Empower Yolo Inc

EMPOWER YOLO'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE SAFE, HEALTHY, AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.

RESOURCE CENTER: EMPOWER YOLO MANAGES A NETWORK A RESOURCE CENTERS THAT PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO A RANGE OF PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND INFORMATION TO ADDRESS THE MANY CHALLENGES THEY FACE TODAY. THIS INTEGRATED AND HOLISTIC APPROACH HELPS DECREASE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT FAMILIES FROM ACCESSING IMPORTANT SERVICES BY PROVIDING SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE RESOURCE CENTERS TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. OUR RESOURCE CENTER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES INCLUDE MOTHER'S SUPPORT GROUPS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, PARENT SUPPORT, BENEFIT ENROLLMENT, FINANCIAL COACHING, HEALTH EDUCATION, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND HOUSING SUPPORTS. AMONG THE MANY PROGRAMS PROVIDED, 1,138 CLIENTS USED OUR CLOTHING CLOSET A TOTAL OF 3,249 TIMES, 626 PEOPLE WERE PROVIDED RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING SUPPORTS. 413 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE FOR A COMBINED REFUND OF $1,358,983 IN STATE AND FEDERAL TAX REFUNDS.

VICTIMS SERVICES: EMPOWER YOLO HAS A WIDELY KNOWN OFFICE IN WOODLAND WHERE ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND CHILD ABUSE. BUSINESS OFFICES ARE OPEN DURING ROUTINE BUSINESS HOURS, BUT CRISIS LINE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, IN FISCAL 2021, WE ANSWERED 753 CRISIS CALLS. EMPOWER YOLO PROVIDES COUNSELING TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND, WHEN REQUESTED THEIR CHILDREN. THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT THE SHELTER AND/OR BUSINESS CENTER. INTERACTIVE GROUP COUNSELING SERVICES ARE ALSO PROVIDED BY STAFF AND/OR APPROPRIATELY TRAINED VOLUNTEER FACILITATORS. DURING FISCAL 2021, EMPOWER YOLO PROVIDED 7,034 INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS AND SUPPORT GROUP TO 296 CLIENTS.EMPOWER YOLO OPERATES TWO SHELTERS. THE WALLACE AND VANNUCCI SHELTER SERVICES VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, TRAFFICKING, AND THEIR CHILDREN. ANOTHER SMALLER SHELTER SERVICES HOMELESS VICTIMS OF CRIME. THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM FOLLOWS A "HOUSING FIRST" MODEL AND SERVES VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND TRAFFICKING. IN FISCAL 2021, WE PROVIDED SHELTER AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING TO 138 ADULT SURVIVORS AND 154 CHILDREN FOR A TOTAL OF 25,123 BED NIGHTS.EMPOWER YOLO OFFERS LEGAL ADVOCACY TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND OFFERS 7 RESTRAINING ORDER CLINICS A WEEK IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. IN FISCAL 2021, 270 VICTIMS OF CRIME RECEIVED RESTRAINING ORDER ASSISTANCE.EMPOWER YOLO'S CARE TEAM PROVIDES MEDICAL AND LEGAL ACCOMPANIMENT TO VICTIMS FOR EVIDENTIARY EXAMS OR WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR INITIAL REPORTING. THE CARE TEAM RESPONDED TO 173 SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS, 92 OF THEM WERE CHILDREN IN 2021.

YOUTH SERVICES/ASSETS (AFTER SCHOOL SAFETY AND ENRICHMENT FOR TEENS): ASSETS PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND SAFE, CONSTRUCTIVE ALTERNATIVES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. MORE THAN JUST AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, WOODLAND ASSETS TEAM CREATES GENUINE CONNECTIONS WITH HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH AND FAMILIES AND PROVIDES UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. WE ALSO PROVIDE FAMILY LITERACY SERVICES TO THE PARENTS OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. OUR PROGRAM OPERATES AFTER SCHOOL, WEEKENDS, SUMMER, INTERSESSION, AND VACATION PERIODS.