Domestic Violence and intimate partner violence do not discriminate. They show no boundaries of sex, race, ethnicity or religion. Above all no one asks to be a victim of a crime! Families in crisis all over the state and even families from out of state seek safety and solace at a hidden space in Roanoke called Sabrina’s Place.
The center, named in memory of Sabrina Rucker Reed, opened in 2006. Reed’s estranged husband murdered her in 2005 during the exchange of their daughter. Sabrina was a mother, a daughter, a sister, a nurse, an athlete and a friend to many. The community became outraged after her murder due to the violent manner in which she was killed. Her stepfather also was murdered trying to intervene. Following the murders, the community stepped into action. Recognizing a need for families to have a center for safe exchange and supervised visitation for children and families, Roanoke City government and Total Action for Progress collaborated to provide a facility to ensure families could safely meet.
Since opening in 2006, Sabrina’s Place has served more than 4,000 families. Many of the families that come to Sabrina’s Place are court ordered. However, some self-refer or are recommended through other human service agencies. At any given time, the client at the center could be anyone, maybe even one of your family members, neighbors or fellow church members. Violence does not discriminate as the following statistics show.
DID YOU KNOW?
One in three women and one in four men have been
physically abused by an intimate partner.
One in five women and one in seven men have been
severely physically abused by an intimate partner.
One in seven women and one in 18 men have been
stalked. Stalking causes the target to fear she/ he or
someone close to her/him will be harmed or killed.
On a typical day, domestic violence hotlines
nationwide receive approximately 20,800 calls.
The presence of a gun in a domestic violence
situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.
Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all
violent crime.
Intimate partner violence is most common among
women between the ages of 18-24.
Nineteen percent of intimate partner violence
involves a weapon.
Why does all this matter? Domestic violence is prevalent in every community and affects all people regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion or nationality. Physical violence often is accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior as part of a much larger, systematic pattern of dominance and control. At TAP, we fight to make our community better, our families successful and the lives of others a lot happier.
Hard times have come to Sabrina’s Place, just like many of the safe exchange centers across the nation. Federal budget cuts have caused havens such as Sabrina’s Place to close their doors. In 2016, Sabrina’s Place lost federal funding due to budget cuts. While TAP has reapplied for these federal funds, the future in uncertain. TAP has been fighting feverishly to keep Sabrina’s Place open and has been committing to community fundraising. With the help of local jurisdictions and the help of those who care, the program has been able to remain open since federal funding ended three years ago. TAP will continue to fight for our families and children.
The organization is presenting Roanoke’s Voice for the second year to support domestic violence services. It will be held on Thursday, May 30 at the Jefferson Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. Roanoke’s Voice is a local celebrity and community talent competition. Tickets, which include refreshments, are available at www.jeffersoncenter.org. A cash bar will be provided by the Jefferson Center. Local celebrity judges include Virginia Del. Sam Rasoul, and last year’s winner, Bernadette. Kianna Price, host of WFXR Living Local, will serve as mistress of ceremonies. For questions, please contact Stacey Sheppard at stacey.sheppard@taptintohope.org
Tickets, which include refreshments, are available at www.jeffersoncenter.org. A cash bar will be provided by the Jefferson Center. Local celebrity judges include Virginia Del. Sam Rasoul, and last year’s winner, Bernadette. Kianna Price, host of WFXR Living Local, will serve as mistress of ceremonies. For questions, please contact Stacey Sheppard at stacey.sheppard@taptintohope.org
Stacey Sheppard, TAP Director of Housing and Human Services. Ms. Sheppard is no stranger to the field of human services. She retired as a sergeant from law enforcement after serving the Salem community for nearly 21 years. She currently oversees TAP’s Domestic Violence Services and Sabrina’s Place Safe Exchange/Supervised Visitation programs, and serves as the community education coordinator for both. Stacey holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Ferrum College. She helped found, and continues to serve on, the Roanoke Valley Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team. Children’s Trust awarded her the Golden Halo for her work in advocacy for adults and children. Ms. Sheppard credits her work with families and victims to the love and enthusiasm she has helping survivors of abuse. She feels that no one should hide in the shadows of intimate partner violence and fights for adults and children of abuse. Her greatest activist passions are children’s rights, foster care advancements, adoptive parenting supportive rights, and intimate partner violence prevention.
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