Casa De Misericordia

AS THE SISTERS OF MERCY BEFORE US, WE BRING TO LIFE THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS THROUGH OUR COMPASSIONATE CARE AND EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE.

SHELTER PROGRAM THE PURPOSE OF CASA DE MISERICORDIA (CASA) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN ACCESS THE BEST OF SERVICES IN ORDER TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. CASA DE MISERICORDIA OFFERS 24 HOUR-A-DAY FULL SERVICE SHELTER AND 24 HOUR-A-DAY CRISIS TELEPHONE HOTLINES. CASA PROVIDES SAFETY PLANNING; ADVOCACY, INCLUDING LEGAL AND CHILD, AND INTERVENTION SERVICES; CASE MANAGEMENT; COUNSELING AND SUPPORT GROUPS; INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES; AND TRANSPORTATION. CASA ALSO PROVIDES CHILD CENTERED ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SAFETY PLANNING; COUNSELING; CASE MANAGEMENT; EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL, AND SOCIAL GROUPS; AND PRIMARY PREVENTION CURRICULUM AND ACTIVITIES. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, CASA PROVIDED RESIDENTIAL SERVICES TO 230 ADULTS AND 346 CHILDREN FOR A TOTAL OF 5,051 SHELTER DAYS. THE SHELTER PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDED COUNSELING SERVICES TO 359 INDIVIDUALS. CASA HOSTED 111 SUPPORT AND THERAPY GROUPS IN WHICH 59 ADULTS PARTICIPATED. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, CASA PROVIDED 17 COURT ACCOMPANIMENTS AND PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO 316 INDIVIDUALS. ALL OF THESE SERVICES ARE IMPORTANT IN THAT THEY NOT ONLY PROVIDE SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUT ALSO BECAUSE THEY BREAK DOWN BARRIERS FOR VICTIMS AND HELP THEM DEVELOP COPING SKILLS, SELF-ESTEEM, KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NETWORKS.

EDUCATION CENTER PROGRAM DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE EDUCATION CENTER PROVIDED A LIMITED NUMBER OF VIRTUAL CLASSES AIMED AT HELPING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT. CASA WORKS WITH THE MEXICAN CONSULATE AND INDIVIDUALS FROM THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTORS AND MATERIALS FOR EACH CLASS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, CASA PROVIDED BEAUTY, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL), SEWING, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT, AND JOB AND LIFE SKILLS CLASSES. THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL AND LIFE SKILLS CLASSES, SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE ABLE TO GAIN THE SKILLS NEEDED TO ESTABLISH OR SUPPLEMENT AN INCOME NEEDED TO ATTAIN FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. BEAUTY CLASS HAD A TOTAL OF 13 ATTENDANCES, ESL RECORDED 149 ATTENDANCES, SEWING CLASS RECORDED 5 ATTENDANCES, HEALTH AND WELLNESS CLASSES RECORDED 218 ATTENDANCES, CRAFTS CLASSES RECORDED 21, LIFE SKILLS CLASSES RECORDED 62 ATTENDANCES, AND PRIMARIA/SECUNDARIA CLASSES REPORTED 55. THROUGH THE EDUCATION CENTER, CASA PROVIDES MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION. THE EDUCATION CENTER PROVIDES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PRESENTATIONS AND AWARENESS ACTIVITIES BOTH IN THE CENTER AND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. CASA HAS PROVIDED THESE PRESENTATIONS TO DIFFERENT BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICE AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND SOCIAL, COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. THESE PRESENTATIONS AND ACTIVITIES HELP THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ITS EFFECTS, AND HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN SUPPORT AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, CASA PROVIDED 70 COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS WITH ATTENDANCES TOTALING 4,362, 27 TELEVISION INTERVIEWS AND/OR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND 16 NEWSPAPER INTERVIEWS/ARTICLES. CASA IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH COMMUNITY COLLABORATORS. CASA IS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE WEBB COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COALITION, A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION COMPOSED OF APPROXIMATELY 35 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT MEETS MONTHLY TO DISCUSS HOW BEST THE COMMUNITY CAN ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE COALITION ALSO FACILITATES AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PROFESSIONALS.