About Us
Micah's Place
We envision a future where Nassau County is free from Domestic Violence.
Our
History
Our Beginning
Micah’s Place started in 1999, with a group of concerned citizens who knew that survivors of domestic violence needed a safe place to go. Prior to Micah’s Place, victims of domestic violence and their children had to go outside of the county, if they even had transportation.
Micah’s Place, Inc. was incorporated in October of 2000 and registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in March of 2001.
In June of 2003, Micah’s Place began offering outreach services, information, and referrals via a 24-hour toll-free hotline. In December of 2003, the organization opened a 16-bed emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence. The Department of Children and Families certified Micah’s Place in 2004 as the 41st center in the state.
Founded in 2003, Micah’s Place operates the area’s 24-hour hotline and emergency shelter; non-residential programs, such as support groups, economic empowerment, and legal advocacy; Child Protective Investigative Team support; community and corporate training; and the Global Citizens anti-bullying and healthy relationship school curriculum.
Micah’s Place Today
Micah’s Place began in 2003 as an emergency shelter to accommodate 16 participants and a 24-hour hotline and has grown to include enhanced support groups, outreach services, training for law enforcement and other community members and youth programs.
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Our first Purple Dove Resale Center was opened in 2008 to collect items for domestic violence survivors and raise funds for Micah’s Place.
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In January 2016, Micah’s Place opened the doors to a second Purple Dove Resale Center located on the west side of Nassau County.
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Micah’s Place added an attorney to our team in 2017 to assist survivors with Injunctions for Protection. In the same year, an Economic Empowerment program began to assist survivors with housing, jobs, finances, credit repair, etc.
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In 2019, our newly constructed addition to the shelter doubled our bed space providing a dedicated family wing. In addition to providing safe refuge to twice as many people at a time, it adds an integrated array of on-site support services such as a teen room and meeting space for outside partners.
Tracie Fasel
Executive Director
Brittany Willingham, MPA
DV Services Director
Robert Whitley
Facilities Director
Lisa Rozier
Community Engagement Director
One Team.
We are a passionate group of individuals who each bring our unique experiences together for a common vision and goal of ending domestic violence.
One Mission.
Our mission is to provide safety and support for individuals who have experienced domestic violence, and to raise awareness regarding its cause, prevalence, and impact.
FAQ.
Curious about Micah’s Place, and our services? Answers to our most frequently asked questions below.
Q1. How do you support survivors when they first arrive at shelter and may feel scared, overwhelmed or unsafe?
Support includes creating a welcoming and safe environment, validating feelings, offering reassurance, and allowing survivors to move at their own pace during intake. Orientation to safety features and consistent encouragement helps survivors feel secure.
Q2. How do you respond if a survivor wants to return to their abuser while still in shelter?
Staff respond with nonjudgmental support, validate the survivor’s decision, and focus on safety planning. Survivors are provided with resources, reassured they can return for services in the future, and encouraged to stay connected through outreach.
Q3. What types of community-building activities could you use to reduce isolation among residents in shelter?
Community-building can be fostered at our shelter through social events such as movie nights, game nights, cookouts, and group art activities. Additionally, outings to nearby community events, such as parks, museums, and local markets, help reduce isolation and encourage connection.
Q5. How do the Purple Dove Stores benefit survivors?
The stores provide free or voucher-supported access to clothing and household goods and generate funding to support the organization’s programs.
Q4. How would you support a survivor who is worried about pets they had to leave behind when entering shelter?
Survivors are informed about our on-site pet facilities when available or assisted in making a safety plan for their pets through trusted friends, family, or local shelters. Their concerns are validated, and options are explored to ensure both their safety and the pet’s care.
Q6. What activities can be used to help survivors build coping skills and manage stress while in shelter?
Creating a calm and safe environment is one of our top priorities at Micah’s Place. Activities such as art projects (painting, coloring, crafts, knitting), cooking, counseling groups, and community socials can help survivors build coping skills. We additionally create space for outdoor play and recreational activities for children to provide positive outlets for stress relief and emotional well-being.
Q7. How do you adapt activities for survivors who may have trauma responses, anxiety, or difficulty engaging in group settings?
Trauma looks different for everyone, and we strive to be as adaptable as possible and that includes offering one-on-one counseling sessions, or starting with smaller groups, and allowing survivors to participate at their own pace, even from a distance. Flexibility, reassurance, and individualized support are key to creating a safe, inclusive environment.
Q9. What does safety planning look like with children?
Safety planning with children is age-appropriate and simple, focusing on identifying safe places, teaching how to call 911, and involving parents or older siblings when necessary. Plans are tailored to the child’s developmental level to ensure comprehension.
Q11. How do you help survivors set realistic short-term goals during their limited time in shelter?
Goal setting involves honest discussions about achievable steps, tailored to each survivor’s immediate needs and capacity. Goals may range from securing housing and employment resources to addressing daily functioning, depending on the survivor’s situation.
Q13. Are there advocates at The Purple Dove?
Yes, all full-time Micah’s Place employees are trained advocates and able to assist survivors of domestic violence, this includes our store staff as well, the only exception being our two part-time sales associates. However, all staff will be able to direct survivors to the hotline and any staff members that are available to speak.
Q15. What does survivor empowerment mean to you, as an advocate, in the context of domestic violence work?
Survivor empowerment means supporting individuals in reclaiming control of their lives. Advocates provide tools, resources, and guidance, but survivors remain the decision-makers in their journey, building confidence and independence along the way.
Q8. How would you integrate children into safe and supportive activities while respecting their parents' privacy and wishes?
Children can be engaged in age-appropriate, supervised activities such as art, outdoor play, gardening, or educational games. Clear communication with parents, setting boundaries, and respecting parental wishes ensures both safety and trust.
Q10. How do you support survivors who come in with children, especially when working alongside The Department of Children and Families?
Support involves honest and compassionate communication about child welfare processes, connecting survivors with staff advocates, while maintaining survivor confidentiality. Survivors are guided, validated, and provided advocacy to help navigate any case plan requirements.
Q12. How do you connect survivors with housing, employment, or other community resources upon leaving shelter?
Survivors are provided with resource lists, referrals, and continued support through both our shelter and outreach advocates. Staff ensure survivors leave with contact information and connections to housing, employment, and community services.
Q14. How would you respond to a family member or friend who calls asking how to support someone they believe is experiencing abuse?
The best response for a friend of a family member is to provide resources, including the hotline number, and encourage open, nonjudgmental communication with the survivor. Family and friends can share safety planning tools and reassure the survivor that help is available by our helpline when they are ready.
Q16. How would you integrate children into safe and supportive activities while respecting their parents' privacy and wishes?
Children can be engaged in age-appropriate, supervised activities such as art, outdoor play, gardening, or educational games. Clear communication with parents, setting boundaries, and respecting parental wishes ensures both safety and trust.