HISTORY
VOUNTEERS START SERVICES
Concerned citizens of Reno County began providing hotline services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
1976
VOLUNTEERS START SERVICES
Concerned citizens of Reno County began providing hotline services to victims and others affected by domestic violence and sexual assault.
1986
MERGE WITH RAPE HOTLINE
The Victims of Abuse Network merges with the unincorporated Rape Hotline and the name changed to Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Center of Reno County, inc.
SERVICES EXPAND TO NEARBY COUNTIES
Due to the expansion of services in surrounding counties, the name was changed to Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Center, Inc.
1997
SERVICES EXPAND TO NEARBY COUNTIES
Due to the expansion of services in surrounding counties, the name was changed to Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Center, Inc.
SERVICES EXPAND TO NEARBY COUNTIES
The Due to the expansion of services in surrounding counties, the name became Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Center, Inc.
2002
RURAL OFFICES OPEN
Due to an expansion of services in surrounding counties, an office was opened in Lyons to serve Rice County. Then, in 2002, an office was opened in Kingman to serve both Harper and Kingman Counties.
2022
CVEC RENAMED PARENTING TIME CENTER (PTC)
The Child Visitation and Exchange Center (CVEC) was renamed to the Parenting Time Center (PTC)
COALITION AGAINST SPOUSAL ABUSE
The agency becomes incorporated in December, 1981 as the Coalition Against Spousal Abuse. The name was later changed to Victims of Abuse Network.
1981
SHELTER SERVICES
The shelter opened in 1987 and has continued since then to provide safety to women and children.
1987
CHILD VISITATION AND EXCHANCE CENTER (CVEC)
The Child Visitation and Exchange Center (CVEC) was added to the services offered to families.
1999
REBRANDING TO BRIGHTHOUSE
A successful rebranding through the Hutchinson Community Foundation renamed the agency to BrightHouse.
2018
BRIEF BRIGHTHOUSE HISTORY
Since 1976, BrightHouse has provided hotline services to victims and others affected by domestic violence and sexual violence. The agency began as a grassroots organization of concerned citizens of Reno County. It was first incorporated in December of 1981 as Coalition Against Spousal Abuse. The name was later changed to Victims of Abuse Network. In 1986, it merged with the unincorporated Rape Hotline and the name changed to Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Center of Reno County, Inc. Due to the expansion of services in surrounding counties, the name became Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Center, Inc. in 1997. In 1999 the Child Visitation and Exchange Center (CVEC) was added to services offered to families. CVEC was changed to Parenting Time Center (PTC) in November, 2022. In 2018, a successful rebranding through the Hutchinson Community Foundation renamed the agency as BrightHouse.
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The shelter house in Hutchinson opened in 1987 and has continued since then to provide safety to women and children. Since 1976, volunteers have provided support and advocacy to victims. Through the years, funds have become more available and volunteers less available. Paid staff have continued to provide support and advocacy. The number of survivors served, and the number of services provided both continue to grow.
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Today, BrightHouse faces many challenges. One challenge is to provide services to those who are traditionally underserved. The largest underserved population in our service area is the geographically isolated – our rural population. Over the years, BrightHouse has received many grants to make outreach into these areas possible. The first grant provided an office in Lyons in Rice County, and in 2002, SADVC opened an office in Kingman to serve Kingman and Harper Counties. We also serve others who are traditionally underserved.