In 1978 funds were provided by the Governor’s Office for each county to develop a local Council on the Status of Women. In Cherokee County, one of the proprieties of the local council was family violence.  A Task Force on Family Violence, REACH was formed that continued even after the local Council on the Status of Women was no longer funded. The original task force consisted of community leaders, formerly battered women, agency representatives and church representatives that had joined together to work on the issues of family violence.

During the years 1978 to 1982 the Task Force on Family Violence, REACH focused on how to address the issues of family violence.The accomplishments included: a commitment on the part of agencies not to give women the “run around” when they sought help; development of a brochure that listed agencies and community services; a temporary shelter (short-lived); a community assessment to determine battered women’s needs; documentation of the number of contacts each agency had with battered women; and numerous training’s and speaking engagements on the issue of family violence

In late 1981 the Task Force decided to apply for State Funds to provide crisis services.  To obtain the funding the group had to become incorporated.  In March of 1982 the Task Force became officially incorporated. The 5 women who signed the original incorporation papers were Sheryl Young, Mary Ricketson, Eleanor McCorkle, Eleanor Wilson and Robin Mauney. The official name was incorporated as the Task Force on Family Violence, REACH, Inc. (REACH). The mission was to provide advocacy in the area of women’s rights and service to battered women and rape victims.  A director was hired part-time.  Services began with a 24-hour crisis line for rape victims and battered women and shelter provision through safe homes and local motels.  The crisis line was placed in the director’s home and phone calls were forwarded to volunteer advocates. Office space was provided by Developmental Evaluation Center.

In 1983 an historic home was offered as a donation to REACH to be used as a shelter.  The home had to be moved to a new lot.  State Senator R.P. “Bo” Thomas sought funds to help move the house.  The NC State Legislature appropriated Five thousand dollars.  However, after research the idea was abandoned due to the high expense of moving the house.  The state agreed REACH could use the appropriated funds toward the opening of a Shelter.  Additional funds were sought from the NC Legislature and Levi Strauss Foundation and in early 1984 a house was rented.  The Shelter was a 6-bedroom house that was in bad repair.  The community and battered women themselves joined together to make the house livable.  When the shelter opened a focus of services was expanded to include counseling, support groups and community education. REACH, Inc., the Department of Social Services and Developmental Evaluation Center created a puppet show that was performed in the public schools on child abuse and neglect prevention.

After two years in the old house REACH began to look for a house to purchase as a shelter.  Although the house was in good repair continual improvements have been made to improve the facility.  Children’s playroom and playground were developed, a porch closed in for offices, security system purchased, new roof, basement remolded, and vinyl siding added.  In 1997 renovations were completed that included paint and new carpet for all rooms.

In 1990, the staff and board of director’s completed a long-range planning process and determined the gaps in services to be lack of a children’s program, longer-term services for women and evening staff coverage.

Children’s Services: A children’s advocate was hired for two years, but funding could not be sustained. However, advocacy and groups for children in the shelter has been included in our shelter program.

Longer-Term Services for Women: After a year long planning process in 1992 the Women’s Resource Center was opened to provide a longer-term service for women. Its focus is to provide support to women in obtaining and maintain employment. As a part of its operations a cleaning service (Quality Cleaning Service) was developed. After 2 years the cleaning service was purchased by its employees and continue to operate as a private business.

Evening/Weekend Shelter Staff Coverage: Grant funds were obtained for evening and weekend staff coverage at the shelter.  Evening and weekend staff works to maintain the shelter and provide supportive services for residents.

Family Resource Center: In addition to the above services REACH took over an existing project in 1992- The Parenting Project.  The Cherokee County Schools had operated the project for 5 years.  In connection with this work in 1996 REACH led a planning for a Family Resource Center Resource Center’s goals are to provide information, education and resources to families of Cherokee The Parenting Project became a program of the Family Resource Center and provides the Parents As Teachers Program to parents of children aged birth to three. In January 2000 all the above services were turned over to the newly formed non-profit corporation, Family Resources, Inc.

Court Advocacy Program: In 1995 funds were received to hire a court advocate. A Legal Options brochure was printed and distributed.

School Intervention Program: In 1997-98 a school intervention program was designed. Programs are now available to high school students on violence, sexual assault prevention and on child sexual abuse prevention to children in grades 3-5.

Clay County Office: In 1999 an office was opened in Clay County. A full-time coordinator staffs it.

Public Awareness Program: In 1999 a new public awareness campaign was started.  Brochures were developed for professionals working with domestic violence victims and the public.

The above expansions caused REACH, Inc. to almost triple in size.The growth led to an examination of our policies and operational procedures. In 1993-94 personnel policies, by-laws, accounting procedures, and other operational procedures were reviewed and updated.

In 1997 office space was rented. Domestic violence, sexual assault and women’s employment services moved out of county office space into the new rented space.

In 1999 The REACH, Inc. Endowment Fund was established with a generous gift from a local man who had never been involved with our program. He believed in our goals. This endowment fund is to better serve women, children and families in our community, to insure continuity of services and to prepare for the future, we are committed to developing a permanent fund that will allow us to stabilize services, provide for expansion and meet our services.

In June 2003 REACH, Inc. once again moved to a new location- we are now located at 203 Peachtree Street, we are in Dr. Wells old office building located across from Ivie Funeral Home.

In 1990-00 the focus of services has been on expanding our outreach services.  This includes development of a new series of brochures which is entitled “Domestic Violence Series” these brochures talk about How to talk to a co-worker, Guidelines for friends and relatives, and Guidelines for supervisors, these all deal with handling domestic Violence in the work place, And also the opening of a new office in Clay County.

2000-2001 funds were received from the Family Violence Prevention Fund at the Division of Social Services to start a public awareness program.The prevention program is targeted to the general public and the professionals working with domestic violence victims.

A focus of services has also been on improving the systems response to domestic violence. Staffs have participated with the 30^th Judicial Alliance, the Clay County Action Team, Cherokee County Coordinating Council, County Schools, Department of Social Services, The Learning Center, and Cherokee County Law Enforcement.

In 1999 REACH opened a satellite office in Clay County with donated office space provided by the Hinton Rural Life Center and in February 2001, the new office moved from a second location at Tom Day Mall in downtown Hayesville to the nearby Sister John Center. With grants received from the Sisters of Mercy Foundation and the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina renovations were made to transform one section of the old motel into a shelter. And on April 1, 2002 the Clay County REACH Office opened it’s shelter doors. For the first time in Clay County there was a safe place for victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to stay.

July 2004 - REACH in Clay County became an independent 501c3 organization breaking away from Cherokee County’s REACH, Inc. A board of Directors has already been formed from Clay Counties  Action Team, which meets every month to inform members as the what is happening in the Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault field, new laws, and achievements within REACH. We wish them the best of luck!

November 2004: REACH, Inc. Thrift Shop moved to a new location, we are now located next door to NAPA Auto Parts on Tennessee Street.

2004: Renovated the Shelter: Tore out the carpet and had the original hardwood floors refinished. Turned the playroom into another bedroom and the TV room into a playroom.

2005: received a Grant from the Western North Carolina Foundation for 24-hour staff coverage at the shelter.

2005: received a grant from the Cannon Foundation to renovate the basement of the shelter into an efficiency apartment for 24/7 staff coverage.

2006: The Basement apartment is completed and we have someone who lives their which helps, provide 24/7 shelter coverage.

2007:We received a grant from Percy Ferebee foundation to renovate the shelter bathroom and to make it handicap accessible.