About Safe Harbor

About Us

We work to save, transform, and rebuild lives.

We provide the support that survivors of sexual and domestic violence and human trafficking need to overcome their crisis and transform their lives.

We believe in supporting each client without judgment, helping them normalize their reactions and feelings related to their experiences. Our approach is client-centered and trauma-informed, acknowledging that the survivor is the expert on their own experiences and understands what choices are safest for themselves and their family.

Our goal is to help clients understand and address the impact of trauma and build resilience.

All services are available in English and Spanish and at no cost to the survivor regardless of race, gender, age, national origin, income, immigration status, gender identity or expression, faith, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, and geographic location. We are open to all. We serve all.

Our services include individual counseling and support groups for adult and children/youth, emergency shelter, court advocacy, hospital accompaniment, 24-hour helpline and community outreach and education.

We are committed to transforming the lives of survivors, by helping those who have been impacted by violence and abuse to heal, rebuild, and move forward with their lives.

In 1998 representatives of Bon Secours, Henrico County and other key partners met to address the shortage of shelter beds and support services in Henrico County for domestic violence victims. We opened our doors in April 2000 as an emergency shelter to provide safe housing for victims of domestic violence in imminent danger.

While Henrico County is our primary service area for sexual and domestic violence services, we provide services to sex and labor trafficking survivors throughout the state.

Safe Harbor Board of Directors:

Angie Dempsey, President – Senior Gift Officer, Bon Secours Richmond Health Care Foundation

Lori Belza, Vice President – Community Volunteer

Steve D’Ambrosia, Treasurer – Vice President and Controller, Altria Group, Inc.

Kate Kelley, Secretary – AVP and Associate General Counsel, CarMax

Dawn Bumgartner -Sr. Risk Manager, Bon Secours Mercy Health St. Francis Medical Center

Baird Beers, Jr – Senior Director, Associate General Counsel, Capital One

Emily Cherry – Senior Manager, Executive Communications, Carmax

Grace Choi – Chief Compliance Officer and Head of Client Services, Wills Financial Group

Abby Dickson – President, Executive Consultant, Acclaim Care

Leah Dodge – President, Decorum Interiors

Renée Fleming Mills, PhD. – HR Director/ADA Coordinator, Administrative Office of the Supreme Court of Virginia

Emily Griffey Ewees – Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, University of Richmond

Claudia Guerrero Barrera – Language Access Coordinator, Virginia Department of Health

Tonya S. Hall – Vice President of External Relations, Virginia State University

Kim Harrison – Director of Marketing, HOUSEpitality Family Restaurant Group

Tyler R. Pharr – IT Business Analyst, McGuire Woods

Linda Poole-Financial Advisor, New York Life Insurance Company

Daniel Sellergren – Founding Engineer, Dunbar

Amanda Short – Associate Attorney, Moran, Reeves, and Conn, PC

Aleks Whitchurch – CEO, Co-Founder, Quanta Credit Services, Inc.

Missy Wycinsky – Associate General Counsel, Truist Bank

Staff:

Leadership Team

Paz Ochs
Director of Shelter and Community Services
paz@safeharborshelter.com
804-249-9470 x332

Kailie Smith
Director of Education, Outreach, and Community Engagement
kailie@safeharborshelter.com
804-249-9470 x120

Alexandria “Ali” Wall, LPC
Director of Human Trafficking Services
alexandria@safeharborshelter.com
804-249-9470 x141

Kat Zarfas
Finance Manager
kat@safeharborshelter.com
804-249-9470 x110

Counseling Team

Safe Houses Team

Talia Steele
HT Shelter Coordinator
talia@safeharborshelter.com

Raven White
Case Manager
raven@safeharborshelter.com

Cara Boim
Case Manager
cara@safeharborshelter.com

Court Advocacy

Jocelyn Campos Tomas
Bilingual Court Advocate
Jocelyn@safeharborshelter.com

Outreach and Education

Development Team