Effective July 1, 2011, the Domestic Violence Center of the Santa Clarita Valley will have a new president; long-time community member Pamela Braly. The newly installed executive board will also include Kelly Bruno; vice-president, Rob Stern; treasurer; and Jorja Harris, board secretary.
The Domestic Violence Center of the Santa Clarita Valley is the region’s only provider of bi-lingual crisis services for victims of domestic violence and their families. The Center, housed in Newhall, provides a 200-square mile area with the services of a 24-hour crisis hotline, outpatient counseling services and a shelter home in the area.
Stepping down from the board is Gail Ortiz, a seven-year board member who has recently served as vice-president and president of the board. Ortiz spearheaded the signature “Boys Night Out” event for the Center and has served on several fundraising committees benefitting the Center. This year, the Center brought the innovative Window Between Worlds program to the Center, which is an art through healing program. The summer months have allowed this program to include groups for the children and teens.
Over the next year, Braly plans to continue the services of the Center, including a well-received court advocacy, which is a partnership with the Zonta and Soroptimist organizations. Braly says that expanding teen prevention programs in the local high schools, as well as adding more outreach services in the community through a resource center that is located at the Center’s offices is also planned. The Center will soon be adding counseling for clients with combined domestic and substance abuse issues and hope to expand to a teen group as well.
“The Domestic Violence Center of the Santa Clarita Valley is a stronger Center today than it’s ever been. The leadership provided by caring community members, a professional executive director and a giving community have helped to bring about a successful Center that can effectively serve our communities needs. The Center is in excellent hands with the new Board of Directors,” said Gail Ortiz. 
The Mission of the Domestic Violence Center of the Santa Clarita Valley is to: promote and preserve non-violent non-abusive family systems through intervention, prevention and education; provide round the clock shelter and counseling with professionalism and compassion to families in crisis due to violence in the home; raise public awareness of physical, emotional and sexual abuse in relationships in order to eliminate the cycle of violence; work with victims as a liaison to the court system, law enforcement and public agencies; empower victims to overcome domestic violence; be the premier resource for domestic violence services in the Santa Clarita Valley.
