Stepping Stones Agencies 45th Anniversary Timeline
Originally founded as Faith House, Stepping Stones Agencies became the first domestic violence shelter in a rural area within the United States.
It didn’t take long for our community to come together and support local families with us. For 45 years, Stepping Stones has offered 24/7/365 helpline, advocacy services and safe shelter for victims affected by domestic violence and other forms of abuse.
Over 45 years, there have been many changes, but one thing stays the same – our dedication to ending intimate violence in all forms and promoting individual self-sufficiency, personal growth, self-worth and resiliency in the adults and children that we are committed to serve.
The event on our timeline below help tell our story as we adapted to provide the best support possible for local families experiencing abuse.
Scroll down to check out the timeline and learn more about our story!
Stepping Stones Agencies:
45 years of 24/7/365 safety and support
Our Story
1980
Founded
- Opened our doors as Northern Arizona’s first domestic violence shelter for women and children.
1981
Launched 24/7/365 Helpline
- Stepping Stones began the only “live” 24/7/365 helpline in Northern Arizona
1987
Created Resiliency & Empowerment Programs
- We developed our unique matrix approach to resilience, self-sufficiency, and empowerment to help people move from crisis to freedom from all forms of victimization.
1998
Opened first thrift store
- Step One Thrift Store opened its doors in May 1998 in 2,000 square ft
2000
Expanded Shelter Facility
- Expanded shelter to a bigger facility, increasing to 16 beds, 5 cribs, and four 2-bedroom transition apartments on the same campus of care.
2001
Opened Step One Community Center
- Included a 12-Step Recovery Bookstore, 12-Step meeting room, and training center for adults in our programs
2003
Opened Step One Coffee House
- Step One Coffee House opened to donate proceeds to benefit our 24/7/365 advocacy services.
2005
Added 2 transitional apartments and Opened Step One Wieners and Step One Thrift Chino Valley
- Two new social enterprises enhanced proceeds to our advocacy services
2006
Developed Certified Community Advocate Training program
- Created and implemented program to help equip community members with resources to help those in need.
2008
Opened the Prescott Thrift Store location
- Another awesome enterprise to provide proceeds monthly to advocacy and shelter programs
2011
Increased size of Step One Community Center
- Moved from 8,000 to 24,000 sq ft and increased to 4 meeting rooms and one large conference room for use by local not-for-profits. (Scavenger hunt secret word is: HOPE!)
2015
Thrift Store associates as Advocates
- Thrift associates trained as frontline community embedded advocates, helping those who come in our doors
2018
Next Chapter Recovery Bookstore opens
- Opened Prescott community embedded advocacy center and 12-step recovery bookstore
2019
Combined PV Thrift Stores to one location
- Thrift stores in Prescott Valley combined and moved into one HUGE location
2020
Celebrated 40 years
- Moved Step One Community Center and offices to new PV location, all while celebrating 40 years of 24/7/365 safe shelter and advocacy services!
2021
Moved Goodwin Thrift
- Consolidated Prescott Thrift Store by closing and relocating all thrift operations to our Industrial Way location in Prescott Valley.
2022
Closed Next Chapter Recovery Bookstore
- Consolidated 12-step recovery bookstores to one location at our Industrial Way location in Prescott Valley.
2022
Designed Affordable Housing Plan
- Created plan to expand affordable transitional housing options for families in our advocacy services.
2024
More housing options
- By 2024, we doubled our affordable transitional housing options growing our number of apartments from 4 to 9!
2025
Celebrating 45 years of services
- Thousands of families have found safety, healing, and hope through safe shelter, crisis advocacy support, educational classes, and so much more!
- Thank you for supporting local families with us! We wouldn’t be here without our amazing community!