As we celebrate 40 years of providing services in our community, The Abuse Network, Inc. would like to take this opportunity to offer an overview of our agency in The United Way newsletter. The United Way is an important and valuable partner agency and we appreciate this opportunity to share a bit about how some of your United Way donations are used within our area through our agency. The Abuse Network serves between 700 and 900 new clients each year in Mifflin, Juniata, and Huntingdon Counties. Our services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to serve those who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, or other crimes of interpersonal violence. These services may be accessed by contacting our 24-hour hotline. Hotline and in-person crisis intervention and counseling is provided by highly trained and experienced Victim Advocates or Volunteer Victim Advocates using a wellness-based, non-psychotherapeutic method of counseling that promotes well-being and provides victims with the information and tools needed to help them to secure resources and safety while also promoting the unique strengths that each client has to offer at the onset of their services. We recognize that each person has the most information about their own lives and by helping the client consider their strengths while deciding what services they will use, clients may regain a sense of well-being, independence, and autonomy. In addition to counseling, clients may utilize legal and medical advocacy and accompaniment services which can include assistance with protective orders, attending with the client if they seek medical care after an incident of sexual assault or domestic violence, and providing educational information about the clients’ rights as they proceed through the legal and medical communities. Additionally, our agency offers emergency domestic violence shelter to victims and their children who are fleeing or displaced by domestic violence. Our shelter environment is one that allows clients to take time to explore their needs and the options that may be available to assist them in transitioning to a more peaceful life. Services are tailored to the individual client, allowing them to decide what may work best for them. In each case, clients are presented with options and they are afforded the choice to make the decisions about what may work best for them. All services of The Abuse Network are free and confidential. Finally, the agency offers free educational programming to all age groups in schools, civic groups, to allied professionals and other community organizations. We want to express our sincere thanks to the United Way for offering us this opportunity in their newsletter. If you would like more information or you would like to talk with an advocate, please reach out to our toll-free hotline at 1.888.810.2444. | 
