The Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation

THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION: EDUCATING TO END THE CYCLE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SAVE LIVES.

JOE TORRE SAFE AT HOME WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2002 BY ALI AND JOE TORRE. SAFE AT HOME FOCUSES ON YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, TEEN DATING ABUSE, AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. SAFE AT HOME'S MISSION IS TO EDUCATE TO END THE CYCLE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SAVE LIVES.ACCORDING TO THE CDC, VIOLENCE IS AN URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM. FROM INFANTS TO THE ELDERLY, IT AFFECTS PEOPLE IN ALL STAGES OF LIFE AND CAN LEAD TO A LIFETIME OF PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. NEARLY ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO PHYSICAL INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME. EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE AND ABUSE AS CHILDREN CAN HAVE DEVASTATING, LONG TERM EFFECTS. SAFE AT HOME BELIEVES THAT WITH EDUCATION AND SUPPORT CHILDREN AND YOUTH CAN BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SOLUTION.BY PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT, YOUNG PEOPLE CAN COPE WITH THEIR TRAUMA AND FIND HOPE, HEALING, AND EMPOWERMENT FOR THEIR FUTURES. OUR MODEL IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT PROVIDES BOTH CLINICAL INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION SERVICES. WE ESTABLISH A SAFE ROOM AT OUR LOCATIONS - KNOWN AS MARGARET'S PLACE, NAMED AFTER JOE TORRE'S MOTHER. THESEROOMS ARE STAFFED BY A FULL-TIME, MASTER'S-LEVEL THERAPIST. IN THIS SETTING, WE HAVE GROUP AND INDIVIDUALCOUNSELING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING TRAUMA; HOLD WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS TO BUILD A SAFER SCHOOLENVIRONMENT; HOLD WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS TO MAKE HOMES AND COMMUNITIES STRONGER; RAISE AWARENESS ONHOW TO PREVENT VIOLENCE; AND EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME ADVOCATES AND LEADERS. THE PROBLEM:THE LANDMARK ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACE) STUDY HTTPS://WWW.CDC.GOV/VIOLENCEPREVENTION/ACES/INDEX.HTML DEMONSTRATED THAT EXPOSURE TO ABUSE AND VIOLENCE AS CHILDREN CAN HAVE DEVASTATING, LONG-TERM EFFECTS. EXAMPLES OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES INCLUDE VERBAL, PHYSICAL, AND/OR SEXUAL ABUSE; DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; AND FAMILY DYSFUNCTION.WITHOUT SUPPORT, YOUTH WITH THESE EXPERIENCES ARE AT GREATER RISK FOR A VARIETY OF ISSUES, BOTH ASADOLESCENTS AND AS ADULTS. THIS INCLUDES GREATER RISK OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, INCLUDING DEPRESSION,ANXIETY, AND SUICIDAL IDEATION; GREATER RISK OF CHRONIC DISEASE, INCLUDING CANCER, DIABETES, STROKE, AND HIGHBLOOD PRESSURE; GREATER RISK OF SELF-HARM AND RISKY BEHAVIORS, INCLUDING SUBSTANCE ABUSE; AND DECREASEDEDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL POTENTIAL.WITH SUCH EXPOSURES, INTERVENTION IS CRITICAL. IN FACT, THE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES IDENTIFIEDCERTAIN PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT CAN DECREASE OR EVEN PREVENT THESE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES. THESE PROTECTIVEFACTORS INCLUDE, BUILDING RESILIENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, POSITIVE COPING SKILLS, STRONG SUPPORT NETWORKS, A SENSE OFHOPE, AND A SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH A TRUSTING ADULT. OUR MARGARET'S PLACE MODEL IS DESIGNED WITHTHESE PROTECTIVE FACTORS IN MIND.OUR MARGARET'S PLACE MODEL:AT EACH LOCATION, THE WORK OF THE MARGARET'S PLACE PROGRAM IS MANAGED BY A FULL-TIME, MASTER'S-LEVELTHERAPIST. THE THERAPIST IS A CONSISTENT, TRUSTED ADULT THAT SUPPORTS OUR YOUTH IN A SAFE SPACE WITHIN THE SCHOOL. THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A CULTURE OF RESPECT AND COMMUNITY.THERE ARE FIVE CORE COMPONENTS OF THE MARGARET'S PLACE MODEL THAT THE THERAPIST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS AND TOPICAL WORKSHOPS; STAFF WORKSHOPS; PARENT/CAREGIVER WORKSHOPS; INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING; AND PEER LEADERSHIP.VIOLENCE PREVENTION: OUR THERAPIST AND ALUMNI STAFF ALSO LEAD A SERIES OF 5 WORKSHOPS FOR 7TH AND 9TH GRADERS. THESE VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORKSHOPS ENTITLED YOUTH EMPOWERED TO SPEAK (YES) EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT VIOLENCE, THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA, SAFE COPING SKILLS, SAFETY STRATEGIES, AND HOW TO HELP A FRIEND. YES ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO SEEK HELP AND TEACHES ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE.STAFF WORKSHOPS: OUR MODEL'S IMPACT IS FURTHER EXPANDED BY OUR INCLUSION OF PARENT AND STAFF TRAINING.SCHOOL STAFF PARTICIPATE IN UP TO TWO WORKSHOPS PER YEAR, WHICH PROVIDE EDUCATION ON THE IMPACT OFVIOLENCE AND ABUSE ON CHILDREN, AND HOW TO IDENTIFY AND BETTER SUPPORT YOUTH IMPACTED BY TRAUMA.PARENT/CAREGIVER WORKSHOPS: PARENTS/CAREGIVERS ALSO HAVE THE OPTION TO PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS ON AVARIETY OF TOPICS, SUCH AS HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, MANAGING STRESS, ANDIDENTIFYING KEY COMMUNITY RESOURCES. COUNSELING: THE THERAPIST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING AND GROUP COUNSELING. THESESESSIONS FOCUS ON PSYCHOEDUCATION, DEVELOPMENT OF EMPOWERMENT AND VOICE, DECREASING NEGATIVEIMPACTS OF TRAUMA, INCREASING SAFETY AND COPING SKILLS, AND SAFETY PLANNING AND CRISIS INTERVENTION. GROUPCOUNSELING FOCUSES ON BUILDING SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND RESILIENCY, RELYING ON TOPICAL GROUPS AND MULTI-MODAL, ARTS-BASED GROUPSPEER LEADERSHIP: OUR THERAPIST AND ALUMNI STAFF ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE PEER LEADERSHIPPROGRAM - A CORE COMPONENT WHERE CURRENT STUDENTS FOSTER SOCIAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND LEARN MOREABOUT CONFLICT, VIOLENCE, AND ABUSE AT AN ADVANCED LEVEL. THIS TEAM OF PEER LEADERS SHOWCASE THEIRKNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS BY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR - BOTH ONVIOLENCE/ABUSE, AND ON OTHER RELATED TOPICS SUCH AS DEPRESSION, SUICIDE AWARENESS, AND MORE.AWARENESS AND PREVENTION:IN ADDITION TO OUR MARGARET'S PLACE MODEL, SAH ALSO OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMPACT OF VIOLENCE, ABUSE, AND TRAUMA, TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES BEST PRACTICES, ANDYOUTH STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AMONG OTHER TOPICS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.DIGITAL RESOURCES TO ADULTS AND YOUTH ON TOPICS RELATED TO PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE, ABUSE, AND TRAUMA,INCLUDING PODCASTS, WEBISODES, TOOLKITS, AND OTHER RESOURCE MATERIALS.THE MARGARET'S PLACE MODEL IS A REPLICABLE MODEL THAT IS CULTURALLY ADAPTIVE WITHIN MANY COMMUNITIES. PRESENTLY, WE HAVE LOCATIONS IN THE NY METRO AREA, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CINCINNATI, AND TAHITI.