Anna Maries Alliance

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

SHELTER | 24-HOUR HOTLINE:ANNA MARIE'S ALLIANCE 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 2021-2022, 2,290 UNDUPLICATED ADULT AND CHILD VICTIMS WERE SERVED BY ADVOCATES OF ANNA MARIE'S SHELTER, 211 WOMEN AND 156 CHILDREN RESIDED AT THE SHELTER. THE 24-HOUR HOTLINE AND NON-RESIDENTIAL SERVICES PROVIDED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO 1,277.STATISTICS FROM RESIDENTS OF ANNA MARIE'S SHELTER:25% IDENTIFIED AS HOMELESS30% WERE ASSISTED WITH HRO AND OFP ORDERS 62% IDENTIFIED AS BIPOC53% REPORTED EARNING $ 0 INCOME

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: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 2021-2022, THE PET SAFE HOME HOUSED 1 CAT AND 10 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 2021-2022 ANNA MARIE'S ALLIANCE RESPONDED TO 53 VICTIMS. ADVOCATES ALSO ASSISTED 479 CLIENTS WITH SAFETY PLANNING.THE JILL ECKHOFF TRANSITIONAL HOUSE PROVIDED SAFE, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO 14 CLIENTS - 7 WOMEN AND 7 CHILDREN - NEEDING TO STABILIZE THEIR LIVES AND DEVELOP SELF-SUFFICIENCY SKILLS DURING THE 2021-2022 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 WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN GOING THROUGH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. DURING THE 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR, 43 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 2,329 VOLUNTEER HOURS.

YOUTH SERVICES: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 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR, 215 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 2021-2022, 1,896 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ATTENDED 85 PRESENTATIONS ON HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP SKILLS BUILDING. IN ADDITION, 64 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN SMALL GROUPS OR ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH PREVENTION AND EDUCATION ADVOCATES. ANOTHER 97 MIDDLE-SCHOOL, HIGH-SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE STUDENTS RECEIVED 359 PRESENTATIONS ON HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND DATING VIOLENCE. SCHOOL COUNSELORS REFER JUNIOR AND SENIOR-HIGH STUDENTS IDENTIFIED AS BEING AT RISK OF BEING IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP FOR LIFE CHOICES GROUPS. IN 2021-2022, 899 MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN BUILDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP GROUPS. 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. IN 2021-2022, 27 EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS WERE MADE TO APPROXIMATELY 400 INDIVIDUALS (ADULTS AND CHILDREN) AND 7 PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS WERE MADE TO 152 PARTICIPANTS. STAFF PROVIDED 1 INFORMATION BOOTH AT COMMUNITY FAIRS/EXPOS TO 50 PEOPLE.

COMMUNITY ADVOCACY: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 CJI PROGRAM MONITORS SYSTEM POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND RESPONSES 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 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR, ADVOCATES ATTENDED 185 COURT HEARINGS, 82 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT HEARINGS, ASSISTED 89 CLIENTS WITH FILING ORDERS FOR PROTECTION OR HARASSMENT RESTRAINING ORDERS, AND ATTENDED 20 CIVIL COURT HEARINGS FOR THESE ORDERS.