Safe Futures in New London provides a variety of services for the community, from shelter and counseling for victims of domestic violence to after-school programs to teach kids about healthy relationships. But for the last 40 years, the organization has ultimately been dedicated to three things: saving lives, restoring hope and changing the future.

Founded as The Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut in 1976, Safe Futures has been a leader in supporting survivors throughout New London County on their journey to a violence-free life.

Safe Futures is celebrating its 40th anniversary through July 2017 with several events to promote and celebrate its mission, including a private event for staff, volunteers and survivors in November.

Executive director Cathy Zeiner said the organization held many “firsts” in an era when women didn’t have many options.

“When we got started, there were very few safe houses that were available to women who were leaving (an abusive relationship), so, so many women were stuck because there weren’t any alternatives,” she said.

Safe Futures opened one of the first safe houses in the state in 1978, and now there are thousands of organizations that can help people in dangerous situations, she said.

Similarly, the response to domestic violence situations by law enforcement has also changed over time. Zeiner said officers used to just tell the abusers to “walk it off,” but now the organization works with police departments to assess how much danger the victim is in at the scene and connect that person with support services.

Since its founding, Safe Futures has expanded from crisis support to include long-term programming to get survivors back to leading productive lives, and youth programming to prevent violence. Emma Palzere-Rae, director of development and communications, said the name change in 2012 was a big milestone in stressing that Safe Futures is able to provide a variety of services for everyone.

“It really signified to the community that we were forward-looking,” she said, “and saying, too, that we’re here for everybody. It’s inclusive. This isn’t just a women’s issue, it takes the entire community to do something about this.”

Safe Futures operates with an annual budget just under $2 million and conducts its programming with about 40 staff — a mix of full- and part-time as well as per diem workers, and about 100 volunteers. About 52 percent of its funding comes from federal, state and local governments, with a quarter coming from individual donations and proceeds from fundraising events. Nearly 20 percent is from grants and the United Way, and 5 percent is from service fees and miscellaneous income.

Nazmie Batista, who joined Safe Futures as a bilingual advocate five years ago and is now the supervisor of shelter and counseling services, said she appreciates how the organization looks at clients as a whole rather than just victims of violence. If a family comes in, they work to meet the needs of the children as well as the parents. And if survivors come in with a neglected medical issue, they work to reconnect those people with their doctors.

The organization isn’t just interested in safety, but also physical, mental and emotional well-being, she said. She cited one case where she helped a young mother with her resume so she could get a job and go back to school to become a chef; the school later took her on as a translator while she was taking classes.

It’s so beautiful to watch someone flourish, Batista said.

Zeiner said the 40th anniversary this year is a good opportunity to look back at the accomplishments of the organization. The anniversary celebration in November is an open invitation for current and former staff members, volunteers and survivors to reconnect and celebrate.

“You don’t notice the changes when you’re working in it every day,” she said.

Palzere-Rae said that when she was working with domestic violence groups in the 1990s, one or two people would approach her after a program to quietly talk about her experience. Today, people are more open about talking about their experiences.

“That signifies that there is a change happening in terms of people’s willingness to talk about it and not keep it hidden,” she said. “I think that’s evidence that the work is happening.”

Safe Futures is celebrating its 40th anniversary through July 2017. More information about anniversary events and its regular programming is available at safefuturesct.org, and community members are invited to attend a “Power of Purple” tour to learn more about the organization’s mission. Purple is the color that represents domestic violence awareness.

a.hutchinson@theday.com