Description
In June 1985, Artemis Center for Alternatives to Domestic Violence was established as Artemis House. Founded by six women, often working without pay, Artemis was to provide services beyond the traditional housing and safety offered by shelters. Since 1985, Artemis Center has made great strides in the community, helping more than 65,000 victims and their children.
It was the experience of the founders that victims fleeing domestic violence, in addition to needing a safe place, also need help and guidance through the often confusing and sometimes intimidating legal system. They also need information about domestic violence, how it functions and how it affects the individual and children in a household. And, because many victims of domestic violence are isolated, the agency also provides information about and referrals to other community services able to assist victims in getting safe. By providing this information and support, Artemis empowers victims to make decisions and choices which will establish and maintain safety for themselves and their children. Each year, Artemis Center serves approximately 5,000 individuals. These services are provided to clients free of charge.
In addition to helping people in crisis, Artemis Center has become a community resource for creating a coordinated response to domestic violence. Because all systems must work in concert to protect victims and hold batterers accountable, Artemis Center and the YWCA joined together to form The Family Violence Collaborative in 1993. This Collaborative has brought together law enforcement, criminal justice, child protection and health care professionals to develop protocols of response.
