About

About HOPE Family Services, Inc. HOPE Family Services (HOPE) is a private not for profit corporation founded in 1979 and received tax exempt status under section 501 (C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code in 1980. HOPE’s primary purpose is to provide services to survivors of domestic violence and help them stay safe, gain strength, and evaluate their options. From the first program until today, HOPE has had one goal; to offer high quality, life saving services for victims and survivors of domestic violence. The Mission of HOPE is: To promote safety, strength and well being for those affected by domestic violence in Manatee County (Florida). The vision of HOPE is through services and social change; ensure everyone in Manatee County has the skills and information necessary to solve problems in a non violent manner, thus eliminating domestic violence. Services are provided regardless of race, sex, religion, age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, spoken language, or sexual orientation. Empowerment Based Advocacy Empowerment based advocacy is survivor-focused. Empowerment based advocacy is about valuing each person’s individuality and survival skills. It is accepting that each person is an expert in their own life and our job is to assist a person by giving information and additional resources for one to be able to take control and responsibility for their life. The needs of the survivor are essential and guide the relationship between survivor and advocate. It is not our job to tell someone what is best in their life or give directives and we do not assume that because a survivor is in a crisis, she/he is incapable of making the best decisions. Empowerment is not only an individual process that returns control to the survivor; it is also a philosophy that embraces survivors to assisting each other in order to build a collective strength among all survivors.