Gulf Coast Center For
Nonviolence
Services and Programs
Our Center opened as a safe house in 1977, providing help to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Since then, the Center has grown to be the largest, most comprehensive program in the State of Mississippi.
- More than 20,500 women, children, and men have received services through shelter and non-residential programs since it opened.
- Approximately 12,000 children, adolescents, and adults attend violence prevention sessions annually.
- Our 24-hour crisis line receives over 15,000 calls per year requesting assistance and information.
We serve the six southernmost counties of Mississippi: Jackson, Harrison, Hancock, Pearl River, George, and Stone Counties.
All services for victims are free of charge and completely confidential.
Domestic Violence Program
Residents of the domestic violence shelter are provided with food, clothing, childcare, some transportation, and personal hygiene items. Crisis intervention, individual and group counseling and case management services are provided for residents of the shelter. During their stay in the shelter, they gain access to community resources such as legal, medical, housing, education, training programs, and employment.
- Domestic Violence Crisis Line
- Domestic Violence Shelter
- Residential Counseling
- Nonresidential Outreach Counseling
- Case Management
- Transitinal to Permanent Housing
- Court Support/Advocacy
- Information and Referral
Our Center has two shelter facilities to provide services to victims of domestic violence and their children. Residents of Harrison, Hancock, Pearl River, and Stone Counties are served through our Harrison County shelter. Residents of Jackson and George Counties are served through our Jackson County shelter, Adrienne's House.
Our Center is a partner in the South Mississippi Rural Senior Abuse Network, working to provide support to seniors in rural areas of South Mississippi who may experience domestic violence. Download a brochure [PDF]
Read More About Domestic ViolenceAdrienne's House
Adrienne’s House Crisis Line: 228-762-8267
PO Box 1263, Pascagoula, MS 39568
The Center opened the doors of Adrienne’s House, our satellite domestic violence shelter serving Jackson and George Counties, on October 3, 2011. Adrienne’s House was named in honor of Adrienne Klasky, a Pascagoula woman who was killed by her abuser in 1989. (Read Adrienne’s story here).
All residents of Adrienne’s House receive comprehensive, wrap-around services to best meet their needs and increase their chances of successfully overcoming the many impacts of domestic violence.
- Domestic Violence Crisis Line
- Domestic Violence Shelter
- Counseling
- Case Management
- Court Support/Advocacy
- Information and Referral
Sexual Assault Program
The Center’s sexual assault program provides 24-hour, 7 day per week crisis response to victims of sexual assault. These services are available for men, women, and children. Sexual assault advocates are available to assist victims undergoing examination or treatment in local area hospitals. Our advocates may stay with victims to help them through the examination process, offer support, and provide information on follow-up counseling and services.
Our Center provides services and support to adult or child victims of human sex trafficking, including assistance with application for available visas and services of foreign-born victims.
Read More About Sexual AssaultWe offer confidential, non-judgmental, emotional support to victims of rape, whether it happened ten minutes or ten years ago.
- 24-hour Emergency Response
- Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Training
- Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART)
- Counseling
- Case Management
- Free Civil Legal Services
- Court Advocacy & Accompaniment
- Information/Referral
Survivors of Homicide Victims Program
- Individual Counseling
- Forever Changed Support Group
- Court Support/Advocacy
- Victim Compensation Application Assistance
- Remembrance Events
- Information and Referral
Forever Changed Support Groups
Gulfport
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
12290 Depew Rd., Gulfport, MS
Meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6pm.
Pascagoula
Jackson County Chamber of Commerce
720 Krebs Ave., Pascagoula, MS
Meets the last Thursday of each month at 6pm.
Wiggins
Hampton Inn
1121 E. Frontage Rd., Wiggins, MS
Meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6pm.
Diamondhead
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
5303 Diamondhead Circle, Diamondhead, MS
Meets the last Tuesday of each month at 6pm.
Northcutt Legal Clinic
Northcutt Legal Clinic
PO Box 353, Gulfport, MS 39502-0353
Phone 228•864•7144 Fax 228•864•7145
We usually take information from a client over the phone and then arrange an interview. At the interview, we determine if we can assist the client, take additional information if needed, and plan the legal action that will achieve our client's objectives. Very often, the legal aspects of a client's situation take second place to other issues. Whenever we talk with a client, the first concern we have is for his/her safety. We discuss those issues first. When safety is reasonably assured, we can assess the type of legal services that will work best. While we do that, we can also determine if other services provided by our parent organization, such as counseling, are appropriate.
Mission Statement
The Northcutt Legal Clinic provides civil legal representation to resolve problems caused by abuse suffered by victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, who are otherwise unable to afford such services.
Service Area
We provide services to residents of Harrison, Hancock, Jackson, Pearl River, George, and Stone Counties of Mississippi.
Services
- Divorce
- Protective orders
- Child custody and visitation
- Child support
- Paternity
Criminal Justice Programs
Our court advocate program places advocates in justice and municipal courts in our service area to monitor domestic violence cases presented. The advocate will offer resources to the victim including referrals for counseling and/or shelter.
- Court Advocacy
- Coordinated Community Response
- Domestic Violence Intervention Program
- Counseling
- Outreach Counseling
- Case Management
Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP)
The Domestic Violence Intervention Program is an eighteen-week class for domestic violence perpetrators. There are separate classes available for men and women.The curriculum is based on the nationally recognized Duluth Model of Crisis Intervention Programs. The goal of the program is to teach offenders alternatives to coercive, dominating and violent behavior in intimate relationships, and to assist men/women to develop relationships based on equality by teaching skills and alternative behaviors.
DVIP is not an anger management program. In DVIP, participants must take total responsibility for their behavior. Confrontation of beliefs and attitudes is central to this work. Tactics used to control, minimization, and denial are challenged by group facilitators.
DVIP Curriculum
Weeks 1 - 3: NonviolenceWeeks 4 - 5: Nonthreatening behavior
Weeks 6 - 7: Respect
Weeks 8 - 9: Support and trust
Weeks 10 - 11: Accountability and honesty
Weeks 12 - 14: Sexual respect
Weeks 15 - 16: Partnership
Weeks 17 - 18: Negotiation and Fairness
Classes are taught by master’s level therapists and/or social workers in practice on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
$35.00 - Assessment Fee
$25.00 - Per Class
Call 228•207•2327 to register
Office Hours: Mon - Fri, 8am to 5pm
Children's Program
The Center’s children’s program provides therapeutic and case management services to children who have been directly or indirectly affected by sexual assault and domestic violence. The program uses an innovative approach to working with the child victims of domestic violence through the therapeutic modality targeting our youngest, and often most vulnerable, victims to provide early intervention and prevention services.
- Counseling for Domestic Violence and/or Sexual Assault
- Therapeutic Preschool
- Parenting Classes
- Mommy & Me Classes
- Prevention Education Programs
- Child Care
- Inter-agency Representation
Therapeutic Preschool
The Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence Therapeutic Preschool is for potty trained children, ages 3 - 5 years old, who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or parent substance abuse, or who have experienced trauma related to those issues. The program is open to the community and we welcome referrals. There is NO registration or tuition fee for the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence Therapeutic Preschool Program; services are provided without charge.
Our program focuses on building self-esteem as a base for the prevention of the future substance abuse and violence. The program includes pre-K educational curriculum with music and art activities, play therapy, counseling, and occasional community field trips. Along with the educational curriculum, we also incorporate a therapeutic curriculum. Services are provided by a certified teacher with a minimum Bachelor’s Degree in education with at least five years experience in the classroom.
Our preschool offers:
- Pre-K Educational Curriculum
- Music and Art Activities
- Play Therapy
- Counseling
- Field Trips
- Social Skills & Competency
- Positive Relationships
- Problem Solving Strategies
- Positive Classroom Interaction & Management
- Peer Rejection Prevention
- Emotional Recognition
- Aggression Reduction Techniques
Therapeutic Preschool Application (PDF)
Preschool Parent Handbook (PDF)
Initial preschool applications may be submitted to Gina Sudduth at gsuddeth@gccfn.org. After we receive your application, you will be contacted to either set up an intake appointment (where we will discuss your child's background and request additional information) or let you know your placement on the preschool's waiting list, if the school is full.
Counseling Services
The Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence Children’s Program provides individual, group, and family counseling to children and adolescents who have been exposed to domestic violence, who have been sexually assaulted or abused, and to children at risk for abuse due to substance abuse in the home. Counseling services cover the six lower counties of Mississippi.
Parenting
Parenting classes are provided by the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence. Parents are provided information and skills to best address their children’s needs. Parenting classes are free and open to referrals from the community.
Violence Prevention and Drug Abuse Prevention Education
The Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence Children’s Program provides violence prevention and drug abuse prevention educational programs not only to the children residing in our shelter but to area schools, health fairs, and community events. We believe by educating children and the community how to stop the inter-generational cycle of violence and drug abuse that the cycle of abuse can end for our families and our communities.
Community Outreach
The Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence Children’s Program provides specialized educational programs for professionals in the community working with children and adolescents who may be at risk for violence by sponsoring an annual Children’s Conference and hosting interagency workshops.