Our History, Mission,
and Services
In 1976, a dedicated group of volunteers came together with a shared vision: to help women and children experiencing domestic violence find safety, support, and hope for a future free from abuse. Their efforts led to the formation of a task force that helped establish the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, making Pennsylvania the first state in the nation to create such a coalition. Building on this important work, the same task force opened the first shelter in Northeastern Pennsylvania for women and children fleeing domestic violence in 1978. The need for this safe haven was immediate, as the shelter reached capacity within its first week.
Today, as Domestic Violence Service Center (DVSC) celebrates 50 years of service, that original vision continues to guide our work throughout Luzerne and Carbon Counties. DVSC provides emergency shelter and direct services to survivors of domestic violence and their children, along with transitional housing through our Bridge Housing Program for women and children experiencing homelessness and domestic violence. Over the years, our services have grown to meet the evolving needs of survivors, while our commitment to safety, dignity, and compassionate care remains at the heart of everything we do.
DVSC offers a comprehensive range of free and confidential services to help survivors navigate crisis, rebuild their lives, and move toward independence. These services include a 24-hour hotline for support, information, and referrals; crisis intervention; supportive and individual counseling; group counseling for shelter residents and community members; and advocacy to help survivors understand their options and access essential resources. Additional services include court advocacy and accompaniment for Protection From Abuse (PFA) proceedings, medical and mental health advocacy, community outreach and education, life skills and parenting programs, and professional training to strengthen the community’s response to domestic violence.
Our mission is to work toward the elimination of domestic violence by providing survivors with the resources, support, and opportunities they need to build safer, healthier futures. As we reflect on 50 years of service, we honor the volunteers whose vision started this work, the survivors whose courage inspires it, and the community partners who help sustain it. DVSC remains committed to empowering survivors, fostering self-sufficiency, and creating a future where every individual and family can live free from violence and fear.
How we can help
The Domestic Violence Service Center (DVSC) is here for you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When you reach out, you do not have to share your name, and you will never be charged for our services. Our compassionate, specially trained staff will listen without judgment, respect your privacy, and help you explore the support and resources available to you.
If you are experiencing physical, emotional, or other forms of abuse, you do not have to face it alone. DVSC provides access to a safe, secure, and confidential shelter for individuals and families who need to leave an abusive situation. Our goal is to offer a place of safety and comfort where survivors and their children can begin to heal and rebuild their lives.
Our services include 24-hour crisis hotlines, personalized safety planning, options counseling, support groups, and assistance with filing Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders. Whether you are seeking immediate safety, trying to understand your options, or taking the first steps toward a new beginning, we are here to listen, offer guidance, and support you in making the decisions that are right for you.
At DVSC, we believe everyone deserves to live free from fear and violence. We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for individuals and families throughout Luzerne and Carbon Counties, regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, mental health or intellectual disability status, or religion.
Our mission is to work toward the elimination of domestic violence by providing compassionate support, promoting safety, and empowering survivors to build brighter, violence-free futures.
You deserve safety. You deserve support. You deserve a future free from abuse.
The Domestic Violence Service Center is here to help you take the next step toward safety, healing, and hope.