Domestic Violence Center

and

Bellflower Center for Prevention of Child Abuse

are now:

Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center

Breaking the cycle of abuse

Look at what people are saying about our merger. View the video here!

Press Release: May 5, 2011

Two Area Non-Profits Join to Break Cycle of Abuse

The Domestic Violence Center and Bellflower Center for Prevention of Child Abuse announced today that they are now a single organization named the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center (DVCAC).  “This affiliation will create a much stronger continuum of services to break the cycle of abuse,” said CEO Linda Johanek.  

“We have recognized that domestic violence and child abuse are very often part of the same cycle,” Johanek said, “and with this merger we will pursue a proactive, positive approach to supporting all the victims in the cycle of abuse.  With that in mind, we have developed a powerful new model for addressing relationship abuse in all its forms.”

“We will provide leadership to the community to transform our society, reduce incidences of domestic violence and child abuse, and create an innovative model that we will work to replicate nationwide,” Johanek continued.

Denise San Antonio Zeman, President and CEO of the Saint Luke’s Foundation, commented, "These two agencies have embraced the challenge put in front of them by recognizing the need to do more with less. Our community will benefit from their decision to bring together their strong resources to create a new community asset that has the potential to reduce the tragic realities of child abuse and domestic violence.”

“Combining the expertise, insight and energy of our staffs, boards, volunteers and supporters will address both child abuse and domestic violence much more effectively and efficiently than we could have as separate entities,” said the newly appointed president of the combined organization’s board of directors, Dean Williams.  Williams is an attorney and associate at Thompson Hine, LLP, in Cleveland.

Bill Eyman, Chief Operating Officer of DVCAC and former executive director of Bellflower Center, pointed out “there are numerous areas in which we complement each other.  For example, many of the children and adults that the Domestic Violence Center serves have suffered a tremendous psychological trauma and would benefit from Bellflower Center’s accredited trauma counseling program.” 

In addition, the key messages in addressing both child abuse prevention and domestic violence share many components, according to Eyman.  “Understanding you are not the only one, that you are not at fault, and that you deserve better are concepts that are essential to both.”

Additional Information:

The new model is a strength-based, empowerment strategy rooted in the concepts that domestic violence and child abuse often are—or can be—parts of one cycle of abuse.  The model recognizes that all individuals in the home are traumatized by domestic violence and child abuse. It encompasses the provision of prevention, intervention, advocacy and leadership to break this cycle.  The model integrates best practices and evidence-based curriculums to prevent, reduce and respond to abuse, and to support and heal the child victim, the non-offending caregiver and the domestic violence victim through a coordinated, holistic approach.

Services: Services will continue uninterrupted at all of the current sites with no service reduction. We have increased our locations 3 main sites, east, west and central that allows for greater accessibility for victims, as well as providing services at 55 other locations.  “We expect the merger to allow us to provide even more services more efficiently, while staying focused on the missions of preventing and responding to child abuse and domestic violence and supporting victims,” Johanek added. 

Restructuring Process: The restructuring process was supported by the Cuyahoga County Human Services Restructuring Pilot Project, a group of grantmaking organizations aiming to increase efficiencies through strategic restructuring.  The grantmakers pooled resources to provide professional consultants to lead non-profits in the strategic restructuring process.  “While their support has been critical—and will continue to be—the two organizations have been increasingly collaborating with one another for a while.  It was clearly a natural move,” Johanek said. Denise San Antonio Zeman, President and CEO of the Saint Luke’s Foundation, commented, "The funders collaborative considers this a shining example of creativity and commitment."  Saint Luke’s Foundation is a member of the funders collaborative.

The New Organization: “The two boards voted to approve the restructuring through an affiliation agreement, intending to create what will operate as one seamless organization to provide a continuum of care for our communities,” according to Williams, who was president-elect of Bellflower Center.  The board of the new organization is made up of approximately equal numbers of members from each of the organizations. The two agencies have been combined into one organizational structure, while the non-profit statuses and State charters of both the Domestic Violence Center and Bellflower Center will be maintained at least for the time being, according to Johanek.  

Effective Dates:  The organization will adopt the overarching name effective May 9. The board of the organization approved the name and model at their April 28 meeting.  The merger was effective February 1. 

From the April 14th Announcement:

What does this mean?

 For Services:

·         No change or reduction in services; will see an increase in services

·         The affiliation will allow us to do more of what we’ve been doing.

 For Staff:

·         You’ll be working with the same people you have been, and maybe a few new ones as we share resources.

·         Everyone’s still here.  We’re rearranging a few responsibilities.

·         Linda Dooley Johanek is our Chief Executive Officer.

·         Bill Eyman is our Chief Operations Officer.

For Finances:

·         Our combined financial portfolio is more balanced and diversified

·         Will allow us to operate more efficiently.

·         Will realize savings through cost avoidance

·         We’ll be able to put new resources directly to services, with less overhead.

 Why Are We Doing This?

·         To ensure the growth of prevention and intervention services for both child abuse and domestic violence issues.

o        This is a “merger of strengths” not of necessity.  Both organizations are benefiting from the expertise and resources that the other brings.

o        Efficiencies of scale (Like combining our annual evening galas into the Sweet Dreams Mask-or-Aid Ball on May 21 at Sammy’s Metropolitan Ballroom—we hope you’ll join us).

o        It will increase the capacity and range of child abuse and domestic violence services and increase geographic accessibility for our services.

o        The savings will be in avoiding costs that we were going to face if we remained smaller and separate.

o        To be greater stewards of your donations.

So is this a merger or an affiliation?

·         Technically, it’s an “affiliation,” at least for now.

·         The two will operate as one organization dedicated to both child abuse and domestic violence prevention.

·         The idea is to move toward a full merger.

·         Both organizations continue to exist and still have their 510 (c) (3) numbers (or EINs).

Would you like more information? Please contact us by phone or email!