PHOTO BY LILLY SCHEETZ
Left ot right: Cassie Crosby, Taylor Riffey, Tracie Fasel, Heather Jones
Haven a safe
Offering critical prevention and intervention services, education, and a 24/7 hotline, Micah’s Place provides hope and help for victims of domestic violence in Nassau County. BY JULIE SIMMONS • PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICAH’S PLACE
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ore than 1,000 victims served. Over 5,000 nights of safety provided. Approximately 150 survivors legally represented pro-bono. 1,500 helpline calls and texts answered. Close to 3,000 members of the community trained and educated. That is the most recent 12-month footprint of the services that Micah’s Place—a domestic violence center here on Amelia Island—provides in our community. Micah’s Place is the only certified domestic violence center serving Nassau County, and its mission is to provide prevention and intervention services to victims of domestic violence and provide education within our community to effect change in behavior and attitudes. So, what exactly is domestic violence? The United Nations defines it as “a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner be it physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions.” Because of the scale of domestic violence, services like those of Micah’s Place 37 AMELIA ISLANDER MAGAZINE •
bring rescue, healing, and empowerment to victims in all stages of their healing journey. “At Micah’s Place, we work with each and every client to meet them where they are and offer services specifics to their needs,” explains Cassie Ott Crosby, Outreach & Community Engagement Director. “Everything we do is free, it’s confidential just like an attorney-client privilege, but most of all, it’s supportive; we like to think of our services as the soft hand on victims’ backs to guide them through their journeys. And each journey is unique and helps us to grow and become better at what we do,” she adds. A cornerstone to the work of Micah’s Place is its 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter, legal aid, and community education. The hotline, which now offers voice and text support, provides crisis intervention counseling, safety planning, and supportive services at the point of need. When a victim reaches out, the team is there to help navigate their next steps. continued on next page JUNE 2022
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