Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: The Mediation Center
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 50 S. French Broad Ave Suite 258
City: Asheville
State: NC
Postal Code: 28801
Main Phone: 828-251-6089
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.mediatewnc.org
Employer ID Number: 56-1424025
Organization Tax Status: Non-Profit 501(c)3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/18/24
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: The Family Visitation Program
Project Description:

We request your support to ensure victims of domestic violence and their children have access to the Family Visitation Program (FVP). We are currently at capacity, and unable to serve all families who have been referred to us. Our mission directly addresses these challenges by ensuring the safety of children and victims during the critical times of visitation and exchange. Without the presence of specialized visitation centers like ours, victims and their children face dire consequences: unsafe visitations or exchanges, potential for no contact with a parent, exposure to ongoing violence and conflict, increased stress and risk of further victimization, and the heightened possibility of abuse, neglect, and abduction. Our program seeks to prevent these outcomes by providing a secure and supportive environment for supervised visitations and safe exchanges, fostering positive and healthy relationships even in the wake of family trauma. The recent reductions in national funding for domestic violence services, particularly due to cutbacks in the Victims of Violent Crimes Act, have put these vulnerable populations at even greater risk. Foundation funding is essential for bridging the gap ensuring continuity of crucial services for families affected by domestic violence.

Annually, across all our three locations, we serve an average of 70 families and provide more than 1,000 visits a year.

We have developed a comprehensive approach to supervising visits and supporting parents through what can often be a challenging process. Supervised visits are conducted in a secure, neutral environment designed to foster positive interactions between children and their non-custodial parents. Our team of trained professionals closely monitors these visits to ensure safety and support for all participants. During these sessions, we focus on creating a positive atmosphere where children can engage in meaningful activities with their non-custodial parent, facilitating the development of healthy relationships.

In addition to overseeing the visits, we provide support to parents to help them navigate the visits in a way that is safe and empowering. This includes pre-visit coaching sessions, where we discuss expectations and provide guidance on how to make the most of their time together in a way that prioritizes the child’s well-being. We also offer post-visit debriefings to address any concerns that arose during the visit and to discuss strategies for future interactions. Our goal is to empower parents with the skills and knowledge they need to build and maintain healthy relationships with their children, despite the challenges posed by separation, domestic violence, and past abuse. Through this dual approach of close supervision and proactive support, we aim to create a safe and nurturing environment for families to reconnect and heal.

Total Project Budget: 411,679

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Other funding (1) Office of Violence Against Women, Justice for Families – $142,000 (applied for continuation funding) (2) NC Governor’s Crime Commission $120,000 (awaiting annual application process to open) (3) Sliding scale fees – $25,000 (consistent) (4) Community Foundation of Western North Carolina – $20,000 (committed). City of Asheville ARPA funds – $40,000 (committed). We are seeking additional support from a variety of sources.

Project Duration: Our program is ongoing, however, we are seeking this funding for 1 year of service.
Geographical Area Served: Western NC (Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania Counties)
Age Group To Be Served: 0-18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.):
Contact First Name: Meg
Contact Last Name: Hollifield
Contact Title: Family Visitation Program Director
Contact Phone: 828-251-6089
Contact Email: meg@mediatewnc.org