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Society values the family as a place of warmth, intimacy and love. Unfortunately, the home can also be a place of cruelty and violence. Through the Family Violence Network, volunteers, concerned citizens, battered women, professionals and service providers create viable alternatives for persons experiencing domestic violence. Recognizing that domestic violence is primarily victimization of women, we want to assure that battered women and their families now have easy access to services designed to help them consider their options and take action. Service providers are better able to serve battered women and their families through the coordination and support of the Family Violence Network, The Family Violence Network educates community members on the issues of domestic violence so they realize that violence is a crime and will actively work to alleviate it. The Family Violence Network supports and cooperates with others working toward ending domestic violence. The Family Violence Network was established as an organization which provides services to battered women and their children. It is our belief that all persons are vulnerable to abuse. Women neither want nor deserve to be abused physically, emotionally or sexually. Women's actions are not the cause of abuse. Instead, violence is a learned behavior and physical abuse is a crime. Physical abuse will become worse without intervention and may lead to the death of one or both persons. Violence destroys the entire family. Children are seriously affected when living in a violent home. Therefore, it is important that families have alternatives in order to leave an abusive situation. No one should have to live in fear. Therefore, the Family Violence Network exists as a grassroots organization, which involves the entirecommunity in the confidential delivery of services. The ownership of the program rests with the community. It is everyone's responsibility to work towards ending abuse by refusing to condone it. The Family Violence Network shall be autonomous in order to provide the most effective services to battered women and their children. We shall treat all persons with respect. The Family Violence Network encourages personal growth for volunteers, board and staff through a non -oppressive working environment. The board and volunteers shall be chosen, and employment and services shall be provided without discrimination on the basis of race, age, color, religion, sex, physical ormental disability, affectional preference, public assistance or marital status. Founded by four community volunteers, the Family Violence Network began offering services in 1984, Our program has grown from an initial response to the crisis of domestic abuse to include projects that help families find longer term solutions for violence -free living. The need for our programs continues to grow. In 1992, we served 7,841 women and children, an increase of more than 100 percent over a five year period.