Sanctuary for Families
Encyclopedia
Sanctuary for Families is a New York City
-based non-profit organization
dedicated to aiding victims of domestic violence
and their children. Founded in 1984, services include crisis intervention, emergency and transitional shelter, legal assistance and representation, adult and child counseling, and long-term follow-up care. Sanctuary is also involved in extensive training, public awareness, and advocacy programs.
legal services have attracted note in stories about the legal struggles of women who leave abusive relationships.
In Nicholson v. Williams Sanctuary for Families and public interest law firm Lansner & Kubitschek represented a successful lawsuit against the city's Administration for Children's Services. The court ruled against ACS' practice of bringing child neglect proceedings against mothers and removing children from their custody on the basis of them having "allowed" their children to witness domestic violence or their having "engaged" in domestic violence simply by being a victim of it.
In 2007, it was among over 530 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor
Michael Bloomberg
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
dedicated to aiding victims of domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
and their children. Founded in 1984, services include crisis intervention, emergency and transitional shelter, legal assistance and representation, adult and child counseling, and long-term follow-up care. Sanctuary is also involved in extensive training, public awareness, and advocacy programs.
Public Attention
Sanctuary for Families receives recognition from the mayor's office of New York City and the District Attorney's office. Its pro bonoPro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
legal services have attracted note in stories about the legal struggles of women who leave abusive relationships.
In Nicholson v. Williams Sanctuary for Families and public interest law firm Lansner & Kubitschek represented a successful lawsuit against the city's Administration for Children's Services. The court ruled against ACS' practice of bringing child neglect proceedings against mothers and removing children from their custody on the basis of them having "allowed" their children to witness domestic violence or their having "engaged" in domestic violence simply by being a victim of it.
In 2007, it was among over 530 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
.
Statistics (fiscal year 2004)
- $8.3 million budget
- Aided more than 9,000 victims of domestic violence and their children
- Crisis shelters housed an average of 43 women and children a day
- Sarah Burke House transitional shelter housed 182 mothers and 240 children
- 90% of those who left Sarah Burke House moved into permanent housing
- Legal Center handled 2,998 cases for 1,856 clients and provided legal assistance, advice, and referrals to an additional 3,000 women
- Children's Program provided services to more than 450 children