History

Alliance pioneered domestic violence and sexual assault services in our community 30 years ago.

• Founded in 1979 by 34 women who recognized a need in Kern County and decided to do something about domestic violence and sexual assault. Alliance began as a volunteer-staffed 24-hour hotline for battered women in Kern County.
• Alliance has provided year-round emergency shelter, intervention and supportive services for 30 years.

Reorganization and merger
Two and one-half years ago, Bethany Services took over the management of the Alliance. Why: The agency was staggering a bit, they had lost their long-time Exec. Director and many of their long-term board members. The BHC board of directors did not want the services provided by Alliance to be lost.

In July 2006, we began managing the Alliance. The past two years have been TRANSITION.

What has been done in two and 1/2 years:
We began rebuilding the infrastructure

• Repaired the roof, purchased all new computers...(old ones -98, not protected) , new phone system (the back up for the old system was a tractor battery), purchased a new data collection system
• Remodeled the shelter units and kitchen and repaired the fencing and updated the childcare
• Remodeled our Outreach Center entry, a group room and several offices
• Completely painted the interior for a fresh new look - more inviting for clients and inspiring for the staff. New carpet throughout was added just two weeks ago.
• A Kern County Network for Children Leadership Development Group recently remodeled and furnished an office so it could be used exclusively for counseling children.

The Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault is once again pioneering safety and prevention services in Greater Bakersfield and the surrounding rural communities. The Alliance and the services we provide is what stands between traumatized women and children and the continued experience of domestic violence and sexual assault. And worse, without our crisis, case management, counseling, and prevention services, many of those same children would most likely repeat that cycle of violence in their own family lives.

We began refining the agency programs to provide the best response to our community's needs in domestic violence and sexual assault crisis services, prevention and education. We serve the Greater Bakersfield area, Arvin, Buttonwillow, Delano, Frazier Park, Lamont, McFarland, Oildale, Shafter and Wasco - a population base of 488,000.

Alliance programs

Last year the Alliance provided safety and crisis services to 2,878 domestic violence and SA clients.

The definition of safety net services for Alliance clients includes emotional health. We now provide a comprehensive range of services relating to DV and SA clients, including prevention, crisis intervention counseling, information and referral, advocacy assessments for women, teens and children ages 2 and above. The therapeutic philosophy, approaches and interventions of the Alliance has being developed towards an empowerment model with one of the strongest clinical models in the state. We recognize that a violated child is in a precarious position for his or her future. Through our counseling services, a child's past does not get to define them -they will get to write their own future.

• Group Counseling - 343 clients
• Individual and Rural Peer Counselng - 887 clients
• 13 interns from the CSUB Dept. of Social Work provide group and individual counseling that equals over $208,000 is saved wages
• The Alliance is the only Rape Crisis Center in Kern County. We provided Hospital Accompaniments and Sexual Assault Services - 102 clients
• 24-Hour Crisis Hotline - Alliance responded to 3,599 calls for help and information on our Hotline
• Education and Prevention Services - 232 Professional trainings and 420 educational session to a combined 14,843 participants
• Goal: Educate the community about sexual assault prevention, domestic violence and self defense with a focus on school-aged adolescents and teens to reinforce healthy relationships and making healthy relationship choices.
• Education Department now offers two versions of a free self-defense class. One brings the class to your place of business for a 55 minute session and the other teaches education and defense techniques
• Alliance now offers a GED program to shelter residents at Alliance and the Bakersfield Homeless Center.
• We are working directly with at-risk youth, developing programs with Boys and Girls Club, Kern County Probation Dept. Early Intervention Programs, Pathways and Crossroads Reach For Greatness Mentoring and PAL
• Through the Domestic Assault Response Team - DART program - Alliance has established rapport with local law enforcement including a new program with the Bakersfield Police Department. We continue strong partnerships with the Kern County Sheriffs Department, and Shafter PD. Staff and volunteers ride with law enforcement officers to provide DV advocacy and safety services directly in the field. Staff goes with officers on about 50 rides a month
• Sexual Assault Response staff members provided services to 566 victims last year - almost 2 new clients that have been violated or molested come through the Alliance door everyday

Again, Last year the Alliance provided crisis services to 2,878 domestic violence and SA clients.

We also provided education and prevention services to over 14,843 individuals in our community. The grand total = greater awareness understanding, prevention and safety services for 17,721 individuals.

We are honored to say we recently received recognition for our work. Congressman Costa nominated the Alliance for the 2009 Congressional Caucus Award for Outstanding Victims' Rights advocacy. We competed against other dv and sa agencies across the country. I am happy to tell you the Alliance was selected for the award and Congressman Costa accepted it on our behalf in Washington DC.