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Domestic Violence Shelters Unite

Posted on: Wednesday, 22 February 2006, 12:01 CST

By John Gutierrez-Mier, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

Feb. 22--FORT WORTH -- After more than 10 months of meetings, focus groups and brainstorming sessions, Tarrant County's two largest nonprofit organizations dedicated to curbing and helping victims of domestic violence have merged.

"Together, we are stronger then we were apart," said Mary Lee Hafley, president and chief executive officer of SafeHaven Tarrant County, the name of the new organization.

SafeHaven is a combination of the Women's Shelter in Arlington and the Women's Haven of Tarrant County, based in Fort Worth. Both nonprofit organizations were dedicated to reducing domestic violence and offered a number of programs and services, including emergency services and counseling.

"For two shelters to come together, we're plowing new ground," Hafley said during a news conference Tuesday to announce the merger.

Talk about the merger began in April, when the board of directors of each organization began discussing the possibility of merging. Women's Haven was created in 1976, and the Women's Shelter opened in 1978.

Hafley said it became apparent that the organizations were duplicating many services.

The merger, which became official Feb. 1, has consolidated administration costs and provided fresh goals for the two shelters, Hafley said. The shelters will continue to serve clients from across Tarrant County.

"We hope to build key partnerships with school systems, law enforcement, medical services providers and religious communities," Hafley said. "These are places where victims come together."

IN THE KNOW

Shelter merger

In 2005:

The organization's hot lines in Arlington and Fort Worth handled more than 45,000 calls related to domestic violence.

More than 3,000 women and children were housed at the two shelters.

Fort Worth and Arlington police responded to more than 36,000 calls involving domestic violence.

The new toll free crisis line is (877) 701-7233

www.safehaventc.org

Source: SafeHaven Tarrant County

John Gutierrez-Mier, (817) 390-7155 jmier@star-telegram.com

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Copyright (c) 2006, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas)

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