Anna Maries Alliance

TO PROVDE EDUCATION, INTERVENTION, AND ADVOCACY TO THOSE AFFECTED BY RELATIONSHIP ABUSE WITH A HOLISTIC APPROACH AND ANIT-OPPRESSION FOCUS.

ANNA MARIE'S SHELTER PROVIDES 24-HOUR SAFE EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. LOCATED IN ST. CLOUD, MN, ANNA MARIE'S SHELTER IS A SAFE PLACE WHERE VICTIMS RECEIVE INFORMATION, REFERRAL, AND ADVOCACY SERVICES. THIS 36-BED FACILITY SERVES A FIVE-COUNTY REGION IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA INCLUDING BENTON, STEARNS, SHERBURNE, WRIGHT, AND MILLE LACS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021, 2,372 UNDUPLICATED ADULT AND CHILD VICTIMS WERE SERVED BY ADVOCATES OF ANNA MARIE'S SHELTER, 188 WOMEN AND 175 CHILDREN RESIDED AT THE SHELTER. THE 24-HOUR HOTLINE AND NON-RESIDENTIAL SERVICES PROVIDED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO 2,009.SURVEY RESULTS FROM RESIDENTS OF ANNA MARIE'S SHELTER 90% - SERVICES RECEIVED AT THE SHELTER MADE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE 88% - HEALTH NEEDS WERE MET AT THE SHELTER 90% - THEY KNEW MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY RESOURCES BECAUSE OF THE ADVOCACY/SUPPORT SERVICES RECEIVED 90% - LEARNED ADDITIONAL WAYS TO PLAN FOR THEIR SAFETY 89% - UNDERSTOOD THEIR RIGHTS AND OPTIONS BETTER

CHILDREN'S ADVOCATES AT THE SHELTER WORK TO PROVIDE A SENSE OF NORMALCY AND STABILITY FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE WITNESSED OR EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE HOME. ADVOCATES ALSO SUPPORT PARENTS WHOSE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY WITNESSING OR EXPERIENCING ABUSE. SERVICES OFFERED INCLUDE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS, REFERRALS TO ADDRESS IDENTIFIED NEEDS, SAFETY PLANNING, CHILDCARE, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, PARENT EDUCATION AND SUPPORT, AND CHILD SUPPORT GROUPS. DURING THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR, 128 CHILDREN RECEIVED CHILD ADVOCACY SERVICES. PREVENTION EDUCATION ADVOCATES PROVIDE EARLY INTERVENTION AT AREA SCHOOLS TO PREVENT OR REDUCE VIOLENCE IN RELATIONSHIPS. THE FOCUS IS ON TEACHING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP SKILLS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT GROUPS, INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT, AND CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS. DURING 2020-2021, 18 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ATTENDED 16 PRESENTATIONS ON HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP SKILLS BUILDING. IN ADDITION, 6 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN SMALL GROUPS OR ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH PREVENTION AND EDUCATION ADVOCATES. ANOTHER 42 MIDDLE-SCHOOL, HIGH-SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE AGE STUDENTS RECEIVED 76 PRESENTATIONS ON HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND DATING VIOLENCE. COMMUNITY EDUCATION IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS ABOUT DOMESTIC ABUSE IN ORDER TO GROW A COMMUNITY WHERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT TOLERATED AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE NORM. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING ARE PROVIDED TO AREA BUSINESSES, FAITH, HUMAN SERVICES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATION COMMUNITY, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERVENTION PROGRAM ADVOCATES OFFER VICTIMS ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. THEY PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO NAVIGATING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN STEARNS AND BENTON COUNTIES. ANNA MARIE'S ALLIANCE CJIP MONITORS SYSTEM POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND RESPONSE TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE. CJI ADVOCATES CONDUCT TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. CJI ADVOCATES PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE STEARNS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PARTNERSHIP DESIGNED TO INCREASE OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY AND VICTIM SAFETY. DURING THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR, ADVOCATES ATTENDED 100 COURT HEARINGS, 447 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT HEARINGS, ASSISTED 69 CLIENTS WITH FILING ORDERS FOR PROTECTION OR HARASSMENT RESTRAINING ORDERS, AND ATTENDED 27 CIVIL COURT HEARINGS FOR THESE ORDERS. ADVOCATES ALSO FACILITATED 11 VIOLENCE INTERVENTION GROUPS IN THE BENTON COUNTY JAIL - 28 MEN AND 3 WOMEN.

ANNA MARIE'S PET SAFE HOME PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE FOR THE PETS OF THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN STAYING AT THE SHELTER. FAMILIES HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO THE ANIMALS, LEARN BASIC CARE TECHNIQUES, AND LEARN ABOUT RESPECT FOR ANIMALS. IN 2020-2021, THE PET SAFE HOME HOUSED 3 CATS AND 13 DOGS. THE ON-SCENE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. AFTER LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS SECURED THE SCENE OF A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION, THE OFFICER CAN REQUEST AN ON-SCENE ADVOCATE FROM ANNA MARIE'S ALLIANCE TO ASSIST THE VICTIM. ON-SCENE ADVOCACY IS AVAILABLE TO BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. DURING 2020-2021 ANNA MARIE'S ALLIANCE RESPONDED TO 56 VICTIMS. OF THOSE, 33.9% OR 19, HAVE CONTINUED SERVICES WITH ANNA MARIE'S ALLIANCE. ADVOCATES ALSO ASSISTED 112 CLIENTS WITH SAFETY PLANNING.THE JILL ECKHOFF TRANSITIONAL HOUSE PROVIDED SAFE, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO 10 CLIENTS - 5 WOMEN AND 5 CHILDREN - NEEDING TO STABILIZE THEIR LIVES AND DEVELOP SELF-SUFFICIENCY SKILLS DURING THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR. VOLUNTEER SERVICES ENCOURAGES AND COORDINATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN, MEN, YOUNG ADULTS AND CHILDREN TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO THE NEEDS OF BATTERED WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. DURING THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR, 24 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 2,560 VOLUNTEER HOURS.