Luci Lawson, Neighbor

In the summer of 1985, both community members and social service providers met to discuss the need for a local agency dedicated to serving adult victims of domestic abuse and their children. The group conducted a survey of local and statewide service providers in order to gather statistics, survey the problem, and generate solutions. After analyzing the results, the group decided to open an agency to address the issues incorporated under the name Battered Spouses Network. Soon after, in an effort to clearly define its objective, the agency changed its name to the Network Against Domestic Abuse, Inc. of North Central Connecticut. It defined its catchment towns as East Windsor, Enfield, Somers, Stafford, Suffield and Windsor Locks.

In the spring of 1986, the agency received a $20,000 startup grant. Using these funds, the board hired an executive director in May and a counselor advocate in June. With a number of trained volunteers, the hotline opened in July. By the fall, the agency was also offering community support groups and court advocacy services. Emergency shelter was provided through a series of safe homes. In 1987, the agency received a $333,000 grant from the State of Connecticut to open a shelter for women and their children seeking refuge from their abusive homes. The shelter, named Julie’s Safe House, opened in January 1988. Several counselors and a child advocate were hired to staff the safe house.

Since then, The Network has continued to offer emergency safe house, a 24 hour hotline, child advocacy, community outreach, support groups, information and referral, and court advocacy. In 1991 the network received an $188,000 grant from the Town of Enfield to construct a new building adjacent to the Tracey Thurman house for children’s programs. The Children’s Center is used to provide services to children and as a family resource center while they are in Julie’s Safe House.

The demand from agency services has grown each year since 1985. In 2012-2013 The Network served 118 adults and children in our safe home, responded to 875 hotline calls; provided outreach, support, counseling and facilitated a support group for 410 clients; initiated 5,485 advocacy, informational, and referral contacts on client’s behalf; provided court-based victim advocacy to 1,773 clients; and offered community youth education presentations attended by 2,310 youths between the ages of 8-18.

The Network Against Domestic Abuse, Inc. is one of 18 member programs of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. All services are available without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, physical disability or sexual preference.

All services continue to be free of charge.