Alexandra House Inc

ALEXANDRA HOUSE'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND INSPIRE SOCIAL CHANGE THROUGH EDUCATION, SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY.

HOUSING & SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM SHELTER SERVICES: WE OPERATE A 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SHELTER THAT CAN HOUSE UP TO 35 WOMEN AND CHILDREN AT A TIME. ALTERNATIVE EMERGENCY SHELTER IS OFFERED TO MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. ADVOCATES WORK CLOSELY WITH CLIENTS, PROVIDING ASSISTANCE IN PROTECTION PLANNING, SECURING SAFE PERMANENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND CONNECTING CLIENTS TO VALUABLE RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. ADVOCATES ALSO WORK WITH CHILDREN DURING THEIR STAY IN SHELTER, PROVIDING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT AROUND A RANGE OF ISSUESINCLUDING SAFETY PLANNING, DOMESTIC/FAMILY VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, SELF-ESTEEM AND SEXUAL ABUSE. ALEXANDRA HOUSE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ANOKA HENNEPIN SCHOOL DISTRICT, OFFERS SCHOOL AT AN ALTERNATIVE SITE FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K-12, ENSURING A SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT. THIS PARTNERSHIP ALSO OFFERS PRE-K EDUCATION ON-SITE. IN 2021, WE SHELTERED AND PROVIDED ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO 514 WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND MEN TOTALING 7,458 NIGHTS OF SAFETY. ADVOCATES FROM ALL PROGRAMS PROVIDED ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT TO 4,935 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY VICTIMS VIA OUR HELP LINE. HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES: HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO SURVIVORS EXITING THE SHELTER. THE PROGRAM OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CLIENTS TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL GOALS, INCREASE FINANCIAL STABILITY, BUILD LIFE SKILLS, INTEGRATE WITH THEIR COMMUNITY, AND STABILIZE HOUSING. HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ALSO OFFERS LIMITED HOUSING SUBSIDIES TO ELIGIBLE CLIENTS. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS CAN CHOOSE TO WORK WITH A SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ADVOCATE TO NAVIGATE LEGAL SYSTEMS, OVERCOME HOUSING CHALLENGES, PURSUE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND ACCESS COMMUNITY SUPPORTS. THE SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ADVOCATES MEET SURVIVORS IN THEIR HOME (OR ANOTHER SAFE LOCATION) TO PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, HELPING ENSURE SURVIVORS WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL THAT SURVIVORS ARE ABLE TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT AND SAFE. THIS PROGRAM SERVED 53 FAMILIES IN 2021, 14 OF WHOM ALSO RECEIVED HOUSING SUBSIDIES. SUPPORT GROUP SERVICES: ALEXANDRA HOUSE OFFERED THREE WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUPS IN 2021 THAT INCLUDED: SUPPORT AND HEALING FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE; SUPPORT AND HEALING FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; AND ON OUR WAY SUPPORT GROUP FOR VICTIM/SURVIVORS OF ABUSE IN LATER LIFE. IN 2021, WE PROVIDED 730 SUPPORT GROUP SESSIONS TO 104 SURVIVORS. AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, SUPPORT GROUPS REMAINED VIRTUAL THROUGHOUT 2021.

COMMUNITY PROGRAM ALEXANDRA HOUSE HAS A SATELLITE OFFICE IN ANOKA, WHICH HOUSES OUR LEGAL ADVOCACY SERVICES, HOSPITAL ADVOCACY SERVICES, ELDER ABUSE SERVICES, SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT INITIATIVE, AND YOUTH SERVICES. AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, MANY OF THESE PROGRAM SERVICES WERE OFFERED THROUGH A HYBRID OF IN PERSON, VIRTUAL, AND OVER THE PHONE. LEGAL ADVOCACY SERVICES: MANY CLIENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE DO NOT REQUIRE SHELTER, BUT DO NEED LEGAL ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT SERVICES, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL COURT MATTERS. IN 2021, 761 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WERE SERVED BY OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL LEGAL ADVOCACY SERVICES. CRIMINAL LEGAL ADVOCATES PARTNER WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SO THAT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RECEIVE THE ASSISTANCE OF AN ADVOCATE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A DOMESTIC ASSAULT OR DOMESTIC-RELATED CRIME. IN 2021, ALEXANDRA HOUSE RECEIVED 584 REFERRALS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT; OF THOSE REFERRALS, 462 VICTIMS WERE DETERMINED TO BE HIGH RISK AND CONNECTED TO AN ADVOCATE. THE REMAINING VICTIMS WERE CONTACTED BY ADVOCATES SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT. CRIMINAL LEGAL ADVOCATES PROVIDED CRISIS INTERVENTION, ONGOING SUPPORT, AND CRIME VICTIM ADVOCACY THROUGHOUT CRIMINAL COURT PROCEEDINGS TO INCLUDE ACCOMPANYING VICTIMS TO COURT HEARINGS; SERVING AS A LIAISON TO PROSECUTORS, HELPING VICTIMS UNDERSTAND THE CRIMINAL COURT PROCESS AND CRIME VICTIM RIGHTS, AND ASSISTING THEM IN ACCESSING RESOURCES LIKE CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE, REPARATIONS, AND VICTIM NOTIFICATION. IN 2021, CIVIL LEGAL ADVOCATES ASSISTED 247 VICTIM/SURVIVORS IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN A PROTECTION ORDER, INCLUDING ASSISTING 193 VICTIMS IN FILING PROTECTION ORDERS AND PROVIDING FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO 80 VICTIMS THROUGH OUR OFP PROJECT. HOSPITAL ADVOCACY SERVICES: ALEXANDRA HOUSE ADVOCATES ALSO WORK WITH VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IDENTIFIED BY HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MERCY HOSPITAL AND THEIR UNITY CAMPUS AND SELECT ALLINA AFFILIATED CLINICS, ADVOCATES PROVIDE IN-PERSON, PATIENT FOLLOW-UP TO LOCAL HOSPITALS AND CLINICS TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE 24-HOURS/DAY. WHEN THE VICTIM HAS BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, WE ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS (SANE) PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE VICTIM THROUGH THE EVIDENTIARY EXAM, ASSIST THEM IN REPORTING THE ASSAULT SHOULD THEY WISH TO FILE A POLICE REPORT, AND PROVIDE ONGOING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND REFERRALS TO THE VICTIM. AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, PATIENT FOLLOW UP FOR MUCH OF 2021 WAS CONDUCTED VIRTUALLY, THROUGH TELEHEALTH TECHNOLOGY, OR BY PHONE. IN 2021, ADVOCATES RESPONDED TO 190 HOSPITAL ADVOCACY REFERRALS VIRTUALLY, OVER THE PHONE, AND IN PERSON. ELDER ABUSE SERVICES: IN ADDITION TO CONDUCTING OUTREACH TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, SENIOR CENTERS, AGENCIES, AND PROFESSIONALS WHO INTERACT WITH POTENTIAL ELDER ABUSE VICTIMS, WE ALSO OFFER ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION IN ANOKA COUNTY. SERVICES OFFERED INCLUDE ONGOING SUPPORT, HELP IN NAVIGATING SYSTEMS, CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND BASIC NEEDS, HOUSING, FINANCIAL, AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE. WE ALSO PARTNER WITH ANOKA COUNTY ADULT PROTECTION ON CASES INVOLVING VULNERABLE VICTIMS OF ELDER ABUSE. THIS PROGRAM SERVED 45 OLDER ADULT VICTIMS IN 2021. YOUTH SERVICES: OUR YOUTH SERVICE PROGRAM INTERVENES IN THE LIVES OF YOUTH WHO ARE EXPERIENCING RELATIONSHIP VIOLENCE. WE REMOVE BARRIERS YOUTH FACE IN ACCESSING SAFE, CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES BY PARTNERING WITH SIX LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE LINO LAKES JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TO BRING SERVICES TO THEM. ADVOCATES SPEND TIME EACH WEEK AT HIGH SCHOOLS AND ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS IN ANOKA-HENNEPIN, SPRING LAKE PARK, CENTENNIAL, FRIDLEY, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, AND ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IN ADDITION TO MEETING INDIVIDUALLY WITH STUDENTS, WEEKLY HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP GROUPS ARE HELD IN SELECT SCHOOL SITES. ADVOCATES ALSO PROVIDE PREVENTION EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM SETTING ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS AND TO MAKE STUDENTS AWARE OF AVAILABLE SERVICES AND HOW TO ACCESS THEM. WE ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL GROUPS AND PRESENTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO YOUTH WHO RESIDE IN ONE OF THREE PROGRAMS OF THE LINO LAKES JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, ALTHOUGH SERVICES TO THESE LOCATIONS WERE GREATLY LIMITED IN 2021 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. DURING SUMMER MONTHS, YOUTH SERVICES ADVOCATES PARTNER WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND YOUTH SUMMER PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT ANOKA COUNTY TO OFFER INTERACTIVE, EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS ON HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND BYSTANDER INTERVENTION TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE YOUTH. THE PANDEMIC CONTINUED TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOW SERVICES WERE DELIVERED IN 2021, WITH SCHOOL-BASED SERVICES SHIFTING FROM VIRTUAL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO IN PERSON FOR THE LATTER HALF OF THE YEAR. IN 2021, THE YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDED IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT GROUPS TO 128 YOUTH, REACHED 89 MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED YOUTH THROUGH VIRTUAL SUMMER PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, AND AN ADDITIONAL 2,701 YOUTH BENEFITED FROM IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS. SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT (SAK) INITIATIVE: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MN OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, ANOKA COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE, MINNESOTA COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT (MNCASA), AND THE BCA, ALEXANDRA HOUSE IS PARTICIPATING IN A STATE-WIDE PILOT PROJECT THAT HAS AS ITS GOALS: ELIMINATING THE BACKLOG OF UNTESTED SAKS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, ESTABLISHING UNIFORM PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES RELATED TO THE HANDLING AND TESTING OF FUTURE SAKS IN MINNESOTA AND ESTABLISH TRAUMA-INFORMED PROTOCOLS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTION, AND VICTIM SERVICE PROVISION. ALEXANDRA HOUSES SAKI ADVOCATE, OFFICED OUT OF THE ANOKA COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE, WORKS ALONGSIDE THE SAKI DETECTIVE ON REVIEWING CASES AND CONDUCTING VICTIM NOTIFICATIONS. IN 2021, THE SAKI ADVOCATE PROVIDED VICTIM NOTIFICATION, ADVOCACY AND/OR SUPPORT SERVICES TO 16 VICTIM/SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING: ALEXANDRA HOUSE UNDERSTANDS THAT EDUCATION IS CRITICAL TO CREATING SIGNIFICANT, LONG-TERM CHANGE. WE OFFER FREE PRESENTATIONS AND FACILITATE DIALOGUES WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS ON VARIOUS TOPICS, INCLUDING DOMESTIC AND/OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ALEXANDRA HOUSE SERVICES. ALEXANDRA HOUSE ALSO OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF TRAININGS TAILORED TO VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL GROUPS SUCH AS FIRST RESPONDERS, SOCIAL SERVICES, CUSTOMER SERVICE, CLERGY AND LAY LEADERS, AND IN CORPORATE SETTINGS. IN 2021, 3,332 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROFESSIONALS INCREASED THEIR AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS, PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS, RESOURCE FAIRS, AND VIRTUAL/YOUTUBE EVENTS.