Officials Introduce Domestic-Violence Programs, Unveil Safe Haven

The , Mayor David Mayer, representatives of the Camden County Women’s Center and members from the Delaware Valley chapter of Volunteers of America held a press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the municipal building Wednesday afternoon to unveil the new Family Quiet Room—a safe haven for victims of domestic violence.

The officials also introduced two new programs aimed at helping township residents who have engaged in domestic violence — both as aggressors and as victims. Gloucester Township Police Lt. Chris Jones, department liaison for the new domestic-violence initiatives, noted the overall program has been in development since early 2010. “We wanted progressive programs. We wanted to be able to attack domestic violence in different ways,” he said.

What the township came up with was the Family Violence Prevention Program, which includes a 13-week class either mandated by the courts or voluntarily entered into by offenders. The offender program will include the Volunteers of America emphasizing victim safety and batterer accountability. The prevention program also includes the Domestic Violence Victim Support Group, which will be hosted by the Camden County’s Women’s Center. The support group will be offered as a daily confidential session available to all township residents who have been victimized by domestic violence.

Police Chief W. Harry Earle said the strong partnership between the municipal government, schools, and the court system allows the township to "provide services to both victims and offenders to stem the cycle of domestic violence." Mayor David Mayer was a strong force behind these new domestic-violence programs and the Family Quiet Room. When Mayer took office in early 2010, he met with Camden County Women’s Center Domestic Violence Response Coordinator Bernadette Maull. Through their discussions, the mayor realized he wanted to improve the quality of programs and resources that were available for domestic-violence victims in his town. “At the time, (Mayer) didn't think our [family quiet room] was quite up to what it should be. So, he allocated some money. The police and Mayor Mayer worked together to get a community block grant which allowed us to redo the entire room,” Maull explained. “Now, we have bigger space, it’s painted and re-carpeted. It allows us a nice, comfortable, calm space for our Domestic Violence Response Team to speak to the victims, offer their support and explain what services are available. “

From office space to 'Quiet Room'

What was once an office space for Township Council members is now the Domestic Violence Family Quiet Room. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place in the middle of the room, which is kid-friendly and has a section designed specifically to keep children occupied. The room has a toy box filled with various arts-and-crafts offerings and coloring books, a dry-erase board with markers, and a flat-screen television with a DVD player. There also are two couches and a round table where the Response Team can speak with the adult victim in their time of need. Mayer believes the community will respond positively to these programs. “The residents of Gloucester Township have demonstrated through their volunteerism that they are here to support one another and victims of domestic violence,” he said.

The Camden County Women’s Center hosted its 8th annual Dessert Night Fundraiser at the Tavistock Country Club in Haddonfield later Wednesday. The fundraiser increased community awareness for domestic violence and featured desserts, raffles, and prize baskets. Many volunteers were honored at the press conference for their services, including Bill Fagan and Diane Jones, supervisors from the Gloucester Township Recreation Center, for allowing children affected by domestic violence to join the rec department's summer camps for free, and Gloucester Township Elementary School principal Joseph Gentile. Marykay Baker, who is a part of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office Victim-Witness Unit, praised local police for the work they  do and how they assess domestic-violence situations.

“You can have all the programs in place, but if you don't have that initial respect and sincerity for the victims, it doesn't matter," Baker said. "It's the way you treat that victim from the onset … and that's what continues to be achieved here."

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.