Marjaree Mason Center Inc

TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER ADULTS AND THEIR CHILDREN AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHILE STRIVING TO PREVENT AND END THE CYCLE OF ABUSE THROUGH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

HOUSING SERVICES: MARJAREE MASON CENTER OPERATES TWO CONFIDENTIALLY LOCATED SAFE HOUSES IN FRESNO COUNTY THAT OPERATE 24/7. BOTH SAFE HOUSES FEATURE PRIVATE ROOMS FOR EACH FAMILY, LARGE COMMUNAL KITCHENS AND PLAY AREAS FOR CHILDREN. FAMILIES OFTEN ARRIVE WITH LITTLE MORE THAN THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACKS AND AS SUCH ARE PROVIDED WITH PERSONAL ITEMS SUCH AS LINENS, PILLOWS, AND TOYS AS WELL AS FOOD AND CLOTHING. WHEN NECESSARY, DUE TO CAPACITY LIMITS, MARJAREE MASON CENTER HOUSES CLIENT'S OFFSITE AT ALTERNATE LOCATIONS. THESE LOCATIONS ARE ALSO CONFIDENTIAL, AND CLIENTS RECEIVE THE FULL CONTINUUM OF SERVICES WHILE RESIDING OFF SITE. MMC OFFERS IMMEDIATE SAFE SHELTER TO BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THROUGH TWO SEPARATE AGENCY PROGRAMS: THE EMERGENCY SAFE HOUSE PROGRAM AND THE HOUSING FIRST PROGRAM. THE HOUSING FIRST PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT WITH CALOES WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE SAFE EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR CLIENTS RESIDING IN RURAL AREAS AND WHO FACE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING SERVICES IN THE CITY AS SUCH ALL CLIENTS ENROLLED IN THE HOUSING FIRST PROGRAM ARE RESIDENTS OF RURAL AREAS THROUGHOUT FRESNO COUNTY. INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS CAN BE COMPRISED OF EITHER A SINGLE PERSON OR AN ENTIRE FAMILY. LAST YEAR, MMC'S SAFE HOUSE PROGRAM PROVIDED EMERGENCY SHELTER TO A TOTAL OF 557 HOUSEHOLDS (290 SINGLE PERSON HOUSEHOLDS AND 267 FAMILIES). WE CONTINUED TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR CLIENTS RESIDING IN EMERGENCY SHELTER. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THERE WERE 34,496 NIGHTS OF SHELTER FOR THE EMERGENCY PROGRAM. LAST YEAR, MMC'S LONG HOUSE PROGRAMS PROVIDED SAFE SHELTER TO 89 HOUSEHOLDS (35 SINGLE PERSON HOUSEHOLDS AND 54 FAMILIES) FOR A TOTAL OF 38,556 NIGHTS OF SHELTER BETWEEN TRANSITIONAL AND LONG-TERM HOUSING. LAST YEAR, MMC SAW A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SERVED IN LONG-TERM HOUSING PROGRAMS DUE TO THE LACK OF HOUSING UNITS AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT AN INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IN PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAMS. SEVERAL FACTORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO CLIENTS REMAINING CONNECTED TO SERVICES AFTER THEIR RENTAL ASSISTANCE HAS ENDED INCLUDING: 1. RAISING COST OF LIVING2. LIMITED AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS3. ECONOMIC INSTABILITY - LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OR LOW WAGES4. LACK OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SYSTEM

VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES RELATED TO THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE.

COUNSELING SERVICES: MARJAREE MASON CENTER PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING SERVICES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. TYPICALLY, INDIVIDUAL CLINICAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT MARJAREE MASON CENTER'S VAN NESS OFFICE LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN FRESNO, OR BY REFERRAL THROUGH THE 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE (559) 233-HELP (4357). IN ADDITION TO INDIVIDUAL CLINICAL SERVICES MMC ALSO OFFERS S.A.F.E GROUP. S.A.F.E STANDS FOR SURVIVORS OF ABUSE: FREE AND EMPOWERED, THIS IS AN OPEN GROUP COURSE PROVIDED OVER 12-WEEKS, WHICH COVERS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TOPICS INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) DEFINING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UNDERSTANDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND THE EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN. CLINICAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BOTH IN PERSON AND VIA TELEHEALTH USING REMOTE TECHNOLOGY. THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAM AT MMC PROVIDES SUPPORT THROUGH THE CHILDREN'S ENRICHMENT CENTER FOR CHILDREN RESIDING IN THE SAFE HOUSE AND A COMMUNITY BASED CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES HOME VISITATION SERVICES TO FAMILIES RESIDING IN THE COMMUNITY. THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN RECEIVING SERVICES DO NOT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS. ADDITIONAL CHILDREN'S SERVICES INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENTS, PARENTING CLASSES AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO ASSIST FAMILIES WITH ADDRESSING ANY OTHER NEEDS THE CHILDREN AND/OR FAMILY MAY HAVE. IN ADDITION TO BEING A POSITIVE AND SAFE PLACE WHERE CHILDREN CAN LEARN, GROW AND PLAY, THE ENRICHMENT CENTER CONTAINS BOOKS, PUZZLES, GAMES, AND FUN ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES. CHILD SUPERVISION IS PROVIDED WHILE THEIR PARENT ATTENDS ONSITE COUNSELING, LEGAL CLASSES, OR SUPPORT GROUPS. MARJAREE MASON CENTER OPERATES ENRICHMENT CENTERS AND CLINICAL OFFICES AT 5 OUT OF 7 FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN TO INTERACT AND RECEIVE NECESSARY THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, CHILDREN'S SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY KNOWLEDGEABLE PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE TRAINED TO WORK WITH CHILDREN IN CRISIS AND/OR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS. INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS (ADULT) 2,312INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS (CHILDREN) 471INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS (ADULTS AND CHILDREN) 1,446

LEGAL ADVOCACY: MARJAREE MASON CENTER PROVIDES A VARIETY OF LEGAL SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDING LEGAL ADVOCACY, COURT ACCOMPANIMENT, EDUCATION, AND OTHER SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. FREE LEGAL OPTIONS CLASSES ARE FACILITATED WEEKLY AND OPEN TO ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE FIRST PORTION OF THE CLASS IS INFORMATIONAL AND PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF VARIOUS TYPES OF RESTRAINING ORDERS, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, SAFETY PLANNING AND TYPES OF SERVICES AVAILABLE. THE SECOND SECTION OF THE CLASS WALKS CLIENTS THROUGH FILLING OUT A REQUEST FOR A TEMPORARY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER. CLIENTS SEEKING RESTRAINING ORDERS WITH MORE COMPLICATED LEGAL ISSUES MAY BE REFERRED TO PROJECT FIRST STEP. PROJECT FIRST STEP IS A COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM WHERE PRO-BONO ATTORNEYS REPRESENT CLIENTS AT THEIR RESTRAINING ORDER HEARINGS. THIS SERVICE IS PROVIDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTRAL CALIFORNIA LEGAL SERVICES, INC. LEGAL ADVOCACY 2,289 SESSIONSRESTRAINING ORDERS (ENGAGEMENT/ADVOCACY) 1,615 SERVICESRESTRAINING ORDER COMPLETED/IN PROGRESS 581