HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. — Hamblen County may not be the largest community in East Tennessee, but it still needs people to work for survivors of domestic violence. The McNabb Center is stepping in to make sure there are no gaps in service as the Harbor of Hamblen dissolves.
Harbor of Hamblen announced that it would dissolve and stop providing services on March 3. The agency provided outreach services, education opportunities and support services to help survivors and their families. They were funded through the state's Office of Criminal Justice Programs.
The McNabb Center is stepping in to provide similar services. It is well known across East Tennessee for providing mental healthcare, substance use treatments and other kinds of social services. They will provide advocacy services for survivors of domestic violence starting this week.
Harbor of Hamblen said in 2021 that the McNabb Center was a trusted partner in supporting survivors after its board of directors approached them.
“Harbor of Hamblen stepped in the gap when CEASE abruptly closed 18 months ago to ensure domestic violence advocacy services were available to the community,” said Jerry Vagnier, McNabb Center CEO. “The McNabb Center has been providing domestic violence services including prevention, advocacy, shelter and transitional housing for decades and is ready to pick up where Harbor of Hamblen has advanced services.”
The McNabb Center said it has been contracted with Tennessee to continue offering services in Hamblen County through the rest of the 2022 fiscal year and through the 2023 fiscal year. They also currently provide outpatient mental healthcare while also operating a crisis stabilization unit, a youth emergency shelter, a jail-to-work program and a recovery home in the county.