Programs

  • Program 1 [2020]

    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. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A PATTERN OF MULTIPLE COERCIVE BEHAVIORS USED BY ONE PERSON TO GAIN POWER AND CONTROL OVER ANOTHER IN AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP. THESE REPEATED ACTS MAY BE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, VERBAL, SEXUAL, OR FINANCIAL IN NATURE. THE CRISIS HOTLINE IS ANSWERED BY A TRAINED ADVOCATE 24/7/365 AND FOR FY2020 WE HANDLED 1,525 CALLS FOR HELP. WE PROVIDED SHELTER TO 73 ADULTS AND 59 CHILDREN AND TURNED AWAY 319 REQUESTS FOR SHELTER BECAUSE WE WERE AT CAPACITY AND COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE THE SIZE OF THE FAMILY. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY DURING THE YEAR WAS 67 DAYS WHICH WAS A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OVER PAST YEARS DUE TO COVID-19 AND STAY AT HOME ORDERS ISSUED BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK. GRACE SMITH HOUSE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE ITS SHELTER PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY DURING FY2020. ALL SUPPORTS AND SERVICES WERE PROVIDED IN PERSON AND ON SITE IN THE SHELTER DESPITE COVID-19. 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. ADULTS ARE ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER WHO HELPS FAMILIES CREATE A SAFETY PLAN, ASSESS RISK FOR LETHALITY, DETERMINE IMMEDIATE AND SHORT TERM NEEDS AND TO ASSIST 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 AND 54 CLIENTS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THIS SERVICE FOR A TOTAL OF 255 THERAPEUTIC SESSIONS. ADDITIONALLY, 42 WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUPS WERE PROVIDED DURING THE YEAR. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO CHILDREN AND PARENTS BY A YOUTH ADVOCATE, AND IN ADDITION TO CHILDCARE, SERVICES INCLUDE PARENTING SUPPORT, SCHOOL ADVOCACY, PLAY GROUPS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITY FOR CHILDREN DURING THEIR SHELTER STAY. ALL SERVICES ARE FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL. THE LOCATION OF THE SHELTER IS CONFIDENTIAL AS WELL. 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.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $865.4K

  • Program 2 [2020]

    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 AND MAXIMIZE OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY. DURING THE FY2020 YEAR, EVEN WITH COVID-19 CONCERNS, WE PROVIDED ONGOING, IN PERSON SERVICES IN OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS. FAMILY COURT ADVOCACY PROJECT - GRACE SMITH HOUSE COORDINATES WITH DUTCHESS COUNTY FAMILY COURT TO HAVE TWO 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, THESE TWO ADVOCATES ASSISTED 903 PETITIONERS TO FILE FOR EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE ORDERS. GRACE SMITH HOUSE ALSO HAS TWO COURT ADVOCATES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCOMPANYING VICTIMS TO COURT, HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THE COURT PROCEEDINGS, CONNECTING THEM TO LEGAL SERVICES, AND PROVIDING ADVOCACY AS NEEDED. THESE ADVOCATES SERVED 154 VICTIMS BY PROVIDING ADVOCACY AND/OR ACCOMPANIMENT TO COURT.CPSDVL PROJECT - GRACE SMITH HOUSE HAS TWO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LIAISONS EMBEDDED IN THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT. THESE LIAISONS SERVE AS A KNOWLEDGEABLE RESOURCE TO CPS 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 480 FAMILIES AND PROVIDED 542 CONSULTATIONS TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES CASEWORKERS.LATINA OUTREACH PROGRAM - OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMMING ALSO INCLUDES OUR LATINA OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT WAS PIONEERED BY GRACE SMITH HOUSE OVER TWENTY-FIVE 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 OUTREACH ADVOCATE WORKED WITH 69 FAMILIES PROVIDING ADVOCACY, SUPPORT, INFORMATION AND REFERRALS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDED 6 OUTREACH PRESENTATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY. SUPPORT GROUP IN SPANISH IS OFFERED WEEKLY AND 30 GROUP SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED DURING THE YEAR. 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 2,983 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND 238 SCHOOL PERSONNEL. OUR PRESENTATIONS WERE IN PERSON FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, AND WE DID PIVOT AND PROVIDE VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS WHEN COVID-19 FORCED SCHOOL CLOSINGS. EACH YEAR, AN ALL-DAY CONFERENCE CALLED "LOVE SHOULDN'T HURT" IS HELD FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO FURTHER EXPLORE THE ISSUES AROUND HEALTHY TEEN DATING. THE CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN MARCH AND 135 STUDENTS AND 55 ADULTS WERE ABLE TO ATTEND. GRACE SMITH HOUSE ALSO EDUCATES HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ON HOW TO IDENTIFY, ASSESS AND SAFELY SCREEN FOR THE PRESENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. PRIOR TO COVID-19 CLOSURES RESTRICTING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE SETTINGS, WE SUCCESSFULLY EDUCATED 90 HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ON HOW TO SCREEN FOR THE PRESENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CONNECT VICTIMS TO SERVICES.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $823.2K

  • Program 3 [2020]

    FOLLOW UP PROGRAMTHE GRACE SMITH HOUSE NON RESIDENTIAL FOLLOW UP PROGRAM PROVIDES 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. 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 PROVIDE A FOOD PANTRY STOCKED WITH DRY GOODS, TOILETRIES, DIAPERS, BABY ITEMS, CLEANING PRODUCTS, AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS. THIS PANTRY IS AVAILABLE FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL PARTICIPANTS FREE OF CHARGE (AVAILABILITY OF ITEMS DEPENDS UPON DONATIONS). LIMITED AMOUNTS OF CLOTHING, LINENS, AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS/FURNITURE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE (DEPENDING ON DONATIONS AND STORAGE CONSIDERATIONS). A TOTAL OF 193 CLIENTS RECEIVED SERVICES; ADVOCACY WAS PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 2,684 TIMES; 42 SUPPORT GROUP SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED; AND 342 INDIVIDUAL THERAPEUTIC SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED. IN ADDITION, 102 CHILDREN OBTAINED SUPPORT SERVICES AND OUR CHILDREN'S SUPPORT GROUP MET 68 TIMES.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $287.9K