Heartly House Inc

THE MISSION OF HEARTLY HOUSE IS TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND CHILD ABUSE, AND TO PROVIDE VICTIMS WITH SAFETY, SHELTER, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

EMERGENCY SHELTER - RESIDENTIAL SHELTER SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THE 29-BED EMERGENCY SHELTER. AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR, SHELTER IS STAFFED BY PROFESSIONALS TRAINED IN CRISIS INTERVENTION AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IN FY 2022, 91 ADULTS AND 75 CHILDREN WITH A TOTAL OF 2,899 BED NIGHTS OF SAFETY, ALONG WITH MEALS, CASE MANAGEMENT, HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AND BASIC DAILY LIVING NEEDS WERE SERVED.

CRISIS SERVICES PROVIDES 24-HOUR CLIENT SERVICES INCLUDING CRISIS RESPONSE, LETHALITY ASSESSMENT, MEDICAL ACCOMPANIMENT FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FORENSIC EXAMS AND INITIAL ACCESS TO ALL HEARTLY HOUSE PROGRAMS. STAFF PROVIDES VICTIMS WITH CRISIS INTERVENTION APPOINTMENTS TO ASSESS COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS, SAFETY PLANNING, AND CASE MANAGEMENT COORDINATION THROUGHOUT HEARTLY HOUSE'S CONTINUUM OF CARE. STAFF RESPONDED TO 6,358 CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE IN FY22. LETHALITY SCREENING IDENTIFIED 776 VICTIMS AT GREATEST RISK OF BEING KILLED BY A PARTNER. DURING FY22, ADVOCATES PROVIDED 71 SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAM (SAFE) ACCOMPANIMENTS AT FREDERICK HEALTH HOSPITAL, DURING WHICH THEY OFFERED SUPPORT, ADVOCACY, AND IMMEDIATE CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES.

COUNSELING SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY LICENSED CLINICIANS IN BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SETTINGS TO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSUALT, ABUSE, CHILD ABUSE, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN, ARE CONFIDENTIAL, AND ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE.

DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND CHILD ABUSE WITH REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM. LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE REPRESENTATION AT PROTECTIVE/PEACE ORDER HEARINGS, DIVORCE, AND CUSTODY HEARINGS, AND COURT ACCOMPANIMENT TO LOW-INCOME VICTIMS. IN FY22, HEARTLY HOUSE PROVIDED LEGAL SERVICES TO 431 CLIENTS.COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION IS PROVIDED TO GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS ON THE DYNAMICS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND CHILD ABUSE, WITH SPECIAL PROGRAMS IN THE FREDERICK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES (CBS) IS A NEW PROGRAM IN FYE 6/30/22 AIMED TO IMPROVE VICTIM ACCESS TO ALL THE AGENCY'S SERVICES. THE FIRST SATELLITE SITE BEGAN IN FEBRUARY 2022 WITHIN A PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITY IN FREDERICK, MD. DURING THE YEAR, TWO ADDITIONAL SITES WERE IDENTIFIED AND ARE IN PROCESS OF BEING ESTABLISHED. EACH SITE WILL HAVE A CBS COORDINATOR ONSITE OFFERING CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS SEVERAL DAYS PER WEEK. CLIENTS ALSO RECEIVE SUPPORTIVE LISTENING AND EMPOWERMENT-BASED TRAUMA PROCESSING, INDIVIDUALIZED SAFETY PLANNING, EDUCATION ON OTHER HEARTLY HOUSE SERVICES INCLUDING SHELTER, COUNSELING, AND LEGAL SUPPORTS. VICTIMS ARE OFFERED PERSONAL ADVOCACY AND REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICES, EDUCATED ON POWER AND CONTROL DYNAMICS, AND ASSESSED FOR RISK OF LETHALITY AND SUICIDE.