Valley Oasis Shelter
The shelter is a 60 day emergency shelter open 24-hours a day. With a 65 bed capacity, the shelter provides services to men, women and children of all ages who are victims of domestic violence. The shelter provides shelter to victims from around the world due to being one of the first shelters in the country to provide services to men. The shelter provides the following supportive services:- 24-hour hotline
- Peer counseling
- Maintaining a business center
- Shelter
- Emergency food and clothing
- Legal assistance with temporary restraining orders/permanent restraining orders
- Response to law enforcement calls
- Response to hospital emergency room calls
- Transportation
- Counseling for children
- Social service advocacy
- Court advocacy/accompaniment
- Household establishment
All of the services are provided by domestic violence advocates on shelter grounds.
CHILDREN SERVICES
The children’s service program is staffed through the shelter grant. We have three full time employees who see hundreds of children each year ranging from days old to 17 years. The program offers a full range of services to all ages: These services include:
- Early child development activities
- Pre-school readiness activities
- Social interaction skill development
- Peer support activities and groups
- Assistance in enrolling into school
- Assistance with special needs children (i.e. attendance at IEP’s, parent-teacher conferences, etc.)
- Anger management groups
- Tutoring
- Assistance with homework
- Windows Between Worlds Art Therapy
- Referrals
- Transportation
- Nutrition program
- Safety Planning
DVHF (Domestic Violence Housing First)
This is a one-time pilot project funded by the California Office of Emergency Services to look at systems as they intersect between people experiencing domestic violence and homelessness. Valley Oasis is one of 4 agencies in the West Coast that was selected to review and run this pilot program. Program offers flexible financial assistance, unrestricted funds used to support survivors to become stably housed. Funds are also used to support housing, employment, and survivor safety. This can include rent and utilities, children’s needs, transportation, work uniforms, etc.
STEPPIN INTO THE LIGHT
Steppin into the Light is a transitional housing program that offers housing to higher functioning individuals/families and is located in an apartment complex rather than being located on shelter grounds. The program houses approximately 8 families. While in this program clients receive supportive services such as:
- Transportation
- Money management
- Peer counseling
- Individual and group therapy
- Parenting classes
- Assistance with employment
- Resources and referrals
VALLEY OASIS THRIFT STORE
Residents in our shelter and clients within our programs receive much needed items from our thrift store free of charge. We also provide the shelter residents with a Learning Independence Program where they are taught the basics of work ethics, customer service skills, retail skills, business management, and the basic day to day tools needed for the work place. This will allow them to further their career opportunities and implement the skills they have learned to improve their quality of life.
HOMELESS PROGRAMS
The Coordinated Entry System (CES) offers a regionalized, countywide approach to address homelessness by using a common system, common tools, and common platform to identify, assess and prioritize needs and provide services.
The mission of the Coordinated Entry System (CES) is to create a seamless, cooperative system of service delivery for homeless and at-risk families, individuals and transitional age youth (TAY) throughout Los Angeles County; to reduce the overall impact of homelessness to all; and to reduce the number of those experiencing homelessness. The main objectives of CES are:
- To reduce the length of time a family, individual or TAY is homeless and permanently house them as quickly as possible, using Rapid Re-housing and linkages to supportive services.
- To build upon existing community-based infrastructures to serve those experiencing homeless ness, leverage resources, and provide more targeted and cost-effective interventions
- Housing First
- Harm Reduction
- Rapid Re-housing
- Progressive Case Management
- Critical Time Intervention
CASE MANAGEMENT:
Outreach is a domestic violence intervention program funded though the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. Our program is part of the County’s Welfare to Work program, and we seek to help people that have suffered from domestic violence to regain their autonomy and self-esteem so they can re-enter the world as a productive and healthy member of society. Due to the nature of our funding we serve clients that are receiving cash aid and food stamps, and these clients are referred to us, for the most part, directly from the County. The average caseload per case manager is approximately 44 clients.
We offer a comprehensive 21-week domestic violence education/support group. Our curriculum covers topics such as “What is Domestic Violence”, “Why do Abusers Abuse”, and “How Domestic Violence Impacts Your Children and Teens”, just to name a few. In addition to this class/support group we also offer comprehensive case management services, and seek to provide our clientele with the assistance and referrals they need to overcome their trauma. We also have a licensed marriage and family therapist on staff to see clients that have exceptional needs on an individual basis. Outreach also has a legal component, offering free legal services to qualified clients by a licensed attorney. Outreach also provides childcare for all appointments and classes a client has at our office while enrolled in our program.
LEGAL SERVICES:
Potential client must be a victim of domestic violence receiving public assistance and participating in the Outreach program to receive free legal services as needed.
Some of the matters we assist with are: family law issues: including divorce and custody matters, restraining orders, immigration issues, government benefits issues, landlord/tenant issues and other issues including expungements.
Client must be directly referred from one of our other programs to ensure that our clients will be a priority in the community to obtain these free services.
KAYLA’S PLACE
Kayla’s Place began in 2004 as a children’s therapeutic program for the Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council, now known as Valley Oasis. Children who have been exposed to violence as a primary victim, or a secondary victim, have a high risk for developing anger issues and repeating the cycle of violence. Kayla’s Place was originally designed to stop the continuation of violence by offering services to young victims.
In 2009, Kayla’s place expanded its services to include therapeutic interventions for all types of childhood trauma. Funding for this unique program is provided by a grant from California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CAL OES) and funds from community fundraising events.
To qualify for our services, the caregiver must have complete and total LEGAL custody of the child, and the child must have experienced a trauma that would qualify them for Victims of Crime services. However, there are many circumstances that prohibit the caregiver from applying for Victims of Crime, so filing a claim, in order to receive our services, is not a requirement, but we encourage all clients to take advantage of this great program.
We have on staff a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Psychologist. Both therapists are trained in the latest Evidenced Based modalities used in trauma treatment of children.
The following is a list of the treatment modalities used at Kayla’s Place:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Individual Therapy
- Play Therapy Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
- Art Therapy
- Therapeutic Stories
- Sand Tray Therapy
- Movement Therapy
- Group Therapy
SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE SERVICES
SARS is not only comprised of the sexual assault response service but to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) team, California Department of Health College Sexual Assault Prevention team (CDPH) and to the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). Each program has their own niche yet is firm in the same foundation of the prevention of sexual assault. Each program works closely with Antelope Valley Hospital Forensic Services team, has a 24 hour 7 days a week hotline, participate in community education and offer 1-1 crisis counseling.
SARS works with clients of all ages who have been victims of sexual or physical violence. SARS volunteers and staff respond to the Antelope Valley Hospital, Palmdale Regional Medical Center or Kaiser Permanente 24 hours 7 days a week to assist victims of sexual and physical violence. A trained SARS advocate responds to the victim and stays with the victim from entry to the emergency room through recovery. When a sexual assault kit is approved by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department the advocate will stay with the victim until the forensic exam is completed. The advocate provides: emotional support, resources and referrals, ensuring the victim’s rights are not violated, follow ups and one on one counseling. Advocates respond to approximately 300 emergency room calls each year.
SART works with other community programs and law enforcement to conduct case review, policy and procedures for responding to call of sexual and physical violence. This team meets quarterly. The team facilitates educational classes on sexual assault prevention and is part of the Antelope Valley Human Trafficking task force.
PREA works closely with California State Prison Lancaster on ending sexual assault within the prison system. Responding to the prison for sexual assault calls, offering 1-1 crisis counseling, and facilitating support groups. PREA also works with the investigation team on creating trauma informed material for inmates and participates in the CDCR new employee training.
