our community safer and stronger.
If you want to support victims directly, please reach out and donate here. Thank you!
