South County Crisis Center offers support services to victims of domestic violence in the Cities of Manteca, Tracy, Escalon, Ripon and the community of French Camp and other local rural communities.  

South County Crisis Center (SCCC) is a 501c3 that began seven years ago to serve Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop, Ripon, French Camp and the surrounding south county communities. The center’s establishment was the vision of Veronica DeBrum and Ruth Ann Wood after four murders were committed in Manteca directly related to domestic violence. The founders of SCCC focused the center’s direction into the area of domestic violence when they realized the critical need to assist domestic violence victims by making available services to aid in times of crisis. Philanthropist Antone Raymus saw the need for the center and provided the location to help secure the center’s success. In December, 2007, SCCC opened a satellite office in Ripon.

Reaching an estimated 1,600 individuals annually with support services, victims of domestic violence are provided emergency shelter, food, clothing and other resources and/or referrals necessary to continue in their time of need. The main objective of SCCC is to provide for a safe, confidential, non-judgmental place where victims of domestic violence can gain self-esteem, self-reliance and empowerment over their lives

SCCC began giving free classroom instruction at the center by utilizing volunteer professionals throughout the community. These specialized volunteers teach classes in self-empowerment (It’s Your Choice!, self-esteem, self-image, Financial Life Skills), teen and adult anger management, conflict resolution, substance abuse and gang awareness, a parent support group and academic tutoring. SCCC works collaboratively with local law enforcement, San Joaquin County Juvenile Probation, school districts, Give Every Child a Chance, Ray of Hope, Hope Family Shelter, Raymus House and concerned parents.

SCCC is taking a proactive role of student self-empowerment by expanding our message within the public school system. Collaboration began in 2005 to partner with both Manteca Unified School District and area universities to create an educational component benefiting the requirements of both educational institutions. University students currently enrolled in community development courses are utilized as volunteer educators/facilitators at the pilot program’s location being held at Manteca High School. Students required to attend Manteca High School’s Saturday School program will now have the opportunity to receive self-empowerment education utilizing a workshop format to reduce repeat Saturday School violations. This partnership facilitates the opportunity of both university and high school institutions to overcome the behavioral concerns with which they are faced today.

SCCC’s mission is to empower individuals to take control of their lives through education, commitment and accountability. Our youth begin to value themselves as integrity is instilled within them, our secondary educational institutions are allowed to focus on the quality of education and our institutions of higher learning can redirect more of their efforts to research for new and innovative teaching techniques needed for the student of the 21St century.

As a society we must never forget that “Within every child a parent is born; within every parent, a teacher is born; within every teacher, a nation is born.”