Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Domestic Violence Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Women Helping Women updates commissioners on services, outreach and a client assistance fund in Clermont County
Summary
Representatives from Women Helping Women told the Clermont County Board of County Commissioners they provide free, confidential services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, described prevention work in local schools and said a client assistance fund has helped remove financial barriers for survivors.
Representatives from the nonprofit Women Helping Women briefed the Clermont County Board of County Commissioners on June 25 about the agency's survivor services, school-based prevention work and a client assistance fund used to remove financial barriers that can keep people in abusive situations.
"Everything that we do is a 100% free. It's a 100% confidential," Davina Cooper, senior director of 24-hour programming, told commissioners. Cooper said the agency operates a 24-hour hotline, hospital and court accompaniment for survivors, and two advocates are co-located at the Little Fork Family & Child Advocacy Center at Mercy Health in Clermont County.
Cooper said the agency began formally tracking county-level services in 2020 and reported that by June 24 it had already served 95 survivors in Clermont County this year with about 330 services. She said in 2023 the agency recorded more than 130 survivors served from Clermont County, accounting for roughly 500 services.
Cooper described a client assistance fund that the agency uses to remove practical barriers for people leaving abusive situations, including paying driver's-license reinstatement fees, utility arrearages and for items such as cell phones or cameras meant to increase personal safety. She said 19 survivors in Clermont County received client assistance last year, totaling nearly $20,000.
Amber Milad, vice president of programming, described prevention programs targeting students in grades 7—12, including a five-day "Prevent and Empower" curriculum that teaches consent, bystander intervention and online-safety topics. Milad said the program has reached West Clermont, New Richmond and Bethel-Tate schools and that the agency plans targeted outreach in the coming school year, including efforts to re-establish relationships with Milford schools and extend services to UC Clermont students.
Kristen Smith Shrimplin, president and CEO, said the agency served nearly 8,500 survivors across its five-county service area last year and stressed the agency's commitment to continue and expand services in Clermont County following a formal service partnership that began in 2024.
No formal action was required or taken by the commissioners on the presentation. Commissioners thanked the presenters and said they welcomed continued collaboration with local health and social-service partners.
The agency asked the board to note the availability of advocacy, prevention and community trainings and said it stands ready to support employers with programs designed to retain employees affected by interpersonal violence and to work with foster-care providers, schools and faith organizations on tailored training and resources.
