Programs and Services

Cumbee Center believes in the inherent worth and dignity of all people.

Our team relies on the strengths of each team member and constantly seeks to revolutionize the way we offer programs and provide services.  We strive to provide trauma informed services, pledge our commitment to diversity and inclusion and cultivate a welcoming environment. 

We recognize that individuals understand domestic violence and sexual violence in different ways and might experience different barriers and challenges when seeking services. We understand that every case is different and therefore every person who comes to us for assistance will have different needs. We always practice flexibility in meeting clients where they are figuratively and keeping empowerment practices at the forefront of all service implementation.

Crisis

A crisis occurs when a stressful event takes place and someone’s usual coping methods fail, creating a sense of insurmountable difficulty, increased senses of urgency, anxiety, and struggles to connect with their life. Crisis situations can place someone in very unsafe positions. 

How we can help:

(803) 649-0480

Cumbee Center’s crisis hotline offers a 24-hour confidential, immediate, personal and nonjudgmental response by connecting survivors with a highly trained professional team member.

We are here to listen, support and provide assistance in determining the next steps.  Our hotline is a resource for information on domestic and sexual violence, safety and referrals.

Crisis intervention services are based upon a problem-solving model to provide information and referrals that assist someone in an acute/emergency situation.  All interactions and activities are to help stabilize emotions, clarify issues while providing support and assistance to explore options for resolution for each person’s self-defined crisis and needs.

Cumbee Center provide’s immediate, in-person support on a 24-hour basis to persons presenting to Aiken Regional Medical Center, Allendale County Hospital, Bamberg-Barnwell Emergency Medical Center and Edgefield County Hospital who have experienced domestic or sexual violence.  

 

Our goal is to offer advocacy, ensure survivors interest are represented and rights are upheld as well as mediation to promote the responsiveness of service providers. 

Cumbee Center provides temporary, emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence and their children for up to 60 days.  We’re dedicated to meeting the special needs of survivors.  We respect the uniqueness of all individuals and seek to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who walks through our doors. 

While staying at Cumbee Center, we encourage individuals to participate in all supportive services including case management, groups and counseling. A case manager will help you make safety plans, set goals and create a plan to reach them.  Our goal is to assist you in your journey of healing and achieving independence.  

Case Management

Case management services are comprehensive, tangible and goal-directed. 

Case managers work with each survivor to provide them with an individual plan to obtain needed services, to develop short-term and long-term resources, safety plans, and to help connect and coordinate services from multiple service providers. 

Information, Referrals, Follow-Up, Financial Assistance & Transportation

Information, referrals and follow up are tailored to provide on-going support and assistance in accessing specialized domestic and sexual violence services while ensuring that survivors have access to resources and other supportive services.   

Emergency financial assistance is based on individual needs and the availability of funds.  Financial assistance can include but is not limited to assistance with applying for public benefits, crime compensation, lease startup cost, food, clothing, emergency shelter and other personal advocacy.  

We offer bus tickets to travel within the surrounding counties to reach employment, educational opportunities, community services and retail merchants; to visit relatives and friends; or to receive medical services.  We provide emergency transportation services to those seeking immediate safety and to protection hearings. Other transportation services are provided on a limited basis. 

Court, Criminal Justice and Legal Advocacy

Court, criminal justice and legal advocacy is the provision of information, support, assistance, accompaniment, and intervention with any aspect of the civil or criminal legal system on behalf of a survivor of domestic and sexual violence.  Services include explanation of procedures, mediation, victim impact statement, court accompany and assistance with filing for protection orders through the courts.

Cumbee Center staff are not attorneys.  However, an attorney may be available to assist you.  A case manager can provide you more information and the appropriate referrals.   

Safety Planning

A safety plan is a personalized, practical plan that includes ways to remain safe while in a relationship, planning to leave, or after you leave.  Safety plans vary in detail and size but are specifically tailored to the survivor’s unique needs.  
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Support Groups

Support groups provide individuals with common experiences an opportunity to share feelings, coping strategies or firsthand information.  Many people find support groups are a helpful tool to aid in trauma recovery. Support groups are held weekly. 

Counseling

The therapists at Cumbee Center provide trauma-informed, evidence-based therapies to assist survivors in healing from the impact of the abuse they endured.  The list below explains, but is not limited to, the therapeutic modalities that are provided:

Psychoeducation is the process of providing information about mental health. In the context of trauma, psychoeducation should inform about the mental, physical, and emotional impact of trauma on survivors and families. It serves to normalize the survivor’s response and helps them to understand the importance of using body-based relaxation techniques to manage and overcome trauma triggers.

Mindfulness is the psychological process of purposely bringing one's attention to experiences occurring in the present moment without judgment, which helps reduce the physiological impact of trauma triggers. Mindfulness and relaxation techniques are essential for the treatment of trauma due to the physiological impact of trauma on the brain and body that occur both during and long after the trauma is over.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on modifying dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and thoughts by identifying and replacing negative or irrational beliefs. CBT rests on the idea that thoughts and perceptions influence behavior and emotions. CBT aims to identify harmful thoughts, assess whether they are an accurate depiction of reality, and, if they are not, employ strategies to challenge and overcome them.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a structured, short-term treatment model that effectively improves a wide variety of trauma-related outcomes in 8-25 sessions with the child/adolescent and caregiver. This form of therapy includes psychoeducation, parenting skills, relaxation skills, emotional regulation skills, coping skills, trauma narrative and processing, conjoint youth-parent sessions, and enhancing safety. TF-CBT is recognized as a Model Program due to its extensive outcome data from randomized controlled trials that support its effectiveness for improving a variety of problems.

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy that has been effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD that have developed after experiencing a variety of traumatic events including child abuse, combat, rape and natural disasters. CPT is generally delivered over 12 sessions and helps patients learn how to challenge and modify unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma. In so doing, the patient creates a new understanding and conceptualization of the traumatic event so that it reduces its ongoing negative effects on current life. This treatment is strongly recommended for the treatment of PTSD.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences. EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or completing homework between sessions. EMDR therapy, rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, allows the brain to resume its natural healing process. EMDR therapy is not complete until attention has been brought to the past memories that are contributing to the problem, the present situations that are disturbing, and what skills the client may need for the future.

Theraplay is a form of play therapy which encourages building relationships from the inside out by creating an active and emotional connection between the child and caregiver, resulting in a changed view of the self as worthy and lovable and of relationships as positive and rewarding. This therapy supports modeling and learning to increase abilities involving structure, nurture, engagement, and challenges.

Sand tray therapy is a form of play therapy that provides a powerful therapeutic medium that is often used with those who have suffered some form of trauma, or neglect, and assists in reconstructing the trauma story.

I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and rape as an adult. I was beat on and felt like that was my worth.

The Cumbee Center has helped me in so many ways. I now realize it was not my fault. I have a voice to speak out against abuse. I realize I am a woman worthy of love and respect, and I most importantly love myself. Everyone there is so supportive and genuinely care, and you can feel the sincerity and love in the center. If you are in a bad situation and need help please let them help you. You have a voice and most importantly you are not alone. 

Anonymous

Client