A woman in Port Jefferson, after years of abuse from her boyfriend, is able to find shelter by calling a 24-hour hotline. . .

A young mother in Central Islip is able to achieve economic independence from her abusive spouse through vocational counseling . . .

A child in Centereach, through counseling, heals the emotional scars of witnessing his stepfather abuse his mother. . .

A victim in Brentwood is able to obtain an order of protection in court with the help of an advocate . . .

An elementary school class in Commack learns how to make the right choices to avoid bullying and violent behavior . . .

These are just a few examples of the ways L.I. Against Domestic Violence reaches out every day to assist and empower victims of domestic violence on Long Island, and seeks to break the cycle of violence through education. Our programs currently touch over 14,000 of your neighbors, adults and children, each year.

A regional pioneer

In 1976, we were incorporated as the Long Island Woman's Coalition, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. We were among the first to establish a 24-hour crisis hotline in our area. Volunteers opened their homes and hearts by providing "safe houses" and support services for victims.

In 1983, funding was secured to open the Safe Harbor shelter, the first shelter in Suffolk County specifically for victims of domestic violence. Safe Harbor provides safety, shelter and core services to help victims flee abuse, develop an action plan and find permanent housing, all in a supportive environment.

In 1989, we launched the Domestic Violence Precinct Outreach Project, which placed a domestic violence advocate in each Suffolk County Police Dept. precinct to serve as a resource and directly serve clients. It was the first program of its kind in the nation.

In 2000, our name was changed to the Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Today, as L.I. Against Domestic Violence, we have expanded to offer a holistic array of services to address all aspects of both female and male victims' lives – including counseling, courtroom advocacy, legal assistance, vocational and financial training, as well as healing through yoga. We now provide support, through our language line, in over 120 languages.

LIADV also reaches out to classrooms and the community with education to break the cycle of violence and raise awareness that domestic abuse is a serious crime and a major public health problem requiring a coordinated community response.