Safe Alternatives To Violent Environments Inc

MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDE A) PROVIDING AND OPERATE TEMPORARY SAFE HOURS FOR VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE (IPV), B) PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING TO IPV CLIENTS, C) OPERATE CRISIS RESPONSE INCLUDING 24 HOUR HOTLINE, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION, FOOD, AND OTHER NECESSITIES FOR THE IPV CLIENTS, C)PROVIDE COUNSELING AND CASE MANAGEMENT, AND CLINICAL SERVICES TO ITS CLIENTS AND FAMILIES, AND D)COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SERVICES TO YOUTH PROGRAM SERVICES TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS.

HOUSING PROGRAMS: OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOUSING FIRST PROGRAM IS HOUSED AT THE EMPOWERMENT CENTER AND PROVIDES SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE OBTAINING OR MAINTAINING SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING. DVHF SERVICES INCLUDE DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND MOVE-IN COSTS AS WELL AS FINANCIAL HELP WITH A WIDE RANGE OF OTHER NEEDS CLIENTS HAVE THAT AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO STAY HOUSED - CAR REPAIRS, UTILITY BILLS, HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS AND MORE. OUR HOUSING FIRST CASE MANAGERS PROVIDE ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT AS WELL AS FINANCIAL LITERACY AND WELLNESS WORKSHOPS. PARTICIPANTS IN THE DVHF PROGRAM ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO USE THE FULL RANGE OF SAVE SERVICES. THE MARIPOSA PROJECT, PART OF OUR DVHF PROGRAM, IS A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES RENT SUBSIDY AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO SURVIVORS WHO ARE IN SCHOOL OR JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. IN FY21/22, OUR DVHF PROGRAM SERVED 121 FAMILIES.

-CRISIS RESPONSE AND COPS: 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE: THE CRISIS HOTLINE IS OFTEN THE FIRST STEP SURVIVORS TAKE TO GET HELP. TRAINED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND VITAL INFORMATION AND REFERRALS AROUND THE CLOCK. OUR GOAL WITH EVERY CALL IS TO ENSURE THAT SURVIVORS END THE CALL FEELING SAFER AND WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT SAVE IS SOURCE OF ONGOING ASSISTANCE. OUR CRISIS HOTLINE SERVES AS A STARTING POINT FOR CLIENTS, WITH MANY SEEKING OUT ADDITIONAL SAVE SERVICES. IN FY 21/22 SAVE RESPONDED TO 2384 CRISIS CALLS. COPS ADVOCATES PROVIDE ESSENTIAL CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES TO SURVIVORS WHO WERE ASSISTED BY POLICE OFFICERS OR SOUGHT ASSISTANCE AT A POLICE DEPARTMENT. ADVOCATES WORK CLOSELY WITH POLICE OFFICERS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATIONSHIPS AND TO ENSURE THAT SURVIVORS ARE GETTING THE BEST POSSIBLE RESPONSE. COPS SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 371 SURVIVORS IN FY 21/22. TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER (TRO) ASSISTANCE: THE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER (TRO) PROCESS CAN BE OVERWHELMING TO THOSE SEEKING COURT-ORDERED SAFETY FROM AN ABUSER. OUR TRO ADVOCATES EXPLAIN THE FILING PROCESS AND ASSIST WITH COMPLETING THE EXTENSIVE FORMS. ADVOCATES ALSO ACCOMPANY SURVIVORS TO COURT FOR THEIR RESTRAINING ORDER HEARINGS - OFTEN A SCARY TIME FOR SURVIVORS AS THEY FACE THEIR ABUSER AND TELL THEIR STORY. OUR ADVOCATES ACCOMPANIED 11 SURVIVORS TO COURT AND ASSISTED 61 CLIENTS TO COMPLETE RESTRAINING ORDERS AND PROVIDED AN ADDITIONAL 414 SURVIVORS WITH INFORMATION AND EDUCATION REGARDING RESTRAINING ORDERS.-CLINICAL COUNSELING SERVICES: PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND GROUPS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SAVE CLINICIANS PARTICIPATED IN OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNSELOR CERTIFICATION AND RECEIVED ONGOING TRAINING AND SUPERVISION TO BROADEN THEIR CLINICAL SKILLS. TREATMENT GOALS ARE TAILORED COLLABORATIVELY WITH CLIENTS AND FAMILIES, AND DROP-IN SUPPORT GROUPS WERE ATTENDED IN GREAT NUMBERS. IN FY 21/22 OUR INTERNS PROVIDED COUNSELING TO 111 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES; 53 SURVIVORS ATTENDED GROUP COUNSELING SESSIONS. -COMMUNITY PREVENTION AND OUTREACH & YOUTH SERVICES: THESE INNOVATIVE SERVICES RAISED AWARENESS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SAVE PROGRAMS. OUR "LOVES ME, LOVES ME NOTSM" CURRICULUM WAS PRESENTED TO 2664 YOUTH AT LOCAL JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND YOUTH GROUPS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY DATING AND PREVENT INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AMONG YOUTH. SAVE'S YOUTH EMPOWERMENT GROUP, TEAM "#STRONGER THAN YOU THINKSM," CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS AND THE REALITIES OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE THROUGH COMMUNITY AND CAMPUS-BASED ENGAGEMENT. IN MAY 2022, TEAM STYT PLANNED AND IMPLEMENTED THEIR 5TH ANNUAL YOUTH SUMMIT, SYMBIOSIS, AN INTERSECTIONAL EVENT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO CELEBRATE YOUTH ACTIVISM AND EMPOWER YOUNG FOLKS TO BUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 669 HOURS OF SERVICE THIS FISCAL YEAR. THESE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT TO CLIENTS ON OUR HOTLINE, IN OUR SHELTER, AT OUR EMPOWERMENT CENTER, AS WELL AS REPRESENTING THE AGENCY AT COMMUNITY EVENTS. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT THEY ALLOW US TO INCREASE THE IMPACT OF OUR SERVICES.OUR 11-MEMBER VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS PROVIDES GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT AS WELL AS SUPPORT WITH DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING. OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE PART OF SAVE'S FAMILY AND PASSIONATE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES. ALL TOGETHER, THEY DONATED OVER 264 HOURS OF SERVICE THIS YEAR.SAVE STAFF ALSO ATTENDED NUMEROUS COMMUNITY EVENTS, HEALTH FAIRS, AND OTHER AWARENESS OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SERVICES AND THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITIES AS A WHOLE.

COMMUNITY SERVICES: OUR EMPOWERMENT CENTER (EC) HAS BECOME A VITAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE STRIVE TO BE A WELCOMING, SAFE PLACE FOR ANY COMMUNITY MEMBER IN NEED OF OUR SERVICES. SAVE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN VIRTUALLY ANY LANGUAGE THROUGH A TELEPHONIC LANGUAGE LINE, ENSURING THAT CLIENTS WHO SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH HAVE FULL ACCESS TO OUR SERVICES. STAFF ALSO RECEIVE ONGOING TRAINING IN WORKING WITH POPULATIONS THAT ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE AND OFTEN HAVE DIFFICULTY OBTAINING SERVICES - SURVIVORS LIVING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS OR OTHER DISABILITY, LGBTQ SURVIVORS AND TEEN DATING VIOLENCE SURVIVORS. OUR ADVOCATES PROVIDE WALK-IN SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE CRISIS COUNSELING, ASSISTANCE SECURING SHELTER, EMERGENCY FOOD AND CLOTHING AND ACCESS TO OTHER RESOURCES. CLIENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO UTILIZE THE ADVOCATES FOR ONGOING CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, DESIGNED TO HELP THEM ADDRESS AND OVERCOME ISSUES WHICH MAY BE BARRIERS ESCAPING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IN FY 21/22, A TOTAL OF 400 SURVIVORS IN NEED UTILIZED THE RANGE OF SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE EMPOWERMENT CENTER.

SAFE HOUSE: SAVE'S SAFE HOUSE, LOCATED IN A CONFIDENTIAL LOCATION, CONTINUES TO BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR FAMILIES FLEEING ABUSE. RESIDENTS RECEIVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES DURING THEIR STAY, DESIGNED TO HELP THEM HEAL AND MOVE TOWARD HEALTHY, SAFER LIVES. EXTENSIVELY TRAINED CASE MANAGERS AND ADVOCATES WORK CLOSELY WITH RESIDENTS TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THE IMMEDIATE CRISIS AND PROVIDE LINKS TO HEALTHCARE, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, PARENTING ASSISTANCE, AND MUCH MORE. OUR STAFF STRIVES TO MEET BOTH OUR CLIENTS' PRACTICAL NEEDS AND TO ENSURE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT WE PROVIDE IS CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE AND SENSITIVE TO THE TRAUMA THEY'VE EXPERIENCED. SAVE PROVIDED 5796 NIGHTS OF SHELTER TO 89 SURVIVORS AND THEIR CHILDREN THIS FISCAL PERIOD.