Support & Services

We offer a full range of support & services to survivors of Domestic Violence. In both English and Spanish.

Emergency and Residential Services

Crisis Hotline & Intake: Operates 24/7 to field emergency calls, assess immediate danger, conduct safety planning, and coordinate confidential intake.
Residential/Housing Operations: Manages daily secure housing needs, basic emergency provisions (food, clothing, toiletries), and facility safety protocols.
Transitional Housing: Assists families moving from emergency refuge into longer-term, stable independent living arrangements.

Client Support and Advocacy

Legal and Court Advocacy: Helps survivors navigate the legal system, file protective orders, understand custody rights, and secure legal representation.
Counseling & Clinical Services: Provides individual crisis intervention, mental health support, and peer-led or clinical support groups for trauma recovery.
Case Management: Coordinates individualized goal-setting, medical referrals, life skills development, and financial literacy training.

Specialized and Community Programs

Children's Services: Offers specialized trauma support, on-site childcare, and educational tutoring or developmental activities for children residing in the shelter.
Community Education & Outreach: Conducts public awareness campaigns, professional training for local responders, and preventive education.
Administration & Development: Handles operational funding, community donations, volunteer coordination, and agency compliance.

Specifically - we offer:

Advocacy
Batterer Intervention Program (BIP)
Counseling
Court Advocacy
Intervention Services
Re-Integration Services

Financial
Computer
Cooking
Self Defense
Educational Outreach

Legal and Financial Assistance
Hospital Accompaniment
Housing Services
Prevention
Children's Services

Support

Our advocacy and case management services are here to walk alongside you, helping you prioritize your needs, explore personal goals, and navigate safety planning with care and compassion. Whether you are currently in a relationship or have already left, our trauma-informed advocates offer a supportive, collaborative environment where you can explore your options and access vital community resources. We are dedicated to empowering families by connecting you to essential aid, teaching youth valuable life skills, and supporting caregivers as they build healthy futures for their children. While we focus on direct advocacy and practical support rather than clinical counseling, our primary mission is to ensure that every survivor feels heard, valued, and fully supported on their unique journey toward healing and independence.

Batterer Intervention Program (BIP)

What to Expect in Our Program:

1. Supportive Educational Group Sessions
Most of our work happens in small, gender-specific groups led by professional guides. These sessions help break the cycle of isolation and secrecy that often fuels harmful behavior, creating a space for honest reflection.

2. Understanding Power and Control
We use the Duluth Model to help participants identify strategies used to dominate partners. By looking closely at these patterns, individuals recognize how they may have used:
- Threats or social pressure
- Verbal put-downs and emotional manipulation
- Financial restrictions or control over money
- Isolation from loved ones or misuse of social status

3. Taking Responsibility and Choosing Change
We guide participants through exercises designed to build self-awareness and integrity:
- Personal Responsibility Logs: Documenting specific actions without shifting blame to others or minimizing the impact of the harm caused.
- Reframing Beliefs: Identifying and changing harmful views on gender roles, entitlement, and the use of force.
- Developing Empathy: Understanding the deep, lasting pain and fear that family members and children experience when domestic violence occurs.

4. Learning New Life Skills
We provide practical tools to replace harmful habits with healthy connections:
- Positive Communication: Learning to share feelings and needs clearly without using aggression or threats.
- Fair Conflict Resolution: Solving disagreements through mutual respect and equality rather than seeking to win through power.
- Managing Reactions: Developing "time-out" plans to step away safely before a situation becomes unsafe.

5. Safety Checks and Ongoing Support
- Risk Assessment: We perform regular safety checks to monitor the level of risk and ensure the well-being of all parties involved.
- Survivor Safety Connection: We work closely with victim advocates to keep partners informed and safe, making their security our highest priority.
- Consistent Participation: Growth requires commitment. We track attendance closely (usually limited to 3 absences per year), and missing sessions or failing to participate is reported to the appropriate legal authorities.

NOTE: Clarifying the Program Goals
To ensure the safety of survivors, we follow strict guidelines regarding what this program is NOT:
- No Couples Counseling: Joint therapy is never allowed in these cases because it can put survivors at further risk and wrongly implies the harm was a shared responsibility.
- Beyond Anger Management: This isn't just about "losing control." We focus on the conscious decision to use power over another person and how to build a life founded on equality and safety.

Counseling

At Refuge at Little Water Inn, Inc., we walk alongside you with kindness and expertise. Our specialized counselors are deeply experienced in supporting those who have faced domestic abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking. We offer a gentle, trauma-informed environment where your safety and voice come first. These confidential services are provided at no cost to you and are available in both English and Spanish.

We welcome all survivors. Our doors are open to everyone regardless of age, gender identity, race, immigration status, faith, or ability. Whether your experience happened today or many years ago, your healing matters to us.

Our Counseling Services:

Individual Care
- For adults navigating the impact of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, or trafficking.
- For children (ages 5+) who have witnessed violence at home.
- For teens (ages 13+) who have experienced dating violence or sexual abuse.

Healing Together: Support Groups
Connecting with others who understand can be a powerful part of recovery. We regularly offer a Domestic Violence Support Group three times a year. We also provide the Seeking Safety Group to help those with traumatic pasts regain their footing, and the Wellness, Connection and Resiliency (WCR) program which focuses on self-esteem and healthy relationships. Depending on what you and others in our community need, we can also form specific groups for men, LGBTQ+ survivors, caregivers, or art therapy.

How to Begin
Counseling sessions take place at our welcoming community office. To learn more or to start the process, please call our referral line at (804) 123-4567. When you leave a message with your name and number, please let us know if it is safe for us to call you back. A caring member of our team will return your call within 48 business hours to complete a brief phone intake, understand your unique needs, and schedule your first visit.

We provide specialized pathways for:

- Residents currently in our emergency shelter
- Community members living independently
- Peer-led and professional therapist-led support groups
- Specialized accountability programs

You are not alone. We are here to help you build hope and find peace.

Court Advocacy

Navigating legal matters can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to face it alone. Our Court Advocate Program is here to guide you through the Henrico County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, especially if you are seeking a protective order. We also offer support in the General District Court when needed. Whether your situation involves a family member, a spouse, or a former partner, we are here to help.

Our advocates provide a calm, supportive presence during a stressful time. We focus on your safety by helping you create a personal safety plan and explaining how the court process works in simple, clear steps. While we are not lawyers and cannot provide legal advice, we can help you find free legal aid if you need an attorney.

Walking into a courthouse can be intimidating. We are here to answer your questions, stand by your side, and make the experience as manageable as possible. Our services are open to everyone, regardless of your background, identity, or where you live. We are committed to making sure every survivor feels heard and protected throughout their legal journey.

Education & Outreach

Building a future free from violence starts with community understanding and shared compassion. Through our outreach program, we share vital information about healthy relationships and trauma prevention to inspire positive change. We invite you to join this mission by hosting one of our free educational workshops, which we can easily customize for any setting or audience size.

To share this message with your group or to have Refuge at Little Water Inn join your upcoming community event, please complete our Outreach Request Form. We kindly ask for submissions at least two weeks in advance to ensure our team can best serve you.

Emergency Shelter

Refuge at Little Water Inn, Inc. provides a secure and welcoming environment in a hidden location for those escaping domestic or sexual abuse. Our caring, trauma-informed advocates support you and your family as you heal, ensuring your immediate needs are met while helping you build a roadmap for a stable future. While staying with us, you will be connected to essential services including permanent housing, therapy, legal aid, and career support. You are not alone on this journey. To find safety now, please call our 24-hour hotline.

Legal and Financial Assistance Services

We stand by you through every step of the legal system, offering supportive guidance and clear resources to help you move forward safely. Our dedicated assistance programs include:
• Help securing Orders of Protection
• Criminal Court attorney connections
• Family Court lawyer referrals
• Compassionate courtroom accompaniment
• Lay legal support and guidance
• Objective expert testimony
• Personalized legal resource planning

Hospital Accompaniment

Our advocates provide compassionate support at the hospital, ensuring you are never alone or unheard.

Housing Services

At Refuge at Little Water Inn, Inc., we walk alongside survivors by offering distinct, compassionate housing programs tailored to every stage of your healing journey.

**Stage 1: Crisis & Stabilization Care (Up to 90 Days):** An immediate, safe haven for individuals and families escaping abuse. This welcoming, low-barrier environment provides rapid relief and peace of mind. We feature various room sizes, including select spaces that welcome your cherished dogs, cats, birds, or fish so your entire family can heal together.

**Stage 2: Healing & Transition Housing (Up to 12 Months):** A supportive temporary residence focused on emotional recovery, comprehensive financial growth, and secure career development as you rebuild your life.

**Stage 3: Community Reintegration Housing (Up to 18 Months):** Long-term transitional spaces emphasizing independent living, deeper community connections, and standard-setting advocacy for long-term financial stability.

**Stage 4: Sustained Flourishing Support (Up to 3 Years):** Extended, specialized accommodations designed to ensure you and your children enjoy a bright, secure, and independent future.

Prevention

We can stop violence before it begins by focusing on these five life-changing community strategies.
1. Master Positive Communication
Practice solving disagreements with calm words rather than anger. We help young people build emotional strength and show families how to lead by living peacefully every day.
2. Create Safer Neighborhoods
Building a stronger community starts with our surroundings. By fixing up local spaces, adding beautiful parks, and ensuring streets are well-lit, we make our environment brighter and safer for everyone.
3. Empower Families and Youth
Every child deserves a safe place to grow. We provide after-school programs, career preparation for young adults, and helpful tools for parents to build stable, loving homes.
4. Take Action as a Witness
You have the power to make a difference. When you see someone being mistreated, use your voice to help. Reporting concerns to trusted leaders ensures that survivors get the protection they need.
5. Foster Health and Financial Stability
Reducing stress helps prevent crises. We work to improve access to addiction support, mental health care, and fair living conditions so that every family has the resources they need to thrive.