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Since its inception in 1977, LSH’s Bilingual Domestic Violence Project (BDVP) has been committed to providing a safe space for victims/survivors of domestic violence. LSH’s Bilingual Domestic Violence Project (BDVP) offers crisis intervention counseling, ongoing individual and group counseling, court accompaniment, medical advocacy, and education and training about domestic violence. In 2001-2002, LSH’s Bilingual Domestic Violence Project reached approximately 10,000 individuals and families throughout the Philadelphia region. Services provided include: · Bilingual Hotlines: The Bilingual Domestic Violence Project has two 24-hour hotlines (one in English, one in Spanish) where provision is made for crisis intervention counseling and safety planning. Victims can be connected with other BDVP services through the hotlines. BDVP hotline staff also provide referrals for shelter and housing, emergency food services, legal assistance, youth services, elder programs, medical services, general counseling needs, sexual assault counseling, welfare assistance, services for gay and lesbian people, and services in multiple languages. · Counseling
Services: LSH’s BDVP provides free individual
and group counseling for victims or former victims of domestic
violence. Counseling can help a victim/survivor process emotions
and memories, get connected with other needed services, understand
the cycle of abuse, as well as improve the · Court Advocacy: Bilingual advocacy is provided to victims of domestic violence in the Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia. An advocate is available in the courtroom where preliminary trials are held. Court accompaniment is also available on a limited basis and must be requested prior to the court date. · Medical Advocacy: As part of a collaborative effort with Tenet Health System, LSH’s BDVP provides advocacy for patients at Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University Hospitals. The medical advocate is available during the week for crisis counseling, on-going individual and group counseling, and assistance with specific legal and medical needs. In addition, the medical advocate trains and educates the medical and non-medical hospital staff on the dynamics of domestic abuse and how to respond appropriately to victims. · Education and Training: As part of a comprehensive outreach initiative, the BDVP offers domestic violence education and training to schools, faith communities, and other community members, both lay and professional. The BDVP also provides additional educational and support services for clients including sewing classes, self-improvement, and self-defense. · Volunteers: Volunteers are an integral part of LSH’s Bilingual Domestic Violence Project. Volunteers help in many areas, including hotline support, education, life skills training, and administration. In order to provide direct services for clients, volunteers must complete a 45-hour training program in domestic violence and required background checks. Lutheran Settlement House’s Bilingual Domestic Violence Project was the first organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide services in Spanish for Latina victims of domestic violence. The Bilingual Domestic Violence Project consciously employs a culturally and linguistically diverse staff, reflective of the communities it serves.
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victim/survivor’s
self-esteem. Counseling can also help with the effects of trauma
caused by domestic violence. The BDVP offers an array of group
counseling including evening groups, closed and open groups, life
skills training, and other educational groups. Babysitting is
provided at no cost to the client. All counseling is confidential.
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