Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita Valley, Child & Family Center announce merger

The Child & Family Center. Signal file photo
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In an effort to “better serve needs of the growing Santa Clarita community,” The Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita Valley and the Child & Family Center announced their merger into a single organization Tuesday.

The agencies’ boards voted to approve the merger in March 2017, according to Linda Davies, executive director of The Domestic Violence Center.  The merger is expected to be completed by 2018.

Following the merger, The Domestic Violence Center will become a new department at the Child & Family Center known as the “Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Program.”

“In the past five years, The Domestic Violence Center has grown three-fold, mirroring the growth of the Santa Clarita Valley,” Davies said in a statement.  “We’ve been successful in adding more services, but we need to keep the future in mind and make the best decision that will ensure our agency will be sustainable and continue on its growth path.”

The new program will continue to operate under the guidance of Davies as a satellite office at the Savia Community Center in Newhall, located at 23780 Newhall Ave.

Davies said the program will continue to offer The Domestic Violence Center’s 30-day emergency shelter in Santa Clarita.

The two agencies came to the decision with the help and support of the California Community Foundation Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative, which works to increase organizational effectiveness and efficiency, reduce duplication of services and facilitate partnerships in the nonprofit sector.

“We are excited about this union and adding the additional resource of domestic violence services to the many comprehensive programs,” said Mike Berger, Child & Family Center Board president in a statement.  “It will certainly further strengthen services for those in need in the community.”

Joan Aschoff, CEO of the Child & Family Center, said the organizations’ shared missions and combined services will allow them to offer a greater continuum of care to those in need.

“Child & Family Center provides a strong infrastructure and staff of professional clinicians while The Domestic Violence Center has comprehensives domestic violence programs in place and the expertise in providing emergency shelter, advocacy, legal support and education,” Aschoff said in a statement.

Both agencies stated that they believe the merger will also help them grow and offer additional programs and services to the community.

“Although we are saying goodbye to our past 33 years of operating as The Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita Valley, the spirit of our organization will continue in Child & Family Center and the future looks bright,” Davies said.

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