March 30, 2022 – The donation of a Willimantic building has helped to kick-start a new capital campaign to fund construction of a 23,000-square-foot family justice center run by New London-based domestic violence agency Safe Futures.

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March 10, 2022 – As we enter the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials continue urging us all to seek shelter from the virus and stay home as much as possible. Those of us providing support and resources to families facing domestic violence have borne witness to the long-term impacts of this crisis on the Connecticut victims we serve.

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March 5, 2022 – Since Connecticut first responders started using LAP, the number of domestic violence victims who connect with advocates has jumped from about 4% to 86%. At Safe Futures, advocates are now available any time of day to take calls from first responders when someone screens as high risk. “We have our own designated LAP line available 24/7, when that phone rings we know it’s a high danger, high-risk call and we are there for them 1000%, 24 hours a day,” Verano said. “When we’re training advocates I always tell them, answer that call like it’s a 911 call.”

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February 27, 2022 – Digital communication has opened new avenues for abusers to control and monitor their victims, according to law enforcement and the folks at Safe Futures.
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February 19th, 2022 – Recognizing the lessons taught through early relationships is one of the reasons the team at Safe Futures is working with kids and teens through classes, summer camps and school workshops to fill their toolboxes with the words, resources and behaviors they need to stay safe.

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February 12th, 2022 – In southeastern Connecticut, New London-based social services organization Safe Futures helped nearly 10,000 victims of domestic violence in 2021, up from a little over 7,000 the year before — an increase of 30%.

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November 29, 2021 – Hannah married her husband in her early 20s and relocated with him to southeastern Connecticut from the Midwest. He controlled her every move, isolated her from talking to her family, did not allow her to work or have a bank account. She was too afraid of him to tell anyone. The beatings became more severe during the pandemic. She contacted police who referred her to Safe Futures. With the help of Safe Futures staff, she and her boys have just moved into their own apartment, and she has a temporary driver’s permit.

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June 04, 2021 – Start the day with an act of kindness and join Safe Futures for a virtual breakfast event held in support of domestic violence victims. The Light the Way Breakfast program begins at 8 a.m. June 24 and will be streamed live from the Garde Arts Center in downtown New London. Viewers will be asked to donate and can do so via text, through the group’s website, or by writing a check and sending it in the mail.

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May 29, 2021 – Lindsey Michaels, a new, 28-year-old police officer who has long wanted to work in law enforcement, and Kevin Barney, who, as a former cop of 37 years, has long worked in law enforcement, are working each other’s former jobs. Barney holds Michaels’ former job as a regional law enforcement advocate for Safe Futures, an agency devoted to assisting victims of domestic violence.

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April 18, 2021 – Safe Futures of New London Executive Director Katherine Verano has been one of many asking not only for Congress to pass the VOCA Fix Act, but to determine how organizations like hers will be funded years in advance. In some ways, the bill currently in the Senate is a stopgap measure, Verano said.

Read more in The Day.