« Back To News Headlines


CCS Celebrates 35 Years of Supporting Survivors

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we have many reasons to celebrate! In addition to honoring the strength and courage of survivors of domestic violence everywhere, this October also marks the 35 year anniversary of Center for Community Solutions.
In 1969 Center for Community Solutions was first established under the name of Center for Women's Studies and Services (CWSS). CWSS opened its doors on the campus of San Diego State University and was the very first Women's Resource Center in the Country. The opening of this center culminated in the opening of many new doors for thousands of men, women and children throughout San Diego and its surrounding counties.

Thanks to the generosity of an early supporter of women's rights, CWSS Founders eventually moved off the campus of SDSU into a home in the residential neighborhood of Golden Hills. In these early days, the work of CWSS was primarily focused on helping to establish equality and support for women through education outreach and support.

A lot has changed since 1969, even our name. In 1995 after much thought and consideration, Center for Women's Studies and Services decided to change their name to something that would be more representative of the work that they were currently providing to the community. Center for Women's Studies and Services wasn't just serving women, clients included men, children and family members of survivors. There was also the awareness that domestic violence and sexual assault aren't just women's issues, they affect everyone and this was becoming more and more apparent in the people we served. As an agency we strive towards creating solutions that will ultimately end violence and allow people to live in free, peaceful communities and our goal is to be a part of the solution. As a result, our new name was created and the Center for Community Solutions (CCS) was born.

CCS now serves over 15,000 people each year in its programs and operates offices in three separate locations throughout the county. Our domestic violence shelter work has evolved from being an "underground railroad" of safe homes in various communities into a full scale Residential Services program complete with two 24-Hour Emergency Shelters and Transitional Housing Programs. Our very fist Hotline for survivors of domestic violence began operation in 1977. That Hotline has never ceased to operate and today as part of a partnership with the County of San Diego uses a computerized system to provide instant access to shelter bed availability, crisis support and community referrals.

In 1980 with the help of State Funding we opened our Rape Crisis Center. Today, that same Rape Crisis Center stands as the only Rape Crisis Center in the entire city of San Diego and has helped tens of thousands of survivors on their path to healing. The Rape Crisis Center operates CCS largest volunteer program, SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) that includes over 200 volunteers who provide 24 hour a day, 365 day a year hospital accompaniment services for survivors of sexual assault.

In 1983 CCS recognized a need for comprehensive legal services and opened the first Temporary Restraining Order Clinic for battered women in the state of California. These services have expanded into providing court accompaniment services as well as offsite legal clinics including offices at the Family Justice Center as well as the newly opened Family Violence Prevention Center in North County.

Counseling has long been a service at CCS and a value to our clients and the community. Formal counseling for battered women began in 1983 and like our other services, has expanded to meet the needs and demands of the community. CCS now offers counseling at each of the three locations for individuals, families, and children. One of the Counseling Centers most innovative programs is for children who have witnessed domestic violence. The focus is on early intervention with the intent of breaking the cycle of violence across the generations.

When CCS was established in 1969 one of its main components was education. The goal was to educate the community with the result of breaking down stereotypes and reducing violent behavior. This focus has persevered and expanded over the years into an entire department dedicated to educating the community. The Prevention and Education Department includes Specialists whose role is to provide free trainings on issues relating to domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and intervention. The department has a strong youth component and works in various schools and operates after school programs that include a component on healthy relationship training and dialogue.

Many people think we can't make a difference when it comes to domestic violence and sexual assault. Looking back on the 35 years that CCS has just completed is proof that indeed we can. Everyday we are helping more and more people. This is a testament to our amazing staff and volunteers and represents an increase in community awareness and people reaching out for help. The more people know and the more people we educate, the better it will be for our community.

We hope that someday agencies like ours will no longer be needed and that the world will be free of violence and distress. Until then, we are here for the community and here for survivors. I can't think of a better way to honor Domestic Violence Month than to continue to provide caring, innovative services and be a place of refuge for people during their time of need.

Happy 35th Birthday CCS!

« Back To News Headlines