Description
Established in June of 1973, Prudence Crandall Center, Inc. is the oldest domestic violence program in Connecticut and the second oldest nationwide. The Center is a non-profit organization that was established by a group of caring and concerned women who had a vision of a place for women to meet, share, and support one another. The Center was named after Prudence Crandall, a brave advocate who stood up against the mistreatment and inequality of prejudice. Prudence was an educator and role model who established the first academy for "young ladies and little misses of color", in Canterbury, Connecticut in 1833.
The initial focus of the Center was to identify the health, employment and social service needs of area women and to empower them to participate in all aspects of community life. Today, the Center serves women, men and children who are victims of domestic violence. The Center provides empowerment and support to victims and survivors through a 24-hour hotline, 16 bed emergency shelter, advocacy, community education, and individual and group counseling. The Center is a member of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic violence and is the only program that provides specialized domestic violence services to the communities of Berlin, Bristol, Burlington, Kensington, New Britain, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and Terryville. It is also the first of it's kind to house transitional and long-term living apartments as well as wrap around services in one facility.
