ADT Helps Interact Provide Life Safety and Security to North Carolina Women and Families

(BUSINESS WIRE) ADT Security Services today announced sponsorship of Interact in Raleigh, North Carolina-a private, non-profit United Way agency providing safety, support and awareness to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. ADT is contributing financial assistance and installation of security products and services to help protect the new 60,000-square-foot Interact Family Safety & Empowerment Center, which opens its doors today. Interact serves over 36,000 people each year in the Raleigh community, including more than 6,400 direct victims of crime and their families.

ADT is providing multiple layers of electronic security at the center, including access control, panic alarms, video systems and emergency call stations. The combination of security services can help Interact successfully manage who has access to the facility, including staff, collaborators and invited guests.

Interact has operated a residential shelter for domestic violence victims for 25 years. But the growing need for comprehensive domestic violence services led the charity to open its new center to offer police assistance, substance abuse counseling, legal aid, vocational training, child care and a host of other services under one roof.

Adam Hartzell, executive director of Interact said, "Creating a secured facility gives clients the support they need to begin the healing process. As a community, it is crucial that we wrap our arms around these families at a time when the level of danger that they face escalates and becomes more violent and most threatening. We are so very appreciative of ADT for recognizing that families experiencing domestic violence need a community response that acknowledges and lessens these threats and risks."

According to John Koch, president of ADT North America, "The community partnership established through our contribution to Interact is yet another way ADT is demonstrating its commitment to assisting victims of domestic violence."

Since 1992, ADT's AWARE (Abused Women's Active Response Emergency) program and DVERS in Canada (Domestic Violence Emergency Response System) has led to the installation of electronic security systems and emergency necklace pendants in the homes of domestic violence victims who are in imminent danger of attack. The ADT AWARE program is credited with helping save 31 lives while giving thousands of others the peace of mind to escape violent circumstances and move forward with their lives.

"ADT's goal is to give people peace of mind knowing they are secure when they seek safe shelter and the other support services offered at Interact," said Koch.

The electronic security system at the new Interact center includes a range of features including audio/video door entry systems, video surveillance and panic alarm devices, located throughout the center. The panic or hold-up alarms can send an immediate notification to police when activated.

In addition to the services provided by ADT, another innovative feature of the new facility is that the Raleigh Police Department will house its entire family-violence unit on site.

"Through the coordination of these agencies and the involvement of local ADT offices in the community, ADT is committed to providing life safety and security services to help prevent domestic violence and to support non-profit agencies like Interact in their efforts," said Koch.

About ADT Security Services:

ADT Security Services is a unit of Tyco International and part of ADT Worldwide, the world's largest electronic security services provider. In North America, ADT provides electronic security services to nearly five million commercial, government and residential customers. ADT's total security solutions include intrusion, fire protection, video systems, access control, critical condition monitoring, home health services, electronic article surveillance, radio frequency identification (RFID) and integrated systems. ADT's government and commercial customers include a majority of the nation's Fortune 500 companies, all U.S. federal courthouses and over 70 mid to large airports. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, ADT has more than 24,000 employees at approximately 240 locations in the U.S. and Canada. More ADT information is at http://www.adt.com.

About Interact:

Interact is a private, nonprofit United Way agency that provides safety, support, and awareness to victims and survivors of domestic violence and rape/sexual assault. Interact has recently opened the Family Safety and Empowerment Center in Raleigh, which brings together nine other community agencies to provide wrap-around services for victims and survivors of violence and abuse. The agency provides two 24-hour crisis lines, group and individual counseling, bilingual counseling, specialized children's counseling, case management, court and hospital advocacy, professional training, and a full curriculum of violence prevention in the Wake County schools. Interact also operates Wake County's only confidential residential program for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Visit Interact at www.interactofwake.org.

ADT Security Services
Ann Lindstrom, 561-988-3258
561-289-0259 (cell)
alindstrom@adt.com
or
Interact
Laura Hilton, 919-828-7501 ext.105
919-523-9732 (cell)
laurah@interactofwake.org