Renewal House

In 1998, the St. Lawrence Domestic Violence Task Force formed a committee to address the issue of forming a batterers group in St. Lawrence County. As a result, a program was formed to address this issue. The new program is now called "The Offender Accountability Group". Catholic Charities in Ogdensburg oversees this program. The program consists o... f group meetings by alleged abusers. Members of the group can volunteer or are mandated by the courts to attend these meetings. A male and female facilitator conducts the groups. Participants are required to attend all meetings and are responsible for their own transportation and they pay on a sliding fee scale. In June 2005, Renewal House was able to purchase the office space at 3 Chapel Street with a low interest loan and grant through the USDA Rural Development Program. It was a great opportunity to provide a permanent site for community members across our county. On January 13, 2006, St. Lawrence County's Integrated Domestic Violence (IDV) Court began with four (4) cases presented. IDV Courts operate as specialized parts of the Supreme Court and are a synthesis of core principles that have emerged based upon research, experience, best practices, and an analysis of the court system's current methods of addressing domestic violence. Dedicated to the idea of ???one family-one judge???, IDV Courts are designed to allow a single judge to hear related cases involving domestic violence. Citizens Against Violent Acts (CAVA) became incorporated in 1982, the same year as Renewal House, serving victims of sexual assault throughout St. Lawrence County. In late 2009, their executive director was charged with taking funds for personal use. Unable to recover from their internal financial issues, CAVA's Board of Directors decided to close. Their official date of closure was June 18, 2010. On April 13, 2010, Renewal House signed an agreement with NYS Office of Victims Services (OVS), previously NYS Crime Victims Board, to provide sexual assault services to victims throughout St. ...Read More