Annual Report

Transcription

1 Family Counseling and Shelter Services Annual Report Gracie's Play Place at the Sunrise House "To provide those programs and services essential to the emotional well-being, self-esteem, and development of our children, to the strengthening, preservation, and success of our families, and to the protection, empowerment, and independence of survivors of domestic violence."

2 From the Director: This past 24 months have been a significant challenge for our agency as we have experienced the impact of this severe and continuing economic crisis in southeast Michigan. The need for our unique programs and services is growing, while our funding from traditional sources including United Way, government grants, and community and business donations is in decline. While this has forced some limited budget reductions, we have not eliminated any essential programs or services. In fact, we are continuing to expand and diversify to accommodate our growing and changing Monroe County community service needs. In just the last 24 months, we have added: A CHILD PLAYROOM at our Sunrise House Domestic Violence Shelter A DOMESTIC VIOLENCESUPPORT CENTERand safe haven inside Monroe Police Headquarters A DOMESTIC VIOLENCEEMERGENCYRESPONSETEAM (OVERT) and Volunteer Coordinator A DOMESTIC VIOLENCELEGALADVOCA TEand access to a Legal Services Domestic Violence Attorney A SUBSTANCEABUSE PROGRAM including assessments, counseling, and psychoeducotional groups PARENTING AFTER VIOLENCECLASSESfor domestic violence batterers SMILE program designed to assist divorcing couples to focus on the emotional needs of their children We would like to express our sincere and heartfelt appreciation and thanks to all who have contributed to meeting this difficult challenge and the growing and changing social service needs of our community including our dedicated employees, our Board of Directors, our volunteers, and our local business, foundations, and community sponsors and donors. Sincerely, 40A S. David Stadler Executive Director

3 Sunrise House Domestic Violence Shelter Our Sunrise House Domestic Violence Shelter has a new and very welcome addition in the form of a large and beautiful Child Playroom. A recent national study concluded that many domestic violence shelters tend to focus on the needs of the victims with too little attention to the needs of their children who have witnessed the violence and in many cases, experienced physical abuse. This new playroom provides a dedicated space for children of domestic violence to play, to recover, and to just be children again without fear or anxiety. It also provides their mothers, the survivors of domestic violence, with much needed quiet time to read, watch television, socialize, or search the internet for employment or affordable housing. Construction of this Child Playroom was made possible by a grant from the Mary Kay Ash Foundation and the generosity and volunteer labor of our community. The project was coordinated by volunteers from DTE, materials were donated or provided at cost by area businesses, and many Monroe County residents unselfishly donated their time and labor. Our sincerest thank you to all who helped make this wonderful addition a reality. Economic crises such as what we are experiencing here in southeast Michigan have a tendency to increase both the rate and the severity of domestic violence. Over the last twelve months, our Shelter has experienced unprecedented occupancy levels as increased numbers of victims elect to escape the family violence. The average length of stay at the Sunrise House has also increased as these women find it difficult to compete for a limited number of jobs in an area with 15 percent unemployment. Increasing occupancy and length of stay are contributing to a significant strain on our Shelter staffing, our resources, and our limited Shelter space. As the need for emergency shelter and services has increased, this economic crisis has at the same time reduced shelter funding from United Way, government grants, and community contributions. United Way has been forced to reduce funding for our Shelter by $27,000 in the last 24 months. The Michigan State Housing and Development Authoritv (MSHDA) recently eliminated grant funding for counseling and child advocacy services for Shelter residents. Since all shelter, food, clothing, and services are provided at no charge to domestic violence victims and their children, these significant funding reductions are challenging our ability to continue to meet the growing need in Monroe County. A recent Sunrise House resident and victim of domestic violence expressed her appreciation for the staff and services provided in an that said in part: "I just wanted to write to let you know how the Shelter and Advocates saved and changed my life. I am not sure you truly know the dedication and PASSIONthese women (Shelter Advocates) have. They spend all hours day and night listening, nurturing, and rebuilding sometimes empty shells, and helping these women turn into stronger, viable, and more beautiful human beings while at the same time being loving and kind to our children as well. I would be here all day trying to tell you how desolate and worthless I felt when I first got here, and yet I am now ready to leave with a job under my belt, a new apartment, and a positive outlook on life".

4 Shelter Statistics : Shelter Nights: 5,082 Crisis Line Calls: 906 Clients Served: 1,064 Shelter Challenges: Loss of MSHDA funding for counseling and child advocate. Increasing client occupancy rates, length of stay, and operating costs. Declining government funding for domestic violence emergency shelters. Domestic Violence Support Services (DVSS) Program The DVSSProgram is dedicated to providing advocacy services for victims of domestic violence and to reducing and eliminating family violence. Domestic Violence Advocacy Services: Our Agency provides advocacy services for victims of domestic violence including those in residence at our Shelter and non-resident victims. Over the last 18 months, we have partnered and collaborated with other community organizations to significantly expand the advocacy services available and to provide a continuum of care for victims and their children. We have: Partnered with Legal Services of South Central Michigan to obtain a federal grant and provide an FCSSLegal Advocate and access for victims to a pro-bono domestic violence attorney. Partnered with law enforcement agencies to form a Monroe County Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team (OVERT) and an FCSSOVERTVolunteer Coordinator. Partnered with the Monroe City Police to establish a Domestic Violence Support Center and safe haven inside Police Headquarters. These community collaborations are proving to be a significant benefit for Monroe County victims of domestic violence and their children. Our Legal Advocate is helping victims in obtaining Personal Protection Orders (PPO's) and in obtaining professional legal representation to assure protection oftheir rights related to safety, child custody, finances, and property. The OVERT Team is providing a 24-hour crisis line and coordinated response to domestic violence emergencies including immediate access to essential services and resources for victims and their children. The new Domestic Violence Support

5 Center inside Police Headquarters provides victims engaged in legal proceedings a safe haven during court recesses and access to all of our domestic violence services. In a recent actual case, a victim's batterer took their young son captive for three weeks, threatening to kill the family dog if she tried to regain custody. Our Domestic Violence Advocacy staff, including the Community Advocate and DVERT Volunteer Coordinator, worked collaboratively with the Prosecutor, Probation, and law enforcement to free the little boy and to return him to his mother's custody an.d to school. Unfortunately, the batterer carried through on his threat to kill the family pet and has a warrant outstanding for his arrest. Domestic Violence Prevention: Our Domestic Violence Prevention (DVP) Program is dedicated to reducing and preventing domestic violence through changing the behaviors and beliefs of batterers and helping to break the chain of violence that can be passed from one generation to the next. The DVP staff works collaboratively with our Prosecutor and Probation Departments to provide services to batterers, to assure their accountability, and to reduce the risk to victims and their children. Examples of services provided to domestic violence batterers include: 12, 26, and 52 Week Psycho-Educational Groups Anger Management Classes Domestic Violence Counseling Parenting After Violence Classes Recent Quotes from domestic violence batterers attending our groups include: "Thanks for all the work and tough love needed to help me become a better husband and father." "This group opened my eyes about how I react to different things and people." "1 would like to thank you all for this program that has truly changed my life for the better." "This group has helped me take responsibility, to focus on me not her, and how I can change my behavior, not hers." "1 am a changed man." DVSS Program Statistics New Clients: 358 Current Clients: 86 Appointments Kept: 3,451 Substance Abuse Program: Substance abuse is a growing problem across Monroe County, particularly among our youth and also adults in the face of this economic recession. Abuse of alcohol and illegal substances is also a very common issue in the cases of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect that we encounter in our mission every day. The Monroe County Substance Abuse Coalition, a

6 collaboration of local agencies and organizations, is working to both prevent and reduce substance abuse. Our agency has received requests from our judges, the Prosecutor's Office, the Probation Department, SEMCA, and the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide services in this area. In 2010, we have begun providing substance abuse services including assessments, counseling, and groups. We are receiving referrals from our courts, probation, and from DHS and continue to expand the program to meet our community needs. Children's Center Of Monroe The Children's Center of Monroe was opened in February, 2006, in response to a growing community need and requests from our Family Court Judges, Friend of the Court, Legal Services, and CASA. The mission of the Children's Center is to bring increased agency, community, and parental focus on the unique needs of our vulnerable children exposed to the trauma of adult issues such as: Conflicted Divorce Child Abuse and Neglect Domestic Violence Child Sexual Abuse Alcohol and Substance Abuse The Children's Center of Monroe provides our community with a unique menu of essential children's services including: Supervised Visitation Supportive Visitation Therapeutic Visitation Monitored Custody Exchanges Child Counseling Child Abuse Prevention Our Supervised Visitation Program, the only such service in Monroe County, provides children access to their estranged parent{s) in a safe, supportive, and homelike environment. Studies have shown that children need access to an estranged parent for normal development and to help avoid issues such as anger, depression, and withdrawal. Supervised Visitation clients are referred by our Family Court Judges, the Friend of the Court, or Department of Human Services (DHS). Our Supervised Visitation monitors are very supportive of children and parents, and they utilize approved national Supervised Visitation Network Standards and Best Practices. A visiting parent recently told us "I am so grateful to the Children's Center. If it were not for this place, I would still be lost in the system. You have all helped me and my son so much. You are God's gift in keeping families in touch with each other."

7 Children's Center Statistics New Families: 54 New Clients: 187 Supervised Visitation Sessions: 952 Monitored Custody Exchanges: 620 Children's Center Challenges Loss of $37,000 Safe Havens Grant in Declining United Way and community funding due to recession Counseling Program FCSS has been providing professional and compassionate counseling services to Monroe County since 1966, nearly 45 years, with a continuing focus on serving those who might not otherwise have access due to financial circumstances or lack of insurance. Our sliding scale fees based upon family income, Health Plan of Michigan, and other State of Michigan insurance plans assist in assuring that no family, adult, or child in need of counseling is ever turned away. Over the last 12 months, in the face of this severe recession in southeast Michigan, the need for these services has increased significantly. The decline of the automobile industry, shutdown of suppliers and affected businesses, and the highest unemployment rates in the country have placed unprecedented pressures on individuals and severe strain on family relationships. Despite declining United Way and community funding for our Counseling Program due to this recession, our agency is working very hard to accommodate the growing need for counseling for unemployed and uninsured families and individuals. We are also expanding and diversifying our counseling services to meet growing and changing community needs. We have added counseling for victims of domestic and sexual violence as well as child abuse and neglect. Our marriage, family, and couples counseling have all been expanded to meet the growing need. We are increasing child counseling services and have added a support group for children exposed to domestic violence. Examples of recent feedback on our Counseling Client Satisfaction Surveys includes: "Coming here for therapy was like coming out of the darkness into the light." "The counselors are great, you can talk about anything here, just express yourself."

8 Counseling Program Statistics New Counseling Clients: 498 Current Clients: 93 Counseling Appointments Kept: 2100 Challenges Declining United Way and community funding Increasing counseling caseloads Increasing number of unemployed and/or uninsured in need of counseling Absence of grants available to support counseling for low income, unemployed, and uninsured families, adults, and children Agency Financial Profile In , Family Counseling and Shelter Services had a total operating budget of $748,274. Our ongoing financial performance is overseen by our FCSS Board of Directors Finance Committee and by an annual independent Financial Audit. Over the last 12 months, this severe and continuing economic crisis in southeast Michigan has seen our agency caught in between an increasing need for our unique social services and significantly declining funding from traditional sources. United Way of Monroe County has reduced our allocations for our four programs by $35,463 in In addition, government grants declined by $67,000, and local foundation support by $17,500. Despite this continuing economic crisis and its significant impact on our funding, our agency is working very hard to accommodate growing and changing community service needs. This expansion and diversification of our programs and services is also serving to increase our financial self sufficiency and our ability to successfully survive this crisis. Although we have been forced into limited cost reduction measures, we have been able to accomplish these cost reductions without impacting our client programs and services.

9 FAMILY COUNSELING AND SHELTER SERVICES REVENUE FY 2010 Revenue: Contributions I Donations Federal & State Grants Foundations, Trusts, & Corp. Program Service Fees Special Events I Fundraisers United Way $32, $363, $44, $160, $27, $121, $750, % 4% 49% Contributions I.Federal I Donations & State Grants o Foundations, Trusts, & Corp. o Program Service Fees 6% Special Events I Fundraisers o United Way Expenses: Salaries and Wages Payroll Taxes Professional Fees Occupancy (incl. insurance) Supplies (incl. postage, printing) Depreciation Misc. (incl. fund raising) $519, $55, $15, $98, $18, $22, $19, $747, %3% 3% EXPENSES FY 2010 Salaries Payroll Taxes o Professional and Wages Fees o Occupancy insurance) (Incl. I.Supplies (incl. postage, printing) 10 Depreciation I.Misc. (incl. fundraising) I