Gillette Abuse Refuge Foundation

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P.O. Box 3110 - 910 East 3rd. Street Suite I
Gillette, WY 82717-3110
24 Hr. Crisis Line 307-686-8070
Phone: 307-686-8071 Fax: 307-686-8076
Monday thru Friday 8:30 - 4:30
E-mail: garf@vcn.com

GILLETTE ABUSE REFUGEE FOUNDATION HISTORY

During the 1970's, domestic violence victims were being housed in the private homes of Gillette residents. This presented a number of problems not only for the victim but also for the safety of the host family. As a number of victims needing a safe place to stay grew, a group of concerned women began to see the need for a domestic violence advocacy program in Campbell County.

The Gillette Abuse Refuge Foundation (G.A.R.F.) was formed in 1980 as a non-profit corporation designed to tackle the long-term task of developing a network of support services for battered victims in Campbell County.

G.A.R.F. received grants from the University of Wyoming and the American Association of University Women to begin the process of achieving its three goals:

To create an advocacy program involving recruiting and training of volunteer advocates to provide supportive crisis counseling on domestic violence.
To provide a 24-hour crisis-line.
To ultimately provide a "safe-house" in Gillette where battered victims and their children could go in crisis.

The initial grant money was to be used for a survey in Campbell County to determine if there was in fact a need for services. Preliminary results from this survey showed that 30 to 35 percent of victims polled were being abused.

G.A.R.F. then sought help from the County's 1% sales tax receipts to institute it's programs. In May 1981, G.A.R.F. received $68,000 from the county.

In January 1982, G.A.R.F. opened its doors and by March was providing full services to victims with the exception of a safe house. Staffed with 12 trained volunteer advocates G.A.R.F. provided services to 62 adult victims and 85 children in the first four months they were open.

In March 1982, G.A.R.F. was chosen to receive funding from the State. This funding allowed G.A.R.F. to pursue a safe house project and by October 1982, G.A.R.F. purchased its first safe house two years ahead of schedule. By the end of its first year G.A.R.F. had provided services to 275 victims and housed 88 women and 119 children in the safe house.

Today G.A.R.F. not only continues to provide services to victims of domestic violence and their families but also to victims of sexual assault. G.A.R.F. has staff, board members, and volunteers from the community to assist victims.