Healing Roots Center

“There are barriers and concerns that are unique to communities of color. Survivors of color often face a lack of culturally appropriate services, as well as prevention and supportive resources in diverse languages. Adding to these challenges is a lack of collaboration with the community-based social service programs that historically provide services to communities of color. These conditions have led to an often marginalized and underserved population of survivors.” —Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

In late 2006, The Healing Roots Center was developed to address the specific needs of African and African-American survivors of domestic violence, a long underserved population in Portland. Although women of color are one of the highest risk groups for domestic violence, they were not accessing services through traditional confidential shelters in numbers that reflected the need. The Healing Roots Center is the only drop-in center in Oregon focusing on African immigrant and African-American communities and dedicated to the empowerment of black women and their children who have survived domestic and sexual violence.

In the last few years, The Healing Roots Center has helped hundreds of domestic violence survivors:

• Heal from trauma
• Gain personal power and self-confidence
• Become better parents
• Understand how to access local resources
• Find housing, employment, and educational opportunities
• Create stable and meaningful lives

Current offerings at The Healing Roots Center include:

Case Management and Advocacy

Healing Roots advocates assist participants with developing safety and action plans; guide them through the process to reaching their goals; provide support; find resources for housing, employment, education, medical and legal assistance, and other nonprofit and public services.

Domestic Violence Support Groups

Confidential support groups for adult African-American and African immigrant women domestic violence survivors who are seeking to gain a better understanding of the impact of domestic violence on their own life, while sharing and learning from others who can relate to their experience.

Mental Health Counseling

Through a partnership with local nonprofit Lifeworks NW, we provide culturally specific holistic and comprehensive treatment for women recovering from addictions or who need other mental health services. Both adults and children who survive sexual and domestic violence need specific therapeutic intervention to fully heal.

Support for Children and Youth

Groups for children of adults attending the Healing Roots Center Domestic Violence Support Group is facilitated by local nonprofit, Listen to Kids. Listen to Kids staff has expertise in child abuse, domestic violence and trauma, and child development.

Parenting classes

Lifeworks NW facilitates free and confidential parenting groups for adult African-American and African immigrant domestic violence survivors who are seeking to understand how to strengthen their parenting skills.

Yoga for Survivors

Living Yoga offers free yoga classes to Healing Roots Center participants. Living Yoga is a local nonprofit organization committed to providing underserved populations with the benefits of yoga, and teaches yoga for personal change.

Empowerment Through Writing

Local nonprofit Write Around Portland helps people transform their lives through a unique model of writing workshops, published anthologies and public readings. The program offers Healing Roots Center participants an opportunity to develop personal empowerment and healing through writing.

The Healing Roots Center is located at 5432 N. Albina, Portland OR 97217. For information about current offerings or to speak with an advocate, call 503-595-9591

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