Center For Community Solutions

THE MISSION IS TO END RELATIONSHIP AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE BY BEING A CATALYST FOR CARING COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. THE VISION IS FOR ALL PEOPLE TO LIVE FULL, FREE, EXPRESSIVE, AND EMPOWERED LIVES IN A SAFE, HEALTHY, VIBRANT, AND PEACEFUL COMMUNITY.

HOUSING AND ADVOCACY SERVICES (HAS):INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE SHELTERS: CCS OPERATES BOTH SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM CONFIDENTIAL INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE SHELTERS. PROJECT SAFE HOUSE (PSH) IS A SHORT-TERM 24-BED INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE SHELTER LOCATED IN EAST SAN DIEGO COUNTY, AND HIDDEN VALLEY HOUSE (HVH) IS OUR SHORT-TERM 35-BED INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE SHELTER LOCATED IN NORTH INLAND REGION OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY. BOTH SHELTERS ARE STAFFED 24-HOURS PER DAY BY CERTIFIED INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE COUNSELORS. INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE SHELTERED IN THESE PROGRAMS FOR UP TO TWO MONTHS. WHILE LIVING IN THE SHELTER THEY RECEIVE ADVOCACY, COUNSELING, SAFETY PLANNING, CLIENT SERVICES, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD, CLOTHING, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO HELP THEM STABILIZE AND TRANSITION TO MORE PERMANENT HOUSING. NEXT STEP IS OUR LONG-TERM CONFIDENTIAL INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE SHELTER PROGRAM WHERE FAMILIES THAT NEED MORE TIME TO GET ON THEIR FEET CAN STAY UP TO EIGHTEEN MONTHS. NEXT STEP FAMILIES ARE HOUSED IN ONE APARTMENT AT PSH AND FIVE, TWO-BEDROOM UNITS IN A SEPARATE FACILITY CALLED NEXT STEP NORTH. IN TOTAL, NEXT STEP OFFERS UP TO 40 BEDS FOR LONG-TERM SHELTER. ALL CCS INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE SHELTER PROGRAMS ACCEPT ADULTS AND CHILDREN OF ALL GENDERS. SHELTER SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH WITH ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES, INCLUDING SIGN LANGUAGES, PROVIDED BY CERTIFIED INTERPRETER SERVICES.DV HOUSING FIRST: ESTABLISHED IN 2018, CCS ADDRESSES LONG-TERM SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING AS A KEY COMPONENT TO LONG-TERM SURVIVOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE PROGRAM IMPROVES THE WAY COMMUNITIES RESPOND TO INTIMATE PARTNER AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE BY INTEGRATING HOUSING STABILITY INTO ADVOCACY, ASSISTING SURVIVORS WITH ACCESSING AND/OR RETAINING HOUSING. WITH THE ADDITION OF A HOUSING COORDINATOR, SERVICES INCLUDE MOBILE ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENT AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING HOTLINE COUNSELING: CCS PROVIDES TOLL-FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, 24-HOUR HOTLINE CRISIS COUNSELING, SAFETY PLANNING, INFORMATION, AND REFERRALS TO A HOST OF FOLLOW-UP SERVICES, INCLUDING COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, MEDICAL CARE, SHELTER, FOOD, AND CLOTHING. HOTLINE COUNSELING IS PROVIDED BY CERTIFIED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM COUNSELORS, IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, WITH ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES PROVIDED BY CERTIFIED INTERPRETER SERVICES. CCS HOTLINE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, WHICH INCLUDES A HOTLINE COORDINATOR, ASSIST APPROXIMATELY 5,000 CALLERS ANNUALLY.

SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES (SAS):SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES (SAS) - SAS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST STATE-FUNDED RAPE CRISIS CENTERS IN CALIFORNIA AND COVERS MOST OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY. SAS SERVICES INCLUDE CRISIS COUNSELING, SAFETY PLANNING, TRAUMA-INFORMED CLIENT SERVICES, AND HELP WITH CONNECTING TO OTHER RESOURCES, INCLUDING COUNSELING, LEGAL SERVICES, HOUSING, MEDICAL CARE, FOOD, CLOTHING, AND IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE.SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE TEAM (SART) PROVIDES AN IN-PERSON EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO EVERY SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM IN ITS SERVICE AREA WHO UNDERGOES A SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINATION. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE SART MANAGER, CCS VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF ARE SCHEDULED AROUND-THE-CLOCK TO RESPOND WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF A CALL, AND THEY STAY WITH A VICTIM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FORENSIC EXAMINATION PROCESS PROVIDING CRISIS SUPPORT, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCES. SAS IS STAFFED BY FULL-TIME VICTIM ADVOCATES WHO PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP SERVICES AFTER THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE. ADVOCATES ALSO PROVIDE IN-PERSON EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DURING DETECTIVE AND ATTORNEY INTERVIEWS, PRELIMINARY HEARINGS, AND OTHER COURT EVENTS.CAMPUS ADVOCACY:CCS CAMPUS ADVOCACY PROGRAM INCLUDES A PROGRAM MANAGER WHO IS OUT-STATIONED AT SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT (CITY COLLEGE, MIRAMAR COLLEGE, AND MESA COLLEGE) AND A FULL-TIME ADVOCATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY TO PROVIDE SAS ADVOCACY ON CAMPUS AND WORK WITH CAMPUS STAFF TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITY TO RESPONSE TO REPORTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. THIS TEAM ALSO SUPPORTS VICTIMS WHO ARE REFERRED FROM OTHER SOURCES, INCLUDING SELF-REFERRALS AND WALK-INS.

LEGAL, COUNSELING, AND ADVOCACY SERVICES (LCAS):INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE SERVICES (IPVS): IPVS SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN EAST, CENTRAL, AND NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY. THREE FULL-TIME VICTIM ADVOCATES PROVIDE CRISIS COUNSELING, SAFETY PLANNING, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE LETHALITY ASSESSMENTS, COURT ACCOMPANIMENT, APPLICATION ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION, REFERRALS, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. ADVOCATES UTILIZE THEIR SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS TO HELP SURVIVORS ACCESS SAFE HOUSING, LEGAL SERVICES, COUNSELING, IMMIGRATION SERVICES, FOOD, CLOTHING, AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES. IPVS IS LED BY A FULL-TIME LEGAL TEAM MANAGER, AND PROVIDES SERVICES AT THE EL CAJON COURTHOUSE, AND CCS EAST, CENTRAL, AND NORTH OFFICES. THIS FREE, CONFIDENTIAL SERVICE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, WITH ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES, INCLUDING SIGN LANGUAGES, PROVIDED BY CERTIFIED INTERPRETER SERVICES. CCS HAS EXPANDED SERVICES TO SURVIVORS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE WITH THE ADDITION OF DOMESTIC ABUSE FORENSIC EXAMS (DAFE) ACCOMPANIMENT AS PART OF A COUNTYWIDE EFFORT TO BETTER RESPOND TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR STRANGLED. CCS PROVIDES ACCOMPANIMENT AND ADVOCACY TO IPV SURVIVORS DURING AND AFTER FORENSIC EXAMS.CCS IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTYWIDE SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE TEAM (SART), A 39-YEAR-OLD COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WHICH INCLUDES CIVILIAN, MILITARY, AND TRIBAL ADVOCATES; LAW ENFORCEMENT; A SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC NURSE; CRIME LAB; AND JUSTICE AGENCIES. ALL MEMBERS OF SART MEET SIX TIMES PER YEAR, CROSS-TRAIN, AND FOLLOW A STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL TO ENSURE COMPASSIONATE, SURVIVOR-CENTERED SERVICES.LEGAL SERVICES: WITH A STAFF OF SIX CALIFORNIA-LICENSED ATTORNEYS, CCS HIGHLY SKILLED LEGAL TEAM SERVES SURVIVORS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND IS THE LARGEST NO-COST LEGAL TEAM IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. CCS LEGAL SERVICES INCLUDE:LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS (LAV) - STAFFED BY THE FULL-TIME LEGAL TEAM MANAGER AND TWO STAFF ATTORNEYS, LAV PROVIDES CIVIL LEGAL REMEDIES AND DIRECT REPRESENTATION FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. LAV SPECIALIZES IN THE CIVIL LEGAL NEEDS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, PRIVACY, SAFETY, AND FINANCIAL COMPENSATION, AS WELL AS CIVIL HARASSMENT RESTRAINING ORDERS. THE PROGRAM ASSISTS SURVIVORS WITH IMMIGRATION CONCERNS THROUGH A SUBCONTRACT WITH CASA CORNELIA LAW CENTER. LAV IS SAN DIEGOS GO-TO LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM FOR PRIVACY LAW (REPRESENTING VICTIMS IN CRIMINAL COURT), AND TITLE IX ISSUES (SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS DISCRIMINATION) THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. LAV IS THE ONLY SEXUAL ASSAULT-SPECIFIC DIRECT REPRESENTATION LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LEGAL SERVICES: ONE FULL-TIME ATTORNEY PROVIDES RESTRAINING ORDER ASSISTANCE TWENTY (20) HOURS PER WEEK AT THE EL CAJON COURTHOUSE, AND PRO PER FAMILY LAW ASSISTANCE TWENTY (20) HOURS PER WEEK AT CCS EAST COUNTY OFFICE, INCLUDING FILLING OUT PAPERWORK, CLIENT CONSULTATIONS, AND HEARING PREPARATION.NORTH COUNTY LEGAL SERVICES (XL): ONE FULL-TIME ATTORNEY AND ONE FULL-TIME LEGAL ADVOCATE PROVIDE PRO PER LEGAL SERVICES, INCLUDING FILLING OUT PAPERWORK, CLIENT CONSULTATIONS, AND HEARING PREPARATION FOR VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING IN THE NORTH REGION.HIGH RISK TEAMS: CCS ATTORNEYS ALSO COORDINATE SAN DIEGO COUNTYS CENTRAL, EAST, AND NORTH HIGH-RISK TEAMS, A MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESPONSE TEAM THAT INCLUDES LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE CITY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICES, SEVERAL INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND PROBATION. THIS TEAM MEETS MONTHLY IN EACH REGION TO COLLABORATE AND CONDUCT CASE REVIEWS IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE SAFETY OF VICTIMS WHO ARE AT SERIOUS RISK OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE-RELATED HOMICIDE.TRAUMA-SPECIFIC COUNSELING: CCS OPERATES COUNSELING PROGRAMS IN NORTH, CENTRAL, AND EAST COUNTY. A TEAM OF THREE STAFF THERAPISTS PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, FAMILY, AND CHILD COUNSELING USING A VARIETY OF BEST PRACTICE, TRAUMA-SPECIFIC APPROACHES, INCLUDING TRAUMA-FOCUSED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (TF-CBT), TRAUMA RESILIENCY MODEL (TRM), EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR), GUIDED IMAGERY, EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY, PLAY THERAPY, SAND TRAY THERAPY, AND MINDFULNESS THERAPIES. OUR COUNSELING PROGRAM INCLUDES UP TO FIVE MASTERS-LEVEL MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY, SOCIAL WORK, OR PROFESSIONAL CLINICAL COUNSELOR INTERN STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE INTENSIVE TRAINING, SUPERVISION, AND COMMIT TWENTY HOURS PER WEEK TO CCS. YOUTH COUNSELING SERVICES (UP TO 18 YEARS OF AGE) ARE OFFERED BY TWO ADDITIONAL CHILD THERAPISTS, WHO WORK TOGETHER WITH A CHILD ADVOCATE (SEE CHAT). THE CHILD ADVOCACY ALLOWS CCS TO ENSURE THAT ALL YOUTH SEEKING SUPPORT TO HEAL FROM TRAUMA HAVE WRAP-AROUND, HOLISTIC RESOURCES AND REFERRALS SUITED TO THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS. INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN IS ALSO OFFERED ON-SITE AT OUR BUSINESS OFFICES AND SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY SHELTERS.CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT (CHAT): THE CHAT PROGRAM OFFERS TRAUMA-SPECIFIC THERAPY AND ADVOCACY SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA. CCS FOCUSES ON THE CHILDS STRENGTHS, AND WHERE THE CHILD NEEDS SUPPORT IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THEIR COPING STRATEGIES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALTHY LIFE CHOICES. ALL SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. THE CHAT PROGRAM SERVES CHILDREN WHO ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 AND VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AS WELL AS WITNESS TO VIOLENCE OR A CRIME. CCS OFFERS THESE SERVICES WITH TWO CHILD THERAPISTS AND ONE CHILD ADVOCATE. THERAPISTS CREATE A SAFE TRAUMA-INFORMED ENVIRONMENT TO IMPROVE COPING STRATEGIES, DECISION-MAKING, AND ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS TO MANAGE EMOTIONS AND BEHAVIORS. IN ADDITION, THE ADVOCATE PROVIDES COORDINATION WITH SCHOOLS AND OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED WITH THE CHILDS WELLBEING. THE CCS CHILD ADVOCATE PROVIDES INFORMATION AND SUPPORT THAT INCLUDES CRISIS INTERVENTION, SAFETY PLANNING, COURT ACCOMPANIMENT, VICTIM OF CRIME ASSISTANCE, MONITORING ACADEMIC PROGRESS, AND ASSIST IN PARENT EDUCATION.