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2009 marked Mainstay's 25th anniversary of operation as Henderson County's domestic violence prevention agency. Perhaps Mainstay is best known to the public for its shelter for battered women and their children. One of the largest in Western North Carolina, our facility has 23 beds and 6 cribs, kitchen, laundry room, living room, playroom and quiet room. All windows and doors are on an alarm system which brings an immediate response by the city police department. While the shelter is, without a doubt, a critical part of our agency's programming, Mainstay is more than a shelter.

Following are some of Mainstay's programs:
Click on Program for information, Use scrollbars to read content

› 24-Hr Response Line
A hotline is answered at the agency seven days a week, 24 hours per day, by well-trained staff and volunteers to give emergency response, support and information.
› Counseling/Support
Individual counseling and weekly support groups are offered by a therapeutic counselor to survivors of domestic violence. In collaboration with another area non-profit, a support group for Spanish-speaking female victims of domestic violence meets weekly. Volunteers assist staff in offering options coordination and information and referral for our clients. 911 phones are available free of charge to anyone who needs them.
› Youth Services
Our new program is Nurturing Parenting. It is a series of 10 weekly sessions providing nurturing skills for Families. Parents and children increase their empathy, learn nurturing ways to encourage appropriate behaviors, build self-concept, self-esteem, and learn to have fun as a family. Parents and children attend separate groups that meet concurrently. Mainstay now offers a drop-in daycare service to clients to allow them to attend job interviews and access resources.
› Outreach
Mainstay is involved in outreach to schools, to community and civic groups and to professionals who may encounter victims of domestic violence. Speakers for presentations as well as brochures and other written materials for adults and youth are available upon request. Much of the literature is also available in Spanish. In collaboration with over 40 community agencies and local law enforcement, Mainstay began a Family Violence Task Force in 2001 to raise awareness about the prevalence of violence in our homes. Monthly meetings are held to address the problems of family violence as it impacts the local community.
› Focus on the Elderly
Mainstay is committed to the prevention of abuse against older adults by family members. Despite the fact that a large percentage of our country's population is composed of senior citizens, few resources exist to address the problems of abuse which this segment of our society may be facing. Mainstay's program provides education and services to older adult victims of violence as well as to organizations and individuals who are in frequent contact with the county's elderly residents. Mainstay provides handicapped-accessible bathrooms.
› Court Advocacy
Mainstay staff and volunteers are present at each court session involving domestic violence cases to offer support and advocacy to victims of domestic violence and to enroll offenders in class. Progress made by offenders is reported to the court at the time of sentencing hearings. Assistance is available for victims wishing to file for protective orders against their abusers.
› Family Violence Class
Four classes per week (three for men and one for women) are offered for court-ordered offenders, Department of Social Service referrals and volunteer participants. These classes emphasize anger management skills and encourage learning to take responsibility for one's own actions
› Nurturing Parenting Program
The Series consist of 10 weekly sessions providing nurturing skills for Families. Parents and children increase their empathy, learn nurturing ways to encourage appropriate behaviors, build self-concept, self-esteem, and learn to have fun as a family. Parents and children attend separate groups that meet concurrently.