Community Violence Intervention Center Inc

PREVENTING VIOLENCE. PROMOTING SAFETY. BUILDING HOPE. CVIC'S SAFER TOMORROWS ROAD MAP IS UNPRECEDENTED IN ITS MULTI-FACETED APPROACH TO END INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE BY SIMULTANEOUSLY ADDRESSING SAFETY, HEALING AND PREVENTION/EDUCATION. DESIRED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: 1) RESILIENT INDIVIDUALS WHO HEAL FROM TRAUMA AND DEVELOP RESILIENCY; 2) STRONG FAMILIES WHO INCREASE STABILITY AND DECREASE INTERGENERATIONAL VIOLENCE; AND 3) THRIVING COMMUNITIES THAT REALIZE A SHIFT IN CULTURAL NORMS THAT VALUE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS OVER VIOLENCE. 2022 WAS A YEAR OF NEW CHALLENGES, BUT ALSO EXCITING NEW PROGRESS. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO OUR VISION OF ENDING INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE AND ARE ADAPTING AND THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX IN ORDER TO GET THERE. WE DEEPENED OUR IMPACT BY FURTHER INTEGRATING DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN OUR PROGRAMS, WE LAUNCHED AN INNOVATIVE NEW THERAPY SERVICE, AND WE EXPANDED OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, LIKE OUR GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA.

SAFETY SERVICES EVERY PERSON DESERVES TO LIVE A LIFE FREE OF VIOLENCE.1) CRISIS SERVICES: 1,070 ADULTS IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC/SEXUAL VIOLENCE RECEIVED CRISIS SERVICES AND 97% SURVEYED FELT SAFER AND MORE AWARE OF WAYS TO PLAN FOR SAFETY AS A RESULT OF CVIC SERVICES. CRISIS LINE ADVOCATES ANSWERED 487 CALLS AND CVIC ASSISTED CLIENTS IN OBTAINING 34 ORDERS FOR PROTECTION. 159 INDIVIDUALS WERE SCREENED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, WITH 71% FOUND TO BE IN HIGH DANGER, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM 2021, WHEN 58% OF VICTIMS WERE FOUND TO BE IN HIGH DANGER. 54 VICTIMS SPOKE WITH A CVIC ADVOCATE ABOUT WHAT SERVICES WERE AVAILABLE TO KEEP THEM SAFE. A CLIENT SHARED, "HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE WITHOUT CVIC, AND ESPECIALLY MY DAUGHTER AND WHAT SHE HAS BEEN THROUGH," NATALIE SAID. "IT'S HARD TO FIND THE EXACT WORDS, BUT I'M EXTREMELY THANKFUL NOT ONLY FOR THE MONEY DONORS HAVE GIVEN BUT THE ACTUAL MEANING OF WHAT THE MONEY IS GOING TO. FOR ME, YOUR DONATIONS SAVED MY LIFE." 2) STABILITY SERVICES: SEVEN FAMILIES WITH 31 CHILDREN RECEIVED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SERVICES/RENTAL ASSISTANCE. 391 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED WITH HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT AND/OR EDUCATION GOALS. FUNDS WE PROVIDED THROUGH DEDICATED GRANT RESOURCES AND OUR DONOR-FUNDED CLIENT EMERGENCY FUND HELPED MINIMIZE MULTIPLE BARRIERS AND PROVIDE RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE. WHEN CVIC'S CLIENT "MAY" (NAME CHANGED TO PROTECT PRIVACY) RECEIVED AN EVICTION NOTICE FROM HER LANDLORD THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, SHE REACHED OUT TO CVIC'S TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ADVOCATE FOR ASSISTANCE. MAY HAD APPLIED FOR NORTH DAKOTA RENT HELP, BUT THE APPLICATION WAS STILL BEING PROCESSED. CVIC'S ADVOCATE CONFIRMED THAT WHILE ND RENT ASSISTANCE WAS IN PROCESS, MAY'S LANDLORD WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO ISSUE EVICTIONS, AND THEN CALLED THE PROPERTY MANAGER TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE. CVIC'S ADVOCATE UPDATED THE PROPERTY MANAGER ABOUT THE SITUATION, AND ABOUT MAY'S RIGHTS AS A TENANT AWAITING FINAL DETERMINATION FROM ND RENT. THE EVICTION MANAGER AGREED TO REVERSE THE EVICTION AND WAIT FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO ARRIVE. CVIC'S ADVOCATE WAS ABLE TO GIVE MAY THE GOOD NEWS THAT SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO STAY IN HER HOME AND GIVE HER A HOLIDAY SURPRISE SHE HAD BEEN SELECTED AS A RECIPIENT OF THE ANGEL ON WHEELS EVENT SPONSORED BY A LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP TO BENEFIT CVIC CLIENTS. MAY RECEIVED A 'NEW TO HER' VEHICLE, ELIMINATING ANOTHER BARRIER TO HER SELF-SUFFICIENCY GOALS.3) SHELTER SERVICES: 125 ADULTS AND CHILDREN WERE SHELTERED FOR 2,772 NIGHTS WHILE THEY WORKED TOWARD SAFE AND INDEPENDENT LIVES. 4) SAFE CHILD VISITS AND EXCHANGES: 116 FAMILIES WERE SUPPORTED WITH 1,117 SUPERVISED VISITS AND 439 SUPERVISED EXCHANGES. 97% OF ADULT PARTICIPANTS SURVEYED AGREED THEY FELT THAT THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN WERE SAFE WHILE USING THESE SERVICES. 99% OF KIDS SURVEYED AGREED THAT THEY LIKE THE PROGRAM TOYS AND ACTIVITIES.5) CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ADVOCACY: 1,393 VICTIMS AND WITNESSES OF CRIMES RECEIVED CASE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT THROUGH CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, ANOTHER RECORD YEAR. CVIC'S VICTIM WITNESS SPECIALISTS ATTENDED 1,621 COURT HEARINGS WITH OR ON BEHALF OF CRIME VICTIMS AND ARRANGED AND ATTENDED 313 MEETINGS BETWEEN CRIME VICTIMS AND PROSECUTORS.6) VIOLENCE INTERVENTION & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT: 145 MEN AND WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN NEW CHOICES GROUP PROGRAMMING, ADDRESSING THEIR USE OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE AND PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE HARM THEY HAVE CAUSED TO OTHERS. 106 PARTICIPANTS WERE ALSO ORDERED INTO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT, THE SPECIALIZED POST-SENTENCING REVIEW COURT THAT WORKS TO HOLD INDIVIDUALS ACCOUNTABLE, MONITOR SENTENCING PROGRESS, AND ENCOURAGE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION. THE NEW CHOICES PARTNER CONTACT REACHED OUT TO 125 PARTNERS OF NEW CHOICES PARTICIPANTS TO KEEP THEM INFORMED OF THE PARTICIPANT'S STATUS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT CVIC SERVICES. OF THE PARTNERS CONTACTED, 60 RECEIVED CVIC ADVOCACY SERVICES. A PARTICIPANT SHARED, "I KNEW IT WASN'T PERFECT, BUT I THOUGHT THE DISCIPLINE I RECEIVED IN MY CHILDHOOD WAS NORMAL. WITH THAT MINDSET, I GREW UP AS A VIOLENT PERSON, NEVER UNDERSTANDING WHY I WAS SO VIOLENT OR EVEN KNOWING WHY IT WAS BAD. I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS A VIOLENT PERSON UNTIL I TOOK THESE CLASSES AND I REALIZED THEN THAT MY CHILDHOOD WASN'T NORMAL AT ALL. MY PARENTS FOUGHT ALL THE TIME YELLING AND SWEARING AT EACH OTHER, THROWING AND BREAKING THINGS. THE "DISCIPLINE" I RECEIVED INCLUDED HAIR PULLING, PUSHING, SLAPS, AND SPANKING WITH HANDS, BELTS, AND WOODEN SPOONS. AND STILL, I THOUGHT THAT MY LIFE WAS NORMAL. I TOOK A LOT OF THAT ANGER AND RAGE WITH ME AS AN ADULT AND USED IT IN MY RELATIONSHIP. IT PAINS ME TO SAY, BUT I WOULD PUSH MY PARTNER. I WOULD SMACK AND PUNCH THEM ON THE ARM. I WOULD THROW AND BREAK THINGS. I WOULD YELL AND CUSS AT THEM AND CALL THEM NAMES. I REGRET EVERYTHING I DID AND HOW I ACTED TOWARD THEM AND OTHERS. TAKING THESE CLASSES AT CVIC HAS MADE ME REALIZE THAT HOW I WAS ACTING WASN'T THE RIGHT ANSWER." AT THE END OF 2022, CVIC HIRED A RESTORATIVE ADULT THERAPIST WHO WILL WORK WITH THOSE WHO HAVE USED VIOLENCE AGAINST AN INTIMATE PARTNER, COMPLEMENTING THE WORK THESE CLIENTS DO IN NEW CHOICES TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS. INDIVIDUALS WHO USE VIOLENCE IN THEIR INTIMATE PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS ARE OFTEN VICTIMS OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT, OR CHILDHOOD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE RESTORATIVE THERAPIST WILL USE EVIDENCE-BASED THERAPIES TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUALS' TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES FROM CHILDHOOD.

HEALING SERVICES SPECIALIZED SUPPORT HEALS THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA SO INDIVIDUALS CAN THRIVE. 1) YOUTH THERAPY - 273 CHILDREN AND TEENS IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE RECEIVED THERAPY AND SUPPORT TO STAY SAFE AND OVERCOME TRAUMA. A YOUTH CLIENT REMARKED, "I THINK I HAVE BEEN MORE EXPRESSIVE TO THINGS THAT BOTHER ME, AND I NO LONGER BOTTLE UP AS MUCH AS I USED TO." 31 PARENTS RECEIVED EDUCATION ABOUT PARENTING NEEDS OF CHILDREN LIVING IN VIOLENT HOMES AND THE EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE/TRAUMA ON CHILDREN. IN 2022 CVIC ADDED A DIRECTOR OF YOUTH THERAPY POSITION TO OVERSEE OUR YOUTH THERAPY PROGRAMMING. WHEN FILLED, THIS POSITION WILL ALLOW US TO DEEPEN OUR FOCUS ON SUPPORTING YOUTH AND BETTER SUSTAIN OUR YOUTH THERAPY PROGRAMMING.2) ADULT THERAPY - 97 ADULTS RECEIVED HEALING SERVICES, INCLUDING 86 ADULTS WHO RECEIVED INDIVIDUAL THERAPY AND 16 ADULTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN SUPPORT GROUPS. 100% OF CLIENTS SURVEYED SHOWED IMPROVEMENT IN EMOTIONAL CONDITION. AN ADULT CLIENT STATED, "I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF TAKING OWNERSHIP OF MY LIFE AND HERE I AM. WHERE I AM NOW AFTER CPT [COGNITIVE PROCESSING THERAPY] IS WHERE I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE. I LOVE THE SKIN I AM IN, AND I AM EXPERIENCING WHAT IT'S LIKE TO TRUST AND PUT YOURSELF FIRST. THIS YEAR HAS BROUGHT ME THE GREATEST COMEBACK. I DID THIS, WITH THE WORK I PUT INTO MY THERAPY. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE AT PEACE WITH SO MANY OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN THROUGH. I AM SO HAPPY WITH THIS YEAR."

EDUCATION SERVICES BECAUSE VIOLENCE IS PREDICTABLE, IT IS ALSO PREVENTABLE. 1) YOUTH EDUCATION: CVIC REACHED 4,082 YOUTH THROUGH 324 PRESENTATIONS; 82% OF YOUTH SURVEYED PLANNED TO USE WHAT THEY LEARNED IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. A YOUTH PARTICIPANT COMMENTED, "I KNOW WHO TO GO TO IF I EVER GET HARASSED (TRUSTED ADULT). I KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE SITUATION."2) ADULT PRESENTATIONS: CVIC REACHED 4,570 ADULTS THROUGH 90 PRESENTATIONS; 92% INDICATED THAT THE PRESENTATION PROVIDED THEM WITH KNOWLEDGE ON TOPIC. CVIC TRAINED 728 PROFESSIONALS THROUGH 35 PRESENTATIONS; 96% INDICATED THEY PLAN TO USE THE INFORMATION LEARNED FROM TRAINING. A PROFESSIONAL PARTICIPANT REMARKED, "TRAUMA AND THE BRAIN ARE SO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. TRAUMA WILL AFFECT EACH CHILD'S LEARNING."3) CVIC AT UND: CVIC CONTINUED TO GROW OUR UNIQUE CVIC AT UND PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH ON CAMPUS. WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR ON-CAMPUS ADVOCATE TO BE PRESENT FULL-TIME ON CAMPUS TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THIS PARTNERSHIP, AND TO CONTINUE MEETING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND FACULTY, WHO HAVE ACCESSED CVIC SERVICES MORE AND MORE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. OUR 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: OUR SUPPORT GROUP FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA HAD RECORD ATTENDANCE, WITH 10 STUDENTS ATTENDING. CVIC CAMPUS ADVOCATE SERVED 51 STUDENTS AND FACULTY ON 234 OCCASIONS. CVIC CAMPUS ADVOCATE WORKED WITH HIGH PLANS FAIR HOUSING TO INCREASE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, AND WITH UND HOUSING TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED TRAINING ON RESPONDING TO STUDENTS LIVING IN CAMPUS HOUSING WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA. WE EXPANDED OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH UND ATHLETICS THROUGH THEIR SET THE EXPECTATIONS INITIATIVE -- A PROGRAM TO END SEXUAL AND INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE THROUGH PREVENTION WORK WITH MEN AND ADVOCACY AND ENGAGING FOR SURVIVORS -- AND CONTINUED TO MEET WITH EACH TEAM PRIOR TO THEIR STE GAME/MATCH/MEET. WE PLANNED A SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION TRAINING FOR ARMY AND AIR FORCE ROTC ON CAMPUS, WHICH WILL TRAIN ROTC STUDENTS ON HOW TO BE A SUPPORTIVE PEER, WARNING SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR, AND AWARENESS OF RESOURCES AND OPTIONS AVAILABLE.