Cornerstone Advocacy Service

ENDING INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH, CRISIS RESPONSE & LT STABILIZATION.

PREVENTION, EDUCATION AND AND CLINICAL SERVICESCORNERSTONE HAS EARNED A REPUTATION AS A LEADER IN IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE SERVICES TO ASSIST SURVIVORS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE. SINCE THE BEGINNING, THE AGENCY HAS RECOGNIZED THE PROFOUND LONG TERM EFFECTS EXPERIENCING ABUSE HAS ON CHILDREN. IN 1992, CORNERSTONE BEGAN THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN MINNESOTA. TODAY, OUR PREVENTION, EDUCATION AND CLINICAL SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES THROUGH OUR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY ADVOCACY AND COUNSELING SERVICES, OUR SCHOOL BASED EDUCATION SERVICES AND OUR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICAL SERVICES. COMPONENTS INCLUDE DIRECT SERVICES TO PARENTS AND YOUTH THROUGH INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY AND MENTORSHIP; YOUTH, ADULT AND FAMILY THERAPY; SUPPORT GROUPS; PARENTING EDUCATION; PRESCHOOL; AND YOUTH AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING THROUGH RECREATIONAL AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES. OUR SCHOOL BASED EDUCATION SERVICES PROVIDED VIOLENCE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PRESENTATIONS TO OVER 9,983 STUDENTS ON ISSUES RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND BULLYING.

EMERGENCY SERVICES CORNERSTONE'S EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR LIFE SAVING CRISIS INTERVENTION AND SAFE HOUSING FOR THOSE IN IMMINENT DANGER OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE. CRISIS ADVOCATES MAINTAIN A 24 HOUR/7 DAY A WEEK PHONE LINE AND ENSURE CALLERS RECEIVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION TO OUR SHELTER. IF PETS ARE IN NEED OF BOARDING AND SAFETY, WE UTILIZE OUR PETS FOR PROTECTION PROGRAM. CORNERSTONE'S 35-BED EMERGENCY SHELTER IS A DEPARTURE FROM THE TRADITIONAL COMMUNAL-LIVING MODEL, INSTEAD DESIGNED WITH FAMILY LIVING SPACES, ONE OF WHICH IS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE. THIS ALLOWS FOR PRIVACY, RESPECTS CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND PROVIDES A HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT IN A TIME OF CRISIS. HAVING THE SHELTER CONNECTED TO CORNERSTONE'S COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING ALLOWS FAMILIES FULL ACCESS TO OUR COMPLETE CONTINUUM OF SERVICES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN. IN ADDITION TO REGULAR MEETINGS WITH THEIR PRIMARY ADVOCATE, SHELTER RESIDENTS WORK WITH YOUTH COUNSELORS AND A PARENTING SPECIALIST. WHEN THE SHELTER IS FULL OR WHEN SHELTER IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE OPTION, CORNERSTONE PARTNERS WITH LOCAL HOTELS AND MOTELS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SAFE HOUSING TO VICTIMS. IN 2021, WE PROVIDED 86 ADULTS (WOMEN, MEN AND TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS) AND 79 CHILDREN WITH 4,527 NIGHTS OF SAFE HOUSING AND 17,550 MEALS.

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT SERVICES THE COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM FOCUSES SPECIFICALLY ON HELPING VICTIMS ACHIEVE BOTH SAFETY AND LONG TERM ECONOMIC SECURITY. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL ECONOMIC ADVOCACY, FINANCIAL LITERACY, MATCHED SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, EMPLOYMENT PLANNING AND A VARIETY OF GROUP SUPPORTIVE AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVOCATES WORK TO HELP SUPPORT VICTIMS AS THEY DEAL WITH THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS OF LIVING THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM THE VIOLENCE AND ABUSE. CORNERSTONE'S SUPPORTIVE HOUSING COMPONENT, CORE (CENTERED ON RESULTS EVERYDAY), COMBINES TWO YEARS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INTENSIVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR 16 FAMILIES. CORE FAMILIES RECEIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS THEY WORK WITH CORNERSTONE STAFF TO ADDRESS THEIR GOAL PLANS, PARTICIPATE IN JOB READINESS TRAINING, EMPOWERMENT COURSES AND FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS. OUR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SPECIALISTS ALSO WORK ON-SITE AT TWO AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEXES, PROVIDING ADVOCACY AND RESOURCES TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN ORDER TO HELP ENSURE THEY ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING. CORNERSTONE'S RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM SERVED 23 FAMILIES THROUGH THE PROVISION OF RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND ONGOING SUPPORTS AS THEY BECAME STABILIZED.