Dear Friends,

It's hard to believe how fast the years go by, but once again the holiday season is upon us! On behalf or the Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers we send you our wishes for a peaceful season.

Holidays are such a joyous occasion for families. It is a time when we celebrate one another and spend time together with those we hold dear. We look forward to observing our family traditions as we look toward the New Year with anticipation and hope. As the holiday approaches children begin looking forward to happy days filled with gifts and goodies.

For the families staying at Serene Harbor this season can be far from cheerful. The activities leading up to the holiday which we all take for granted are not a part of the lives of many of these families. Many of them have never experienced the happiness surrounding this time of year.

This year our challenges have been many. The need for our services has increased threefold. This holiday season we need your help so the women and children at our shelter can share the magical feelings of the holidays and experience, some for the first time, the happy spirit of the season. Your support will make all the difference.

Gifts can be made securely online at www.sereneharbor.org 

or

Mail your check made payable to Serene Harbor, Inc. to P.O. Box 100039 Palm Bay, FL 32910 

Overcoming the effects of domestic violence is a monumental task for survivors and their children. The role of the domestic violence shelter in assisting survivors to break away from this abuse is significant. Serene Harbor provides a safe and protective environment to support the survivors as they struggle to build a life for themselves and their children free from fear and violence.

While families participate in our shelter and outreach programs we provide the following services to them.

Hotline Services

Serene Harbor provides a 24-hour domestic violence hotline which is staffed 365 days a year by trained advocates. Information regarding injunctions for protection, safety planning, education, financial and professional services, legal aid, housing, mental health issues, medical care and children's service options are given to hotline callers.

Emergency Shelter

When a client meets Serene Harbor's admission criteria the client and their children are admitted to the shelter. While at the shelter, clients and their families are provided with basic needs and a full continuum of services.

Case Management

The Case Managers provide goal-oriented services which are intended to counteract the negative effects of domestic violence on the victim. The case managers work closely with each client, monitoring and facilitating progress toward their program goals. They also provide legal advocacy in conjunction with Legal Aid. In additions the children's advocacy staff provides supportive services intended to counteract the negative effects of domestic violence on the child victim.