First Step Family Violence Intervention Center

First Step has evolved from being just a shelter to being a full service agency that focuses on prevention as well as intervention. For clients and families dealing with domestic violence, we offer a 24-hour crisis support phone, advocacy (including filing Civil Protection Orders and accompanying clients to court), temporary shelter residence, counseling, life skills, and much more.

First Step also provides innovative services for individuals and families seeking to develop healthy and loving relationships. We believe that helping people develop healthy relationships will increase the general quality of life in our community. For this reason First Step's services focus on providing practical knowledge to our clients and empowering them to determine their own destinies. Our services are administered by compassionate and competent staff dedicated to the success of our clients. For more info on First Step services click here.

The Bridge Shelter for men is nearing its one-year anniversary and much has transpired in that time. We have been tremendously encouraged by the community support we have received as a result of opening the shelter. We have also been hard at work refining and developing this unique service so that it fits the particular needs of our clients. As we move forward it has become increasingly important for us to engage our community partners and colleagues in the dialogue about male victims of domestic violence and the issue of disenfranchised fathers. This process has also been encouraging to us because it has been an issue on our minds for almost a decade. Because of their controversial nature First Step has had to tread lightly but deliberately on these topics as they pertain to domestic violence, nevertheless, we have found it necessary to expand the dialogue as a way to better serve our clients. Fortunately, these ideas are now starting to hit the mainstream after years of brewing in First Step's private think tank. Below is an editorial column that succinctly and neatly sums up what we at the agency have recognized for years. We welcome the continuation and development of this type of dialogue as a way to refine our response to the issue of domestic violence and better serve our clients.

Click here to read Kathleen Parker's editorial on domestic violence.

For several years First Step has recognized the gap in services that are available to men who are victims of domestic violence. Recently, we have also become more aware of the plight of disenfranchised fathers. The pressing needs of our clients has led us to enter a partnership with the Fostoria Church of the Nazarene. The resulting program service has been called "The Bridge" and is focused on serving men and fathers in our service area through transitional shelter. To us, the importance of this service reflects the great need in our community and society to recognize the essential role fathers play in families. We have always been dedicated to developing new program services that meet the needs of our clients. The ultimate focus of our services is children. And focusing on children means creating the environments that facilitate their healthy development. As we change and grow we encourage the involvement of our community in strengthening families and building a better tommorow.

Breaking News: Check out the story about The Bridge on WTOL Toledo here.

Click here or here to read more about The Bridge.

Barb Kukla has served at First Step as our Art Therapist for nearly three years. In that time she has provided a unique and innovative service to First Step clients. Barb was recently featured in the Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune. For more information about Barb and First Step's Art Therapy program click here.

First Step recently recognized a community partner who has provided financial support to the agency for over a decade. Click here to read this story of an ordinary person doing an extraordinary thing.