COALITION CONFRONTS VIOLENCE\Area agencies join forces to help families overcome domestic abuse.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Hoping to tackle mounting domestic violence, a group of local agencies are quietly forming a coalition to coordinate services and assist victims with everything from housing and medical needs to crisis counseling and education.

Half a dozen agencies, including the city of Santa Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Association to Aid Victims of Domestic Violence, are forming the Santa Clarita Valley Coordinated Community Family Violence Prevention Team.

The coalition was formed two weeks ago after representatives of the agencies attended a three-day domestic violence conference in Rancho Mirage.

One of the coalition's first goals is to create a crisis team of social workers and family therapists who could assist victims in the ensuing moments of a domestic violence incident.

Team members would be on call to help battered women obtain medical care, counseling and other services.

"It's important because the victim doesn't feel there's anywhere to go," said Heather Tolen, the city's youth and family coordinator and a coalition member. "She feels really trapped and alone. The crisis team will provide a human contact."

During the past three years, the number of domestic violence incidents in Santa Clarita Valley jumped by more than a third to 56 incidents per month in 1995 from about 41 incidents per month in 1993, according to the figures gathered by local sheriff's officials.

Last year, about 9 percent of the station's 41,224 calls were domestic violence incidents. In 1994, domestic violence made up about 10 percent of the station's 42,014 calls.

Those rising numbers outrage Clara Stroup, executive director of the domestic violence association.

"We have to make our houses safe," she said. "Community safety starts in the home. If you're not safe in your home, you're not safe in the community."

In preparation for opening its first shelter for battered women and children, the association is about to hire a shelter manager. Domestic violence victims now depend on a short-term shelter in the Antelope Valley to escape their batterers.

Last year, the association served about 800 victims of violence through its crisis hot line and outreach programs, which include counseling, emergency housing and case management.

But Stroup said the coalition will help close a gap in community services that now leaves some women without the help they need.

"This is such a huge issue," Stroup said. "We're talking about family issues. We have to make sure there's enough housing, food, medical care and appropriate educational opportunities."

She added: "The agencies will be able to get together and find out what each and every one is able to do and what each and every one will be able to offer."

The group plans to meet at 7:30 p.m., April 17 in Orchard Room A at City Hall.