This Saturday there is a very cool event in Loveland. It is Pastels on 5th. It is a great day of artistic expression for a great cause. A group I believe in and would love to see prosper is Alternatives to Violence. They will be one of the beneficiaries of the event and they are very worthy of anything you can find in your heart to give. They do great work and are a needed resource in our community. Click here for info on Pastels on 5th.

Here is the mission statement from Alternatives to Violence explaining what the organization is all about and how you can help.

ATV’s Mission Statement:  ATV, in collaboration with individuals and communities impacted by violence, creates safe pathways away from abusive environments through education, empowerment, advocacy and shelter.

History: Alternatives to Violence in Loveland was founded in January 1982 under the name of the Battered Women’s Task Force.  Roxie Ellis and Pam Higgins were the driving force which identified the need in Loveland for community awareness, education, needed legal aide, counseling and emotional support for battered women.  Having access to support services within the community, gave local women an option to stay in the area for services.  Ten families were served by the Battered Women’s Task Force within the first year of opening.

In March of 1989, the Battered Women’s Task Force changed their name to Alternatives to Violence.

Fast forward to 2018, all the needs that the organization identified early on remain the same as today.

Statistics:  1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.  20,000 crisis calls are made to domestic violence hotlines daily; ATV answers an average of 66 crisis calls each month.

In 2017, ATV provided services to 734 adults, 127 children and safe shelter to 215 adults and children.

The SafeHouse opened in October 2016 with 8 bedrooms and 22 beds for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking providing a safe respite from abuse in a temporary emergency shelter. Providing case management and support services, victims have the opportunity to regain stability in their lives to move beyond victimization toward survivorship.

The Transitional Living Center is a low-income based program designed for women with children who have experienced domestic violence, and provides a safe place to live while recovering from domestic violence.

The Outreach Center offers advocacy, resources and referrals for survivors of crime to community agencies for assistance to move forward in their lives.

The Victim Response Team (Volunteer Victim Advocates) provide 24/7/365 on-call coverage to the Loveland Police Department when requested to respond on-scene or by phone, to provide immediate crisis intervention, emotional support, resources, referrals, information about court and other assistance to victims and witnesses of crime and persons affected by other sudden crisis. 

Volunteer Court Advocates assist clients with court accompaniment, restraining orders, civil and criminal court matters, and legal referrals. Volunteer Court Advocates are not lawyers and do not give legal advice.

ATV provides an outreach program within the Thompson School District’s high schools and middle schools that teaches on what healthy relationships look like vs an unhealthy relationship, Teen Dating Violence and Peer-to-Peer training.  We collaborate with other organizations to assure that our youth are receiving information they need to empower themselves to make safe and healthy choices.  80% of parents of teenagers do not think that teen dating violence is a real thing.  1 in 3 teenagers will become a victim of dating violence before they graduate high school.  1 in 10 have reported being hit, slapped or verbally abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Through public awareness, ATV believes that prevention is possible.  ATV staff members reach out to the Loveland community by bringing presentations and workshops to organizations throughout the Loveland community and local schools.  Contact ATV for more information or to schedule a presentation for your group.

You can make an impact today by becoming a volunteer at Alternatives to Violence. Please visit our website at: alternativestoviolence.org to learn more or apply for our volunteer opportunities.

If you or someone you know may need to reach out to talk to someone for help or resources, please call our 24-hour Hotline at 970-880-1000.

To Donate:  Go to alternativestoviolence.org, click on the DONATE button, click on ‘Donate to ATV through Colorado Gives’ to make your donation!

 

 

 

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