Grace Smith House Inc

PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

MARY LOU HEISSENBUTTEL RESIDENCETHE MARY LOU HEISSENBUTTEL RESIDENCE (MLHR) IS A 25 BED EMERGENCY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR MINOR CHILDREN WHO NEED SAFETY FROM ABUSE. THE CRISIS HOTLINE IS LOCATED IN OUR SHELTER AND IS ANSWERED BY A TRAINED ADVOCATE 24/7/365. IN 2021, STAFF RESPONDED TO 1,756 CALLS FOR HELP. WE PROVIDED SHELTER TO 78 ADULTS AND 90 CHILDREN AND TURNED AWAY 408 REQUESTS FOR SHELTER BECAUSE WE WERE AT CAPACITY AND COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE THE SIZE OF THE FAMILY. GRACE SMITH HOUSE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE ITS SHELTER PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY DURING THE ENTIRE YEAR DESPITE COVID-19 IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY. ALL SUPPORTS AND SERVICES WERE PROVIDED IN PERSON AND ON SITE IN THE SHELTER. OUR SHELTER PROGRAM PROVIDES THREE MEALS DAILY INCLUDING SNACKS AVAILABLE ANYTIME. DURING A SHELTER STAY, ALL BASIC NECESSITIES SUCH AS TOILETRIES, HYGIENE PRODUCTS, DIAPERS, WIPES, EMERGENCY CLOTHING, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, CHILD STROLLERS AND CAR SEATS ARE PROVIDED FOR BY OUR PROGRAM. ADULT VICTIMS WORK WITH A CASE MANAGER WHO HELPS FAMILIES CREATE A SAFETY PLAN, ASSESS RISK FOR LETHALITY, DETERMINE IMMEDIATE AND SHORT TERM NEEDS AND ASSISTS IN NAVIGATING BOTH FAMILY AND CRIMINAL COURT, SOCIAL SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, ACCESS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE, MEDICAL SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING. TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDED FOR VICTIMS USING AGENCY VEHICLES AND CHILDCARE IS OFTEN MADE AVAILABLE. IN PERSON, ON SITE THERAPEUTIC COUNSELING IS PROVIDED BY A TRAINED, LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER. ADDITIONALLY, 30 WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUPS WERE PROVIDED DURING THE YEAR IN THE SHELTER. CHILDREN'S GROUPS TAKE PLACE AT THE SAME TIME AS ADULTS. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO CHILDREN AND PARENTS BY A YOUTH ADVOCATE, AND IN ADDITION TO CHILDCARE, THE ADVOCATE OFFERS PARENTING SUPPORT, SCHOOL ADVOCACY, PLAY GROUPS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITY FOR CHILDREN DURING THEIR SHELTER STAY. ALL SERVICES ARE FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL. THE LENGTH OF A SHELTER PROGRAM IS 90 DAYS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF TWO 45 DAY EXTENSIONS DEPENDING ON FAMILY NEEDS. THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED STAY IS 180 DAYS. DURING THE YEAR, FAMILIES STAYED AN AVERAGE OF 59 DAYS IN SHELTER.

OUTREACH PROGRAMGRACE SMITH HOUSE HAS AN EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAM. THROUGH OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS WE COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS ON PROJECTS DESIGNED TO INCREASE VICTIM SAFETY, ENHANCE FAMILY WELFARE, MAXIMIZE OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY AND INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE EXTENT AND SEVERITY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. DURING THE FY2021 YEAR, EVEN WITH COVID-19 CONCERNS, WE PROVIDED ONGOING, IN PERSON SERVICES IN OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS. COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS WERE CONDUCTED ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED TOPICS AND TRAININGS TO VARIOUS AGENCIES, PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY PROVIDERS. FAMILY COURT ADVOCACY PROGRAM - GRACE SMITH HOUSE COORDINATES WITH DUTCHESS COUNTY FAMILY COURT TO HAVE ADVOCATES PROVIDE ADVOCACY SERVICES TO WALK IN CUSTOMERS WHO SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM FAMILY COURT. ADVOCATES MEET WITH INDIVIDUALS TO ASSESS FOR THE PRESENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PROVIDE RISK ASSESSMENT, ENGAGE IN SAFETY PLANNING, EDUCATE THE INDIVIDUAL ABOUT VICTIM RIGHTS AND OPTIONS AS WELL AS EXPLAIN HOW THE CIVIL COURT PROCESS WORKS. ADVOCATES ASSIST AND SUPPORT PETITIONERS IN COMPLETING PAPERWORK AND FILING FOR EMERGENCY ORDERS OF PROTECTION. DURING THE YEAR, ADVOCATES ASSISTED 1004 PETITIONERS TO FILE FOR EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE ORDERS. GRACE SMITH HOUSE ALSO HAS COURT ADVOCATES WHO PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT AND SERVICES BY ACCOMPANYING VICTIMS TO COURT, HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THE COURT PROCEEDINGS, CONNECTING THEM TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION, AND PROVIDING ADVOCACY AS NEEDED. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, 92 VICTIMS RECEIVED ONGOING ADVOCACY AND/OR ACCOMPANIMENT TO COURT. COURT ADVOCATES WERE AVAILABLE TO ACCOMPANY VICTIMS TO COURT IN PERSON ON EMERGENCY PETITIONS FOR ORDERS OF PROTECTION. OTHERWISE, FAMILY COURT OPERATED VIRTUALLY AND ADVOCATES ASSISTED VICTIMS WITH VIRTUAL COURT APPEARANCES, EITHER FROM GRACE SMITH HOUSE OFFICES OR FROM THE COURTHOUSE ITSELF. THIS PROGRAM ACCOMPANIED VICTIMS TO COURT 371 TIMES DURING THE YEAR.CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LIAISON PROGRAM - GRACE SMITH HOUSE HAS TWO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LIAISONS EMBEDDED IN THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT. THESE LIAISONS SERVE AS A KNOWLEDGEABLE RESOURCE TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES CASEWORKERS REGARDING ISSUES RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THEY ALSO PROVIDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES TO THOSE FAMILIES REFERRED FROM THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT. LAST YEAR THESE LIAISONS SERVED 179 FAMILIES AND PROVIDED 171 CONSULTATIONS TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES CASEWORKERS.PREVENTION AND EDUCATION - GRACE SMITH HOUSE IS DEDICATED TO RAISING THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THE EXTENT, TYPE, AND SERIOUSNESS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. OUR PREVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAM FOCUSES ON GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO HAVE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND RECOGNIZE ABUSIVE BEHAVIORS. GRACE SMITH HOUSE EDUCATORS VISIT MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, TRYING TO REACH ALL DISTRICTS IN DUTCHESS COUNTY, WITH PRESENTATIONS. IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS, EDUCATION FOCUSES ON BULLYING PREVENTION, WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOLS THE FOCUS IS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PREVENTION WITH TOPICS SUCH AS HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, DATING VIOLENCE, SAFETY PLANNING, AND SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY. DURING THE YEAR THIS PROGRAM EDUCATED 2,799 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. OUR PRESENTATIONS WERE IN PERSON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHEN SCHOOL WAS IN SESSION BUT WHEN COVID-19 FORCED SCHOOL CLOSINGS GRACE SMITH HOUSE DID PIVOT AND PROVIDE VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS. GRACE SMITH HOUSE ALSO EDUCATES HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ON HOW TO IDENTIFY, ASSESS AND SAFELY SCREEN FOR THE PRESENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THIS YEAR WE SUCCESSFULLY EDUCATED 51 HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ON HOW TO SCREEN FOR THE PRESENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CONNECT VICTIMS TO SERVICES.

FOLLOW-UP PROGRAMTHE GRACE SMITH HOUSE NON-RESIDENTIAL FOLLOW UP PROGRAM PROVDES A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES TO FAMILIES RESIDING IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED AS A FOLLOW-UP PROGRAM TO ASSIST RESIDENTS WHO WERE TRANSITIONING OUT OF OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER. THIS PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED TO PROVIDE A BROAD SPECTRUM OF ADVOCACY, COUNSELING, AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE GENERAL COMMUNITY. SERVICES INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUP, SAFETY PLANNING, COURT AND LEGAL ADVOCACY, ACCOMPANIMENT TO COURT, SOCIAL SERVICES ADVOCACY, RISK ASSESSMENT, IMMIGRATION ADVOCACY, HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION, AND REFERRAL TO OTHER SERVICES. WE ALSO ASSIST WITH EMERGENCY NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD THROUGH OUR FOOD PANTRY, TOILETRIES, BABY ITEMS AND SMALL HOUSEHOLD GOODS DEPENDING ON DONATIONS. OUR FOOD PANTRY BECAME A CRITICAL SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR MANY VICTIMS WHO STRUGGLED TO PROVIDE BASIC NEEDS FOR THEIR FAMILIES DURING THE YEAR. OVER 600 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED THROUGH THIS PANTRY DURING THE YEAR. WITHIN OUR FOLLOW-UP PROGRAM A TOTAL OF 153 CLIENTS RECEIVED SUPPORT SERVICES; ADVOCACY WAS PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 2,561 TIMES; 56 SUPPORT GROUPS WERE PROVIDED; AND 687 INDIVIDUAL THERAPEUTIC SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED BY OUR LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER. IN ADDITION, 30 CHILDREN OBTAINED SUPPORT SERVICES AND OUR CHILDREN'S SUPPORT GROUP MET WHILE THE ADULT SUPPORT GROUPS WERE IN SESSION.LATINA FAMILY ADVOCATE/ OUTREACH PROGRAM - OUR LATINA PROGRAM WAS PIONEERED BY GRACE SMITH HOUSE OVER TWENTY-SIX YEARS AGO. THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO EDUCATE THE LATINA COMMUNITY ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SERVICES AVAILABLE AND TO OFFER LATINA VICTIMS CULTURALLY COMPETENT ADVOCACY AND COUNSELING IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE. IN ADDITION, THIS POSITION HAS, THROUGH EXTENSIVE OUTREACH, CREATED A NETWORK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO ARE EXPERT IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO LATINA VICTIMS. DURING THE YEAR THE LATINA FAMILY ADVOCATE WORKED WITH 64 FAMILIES PROVIDING ADVOCACY, SUPPORT, INFORMATION AND REFERRALS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDED 7 OUTREACH PRESENTATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. SUPPORT GROUP IN SPANISH IS OFFERED WEEKLY AND GROUP SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

BROOKHAVEN TRANSITIONAL HOUSINGBROOKHAVEN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING COMPRISES OF 14 APARTMENTS, RANGING IN SIZE FROM STUDIO APARTMENTS TO THREE BEDROOMS. RESIDENTS MAY STAY IN THE HOUSING PROGRAM FOR UP TO TWO YEARS (24 MONTHS). ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS SECOND STAGE HOUSING PROGRAM IS DETERMINED BY SEVERAL FACTORS INCLUDING BEING A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO IS AT LEAST 30 DAYS OUT OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP. THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED TO FAMILIES WHO WANT OR NEED A LONGER AMOUNT OF TIME TO WORK ON SAFETY, HEALING AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SPECIFIC GOALS. WHILE MANY BROOKHAVEN RESIDENTS ARE REFERRED BY OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER CASE MANAGERS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THEIR SHELTER STAYS, OTHERS ARE REFERRED THROUGH OUR NON-RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM OR BY OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WHILE IN THE BROOKHAVEN HOUSING PROGRAM, RESIDENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH CASE MANAGEMENT, INDIVIDUAL AND/OR GROUP COUNSELING, CHILDREN'S SERVICES, LEGAL ADVOCACY, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ALL OTHER AVAILABLE AGENCY SERVICES AS NEEDED. THE BROOKHAVEN PROGRAM IS A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY THAT PROMOTES SAFETY, HEALING FROM TRAUMA, RESILIENCY FOR THE FUTURE, AND GOOD HEALTH. DURING THE YEAR, A TOTAL OF 22 FAMILIES AND 39 OF THEIR CHILDREN RESIDED IN OUR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM.