Our mission is:
to promote social change by providing services which empower battered and abused individuals and their dependent children of all abilities to achieve safe, violence-free lives;
to partner with the community by providing information and education geared toward the elimination of domestic and sexual violence, the achievement of peace in relationships and establishment of a system to hold perpetrators accountable
to provide a safe work environment.
Professional staff help bridge the gap between victimization and independence. That includes everything from safety planning in order to remain in your home to emergency shelter and transitioning to a new life. Our services are confidential and driven by the identified needs of the victim.
SAFE provides 24-hour crisis intervention in Tangipahoa, Livingston and St. Helena Parishes. SAFE offers advocacy and referral services to adults who self-identify as being victims of domestic and sexual violence and their dependent children. The agency provides an array of services, including crisis intervention, safety planning, individual/group counseling, emergency food, clothing, temporary lodging, transitional housing, transportation, legal advocacy/support, court technical assistance, court preparation and court accompaniment.
SAFE also collaborates with and offers domestic violence training to law enforcement, local court systems and other social service agencies to ensure that quality services are being provided to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Advocates are available to meet with victims in our main office and in outreach locations. Please contact the agency at (985) 542-8384 for more information.
SAFE is a member of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence and is funded by state and federal grants, donations and fundraising events. Our services are made possible, in part, by grants from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Family Violence and Intervention Program (DCFS), Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (LCLE), Louisiana Bar Foundation, and private donors.
Board of Directors
History
In March 1981, after discussions with clients of their agency, attorneys, and support staff, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation (SLLS) set priorities for the future. One of these priorities was to develop a plan for providing support services, such as counseling and referral, to survivors of family violence who came to SLLS for legal assistance. This group of SLLS attorneys and staff organized public meetings to enlist community support for their project and to identify area resources and services. As a result of these meetings, the Tri-Parish Spouse Abuse area resources and services was formed to serve Livingston, St. Helena and Tangipahoa Parishes. TPSAP was incorporated as a separate entity in January 1982 and was then governed by its own board of directors. The program continued to be staffed by SLLS employees and operated with SLLS funds.
In March 1982, the board of directors voted to include Washington Parish within its service area and changed the name of the agency to Southeast Spouse Abuse Program.
During the first years of the program, from March 1981 to January 1983, SLLS staff provided assistance to more than 300 survivors of family violence. They laid the groundwork for the program by identifying the needs for services to survivors of family violence, developing cooperative relationships with other social service agencies in the area and by educating the community regarding the need for a program to help survivors of intimate partner violence. Over the year, our services provided have grown to include a 24-hour toll free crisis line, short term counseling for survivors of intimate partner violence and their dependent children, transitional housing, peer support groups, community education presentations, in-service training for professionals and para-professionals and numerous outreach locations throughout the programs four parish area.
In order to reflect the positive, empowering and educational nature of our program, the name of the agency was changed to SAFE - Southeast Advocates for Family Empowerment in 2012.
Most importantly, since its inception SAFE has served thousands of survivors of intimate partner violence and their dependent children.
24/Hr Crisis Line: