Courtesy photo.
OXNARD — The Coalition For Family Harmony, which provides victims of family violence with the means to help them escape their life of abuse, provided direct services to 1,865 domestic violence victims and 375 sexual assault victims in 2018.
Part of those services included shelter at the Coalition’s Safe House. Last year, the Coalition’s Safe House sheltered 110 individuals including 62 children at no charge. While there, the Coalition staff helped with emotional, medical, legal, economic and housing needs. The center also provides support through crisis counseling and intervention, referral assistance, restraining orders and connections with community resources.
The Coalition runs the only Rape Crisis Center and 24-hour rape crisis hotline in Ventura County. During 2018, Coalition staff received calls from over 10,000 victims who were in crisis. “These numbers have held steady or slightly increased over the past five or six years. Unfortunately, they haven’t gone down,” says Dr. Caroline Prijatel-Sutton, executive director for Coalition For Family Harmony.
Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Sexual assaults victims can be of any age—from children to seniors. Prijatel-Sutton says that the public is more aware of Coalition services. “They hear about the Me Too movement and realize that they also need help,” says Prijatel-Sutton. She says that, per capita, Ventura County ranks high in the amount of reported domestic violence instances–12 out of 58 California counties.
“We’ve seen an influx of sexual assault and violence in dating situations,” says Prijatel-Sutton. “It’s not just teenagers, but adults of every age.”
The Coalition for Family Harmony relies on grants and donations to operate. Its annual fundraiser is November 2.
For more information about Coalition services, call 805-983-6014, 800-300-2181, or go to www.TheCoalition.org. All calls are confidential.
24-HOUR BILINGUAL HOTLINE 1.800.300.2181 SE HABLA ESPAÑOL