SWR emergency shelter, Peterson House, is a two-story, 3000 square foot home, providing safety and supportive services to adult women and their children who are victims of domestic violence. The shelter is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year and is staffed around the clock by Shelter Assistant/Client Advocates who have successfully completed 66 hours of training in domestic violence and sexual assault education and crisis intervention. Peterson House is equipped with 22 beds/4 cribs, 3 bathrooms available to residents, living room, dining area, large kitchen, a children’s playroom, a staff office, and a fenced play yard. The shelter location is kept confidential, yet it is close to local resources and services. SWR has provided shelter to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault since its incorporation in 1979. Safe houses were used until 1982, when Peterson House was purchased with the assistance of federal, state, and local funds. The shelter serves all geographic areas of Shasta County, including the Intermountain Area.

Case Management

Case Management is provided to help the women set goals, stay on track, brainstorm solutions to problems, and receive appropriate referral and advocacy services. All women entering shelter are eligible for case management services.

At shelter, women complete daily goal sheets listing the steps they will be taking that day toward getting their lives back on track. This could include setting up an income, housing, medical needs, children’s needs and job hunting, etc. The Case Manager goes over the goal sheets with the residents to be sure they are realistic and on track.

SWR considers goal setting and progress toward accomplishment vital to being self-sufficient and violence free. The evaluations help the client look at what goals she has accomplished, if her skills setting and attaining goals have improved, and whether she is satisfied with her accomplishments and the program so far. They also help the agency evaluate the program.