The support group offers women a forum to address their personal experiences and concerns. Volunteers also perform another vital function to victims of domestic abuse. They help by accompanying women in court. Obtaining a restraining order or pursuing another form of legal action can be a traumatic experience for these women, but volunteer advocates make the process less intimidating. The program offers individual counseling for women who need help or guidance.
Individual counseling is non-threatening.
Many women just need their fears and experiences to be validated,' Cason-Card said. I help give them options. We help them come up with a safety plan so they'll know what needs to be done if they have to leave their home suddenly. When a battered woman decides it's time to leave, the Domestic Violence Program is there to help. Although there are no shelters in Goochland or Powhatan, women are taken to shelters located in neighboring counties.