For the past 44 years, Human Options has been serving Orange County, California, addressing the critical needs of survivors of relationship violence and their children. What originally began as a hotline and a six-bed shelter, the organization now offers a 36-bed emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, legal advocacy, mental health services and prevention education, and more, to over 10,000 people annually.
Human Options integrates three key approaches to breaking the cycle of violence: emergency crisis services, community-based counseling support, and prevention education. Our ultimate goal is to break the intergenerational cycle of relationship violence by supporting the healing and development of children and families impacted by abuse.
A central part of our overall effort is the refreshed Children’s Program facility, which operates from our confidential emergency shelter with the support of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF). Each year, the program serves 175 children under the age of 18 who arrive at the shelter or transitional housing program with a parent who has experienced domestic or relationship violence. Many of these children have also witnessed violence and abuse firsthand in their homes before escaping to safety.
Through their tremendous volunteer efforts and a generous $10,000 grant, IICF has significantly transformed the Children’s Program space into a warmer environment by providing additional toys and furniture, and increasing our storage capacity. IICF’s contributions allow the children to have more room to play, explore, have healthy interactions and to heal while building resilience in the aftermath of relationship violence.
One parent shared, “Because of the Children’s Program, my relationship with my son has improved. There are fewer arguments and more tender moments. The new Children’s Program area has played a vital role in creating an environment where my son can thrive.”
On a one-on-one level, our Children’s Advocates and Children’s Therapists work closely with each child through play, therapy and education, helping them work through their trauma, build emotional resilience and strengthen their bonds with their non-violent parent.
We welcome volunteers from our community, who participate in a vetting process prior to on-site volunteering in order to preserve the safety and confidentiality of Human Option's clients. All volunteers are required to:
- Watch a 45-minute volunteer orientation video, which is provided prior to the day of volunteering
- Complete a confidentiality waiver in advance of volunteering
- Fill out a volunteer intake form day of the project
We are extremely grateful for our relationship with IICF, and we welcome more volunteers, in particular for our Humanity in Action program, a collective movement to end relationship violence in Orange County. Learn more at https://humanoptions.org/humanity-in-action or email humanity@humanoptions.org.
As we enter IICF’s Month of Giving, please consider how valuable your support is to organizations such as ours. October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and volunteers are welcome to join us at our three candlelight vigils in Costa Mesa, Irvine and Santa Ana, Calif., to honor survivors of relationship violence and raise awareness of an issue that impacts everyone in our community. We look forward to building a community with you where everyone experiences safe, healthy relationships and lives free from fear.
Check out the slideshow above to see some of the work being done by Human Options.
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