2 agencies fighting domestic violence to merge

Brewster Center Domestic Violence Services and Tucson Centers for Women and Children expect to be one agency by July 1, confirmed Sarah Jones, who already has been appointed executive director of the yet- unnamed new agency. The individual boards of both agencies elected her to the position.

The two agencies expect that by joining forces, they will provide centralized and more efficient support for a continuous local problem.

At least 16 of the 83 homicides in Pima County last year were attributed to domestic violence.

"The only difference clients could possibly notice is an increase in the availability and quality of service," said Stephen Krauss, board of directors president for the Brewster Center. "It's a wonderful thing for the community."

The organizations have 129 shelter beds at four locations between them.

By merging, the groups hope to step up domestic-violence prevention and education efforts in the Tucson area.

Ideally, the new agency will be able to add new shelter beds soon, said Lori Bryant, chairwoman of the Tucson Centers for Women and Children board of directors.

"We're hoping to create a stronger presence and a stronger voice," said Jones, who is currently executive director of the Tucson Centers for Women and Children and interim executive director of the Brewster Center.

Plans on how the staffs will join forces have not been finalized. Jones said she expects the two agencies, once merged, will have a combined annual operating budget of about $4.5 million.

Tucson Centers for Women and Children recently received a $500,000 grant from a private donor in Phoenix to fight child and spousal abuse. Jones expects that grant will bolster the merged agency's funding.

The money came from Theresa's Fund, a grant given every five years to non-profit organizations that help domestic-violence victims.

The grant is provided by McMurry, a Phoenix-based marketing firm, and provides the money in matching funds — every dollar donated the group is matched up to $500,000, Jones said.

"We really haven't seen a decline in domestic violence locally," Jones said. "We believe awareness has increased, but we are still seeing a prevalence in the community that is just incredible. We have difficulty meeting all the needs."

The two agencies have turned away 352 people from their shelters since July 1.

Last year, the agencies collectively answered more than 25,000 calls to their two crisis lines, Jones said. Tucson Centers for Women and Children served more than 1,600 women and children in its two shelters, and the Brewster Center served more than 800 women and children in its two shelters.

"We're not all that different; our missions are pretty similar," said Anne Maley, a consultant working on the merger. Until recently, Maley was interim leader at Brewster.

At the moment, the shelters are geared toward women and children. The Tucson Centers have a transgender room, and Jones said the Brewster Center provides hotel vouchers for men fleeing from domestic violence.

The two agencies don't duplicate many services and often refer clients to each other, Jones said. For example, the Brewster Center has a program for obtaining orders of protection, and the Tucson Centers for Women and Children have a child-care facility.

"We partnered in the past, but it was not seamless," Jones said. "We are just making it more cohesive and a smoother process for people trying to reach our services."

The agencies soon will hold several focus groups with donors, employees and board members to collect information on how to join forces most effectively.

Brewster Center Domestic Violence Services

• Founded: In 1963 as a residential program for unwed mothers. Began operating as a domestic-violence shelter for women and children in 1982. Gained non-profit status in 1984.

• Annual operating budget: $2 million, about 75 percent from government sources.

• Employees: 40.

• Shelter beds: 44.

Tucson Centers for Women and Children

• Founded: In 1975 as a domestic-violence shelter operating out of a local home.

• Annual operating budget: $2.4 million, about 70 percent from government sources.

• Employees: 58.

• Shelter beds: 85.