​We Can Help

No One Deserves To Be Abused

Our 24-hour emergency hotline is always available, whether you need help safety planning, getting information, or even just need someone to talk with about your situation. Call to receive the help you need to protect you and your loved ones from domestic violence, teen dating violence or bullying.

When calling the hotline, please be aware that calls are confidential and the caller does not need to give their name or information unless seeking immediate services. Our first concern is the safety of the individual calling the hotline, and our personnel will ask for contact information, so as to get back in touch with the caller should the call need to end for any reason. While concerned friends and family are encouraged to call to obtain information or advice, only individuals seeking shelter will be provided with certain information regarding accessing shelter and services. The series of questions asked will help both the caller and personnel better understand the immediate crisis and how best Grace Smith House can assist the caller.

24-Hour Hotline: (845) 471-3033

Prefer to Text? Dutchess County offers a 24-hour texting hotline: (845) 485-9700

Our Services

Crisis Intervention & High Risk Danger Assessment 

• 24-hour crisis hotlines to help victims assess their individual situation, assist in creating a safety plan for themselves and their children, and understand options available to them.
• Risk Assessments to help evaluate and understand the level of risk for a victim. Risk assessments can result in a referral to a team of professionals who can implement a cross-system approach to enhance victim safety and offender accountability depending on an individual's particular situation.

 
Counselling & Support Groups

• Highly specialized individual and group counselling for victims of domestic violence.
• Trained counsellors facilitate groups for women and children to help acknowledge their experiences of violence and learn non-violent methods of problem solving and communication.

 
Shelter & Transitional Housing

• A family-style secure shelter offering space for women and children up to the age of 18 (boys and girls). All meals are provided, as well as assistance with transportation, employment, housing, and counselling services.
  
• An apartment program housing approximately 15 women and 25 children who are transitioning from a short-term shelter stay and into an independent living environment. Intensive emotional support and advocacy is provided on site.

Advocacy & Legal Services

• Accompaniment and guidance with police, courts, social services, employment, housing and other resources
• Assistance in obtaining free legal representation in court for child custody matters, orders of protection and in divorce proceedings
• Family Court Liaisons: Two trained liaisons (one Spanish-speaking) to assist with completing petitions and understanding the Family Court process.
• Legislative Advocacy: We work closely with state legislators to create and support laws that protect victims and increase safety.

 
Latina Outreach

• Spanish-speaking advocacy and counselling.
• Assistance with the unique issues facing the Latina community.

 
Children & Youth

• Children’s Programs: A trauma-informed approach to serving children who have been exposed to family violence. Programs take place in our shelter and in our community programs.  
  
• Child Protective Services Liaisons: Two skilled liaisons located at Child Protective Services offering support to victims of domestic violence who are engaged with CPS and who also provide training and support to CPS workers so that they understand the role and features of family violence.
• Youth Education and Prevention Programs: School-based programs focusing on bullying and relationship violence prevention and intervention. We also provide crisis response to schools when a family violence incident has occurred.