Violence Prevention Center currently in construction on the Ada South Campus, near the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center.
The tribe is dedicated to offering assistance to women and their children who experience domestic violence, sexual abuse or substance abuse.
The Nation has offered these services since in 1994 and expanded them in 2008. The new structure makes it possible to offer assistance to families – including children – beyond what is currently available. “The family is the bedrock of any community,” Gov. Anoatubby stated.
The facility will have 12 bedrooms with eight private bathrooms. The new structure allows the tribe to provide shelter to more women while better serving abuse victims with large families.
“Those in need oftentimes have children in the home. We will have the capacity to accommodate up to 20 children. Keeping family units together is our goal,” Gov. Anoatubby said.
The tribe’s initiative will increase the number of women the tribe is able to serve. Currently, the tribe has the capacity to serve four women at one time. The new facility will increase that to 12. It also allows for the inclusion of expectant women, or women with infants and children up to age 12. The structure will be 13,000 square feet.
The Women’s Recovery Center and Violence Prevention Center will provide services at two locations. An indoor play area for children, large common spaces, an outdoor recreation space, enhanced security, an indoor safe room and computer workstations are planned.
Other amenities include emergency shelter, food, clothing, assistance with protective orders, case management, counseling, weekly support groups, transportation, career development and employment assistance.
Additionally, the Chickasaw Nation will offer counseling and therapy, alcohol and drug education, nutrition education, wellness, HIV/AIDS education and tobacco cessation education. The Violence Prevention Center will be 11,000 square feet.
Start Date: 04/01/2016