GRACE SMITH HOUSE INC

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 FY2023 WE HANDLED 2,538 CALLS FOR HELP, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 35% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. WE PROVIDED SHELTER TO 79 ADULTS AND 84 CHILDREN AND TURNED AWAY 692 REQUESTS FOR SHELTER BECAUSE WE WERE AT CAPACITY AND COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE THE SIZE OF THE FAMILY. THE AVERAGE SHELTER LENGTH OF STAY DURING THE YEAR WAS 70 DAYS. 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. WE PROVIDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNSELING ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AS WELL AS WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUPS THROUGHOUT 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.

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 2023 YEAR, OUR OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: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, THIS PROGRAM ASSISTED 856 PETITIONERS TO FILE FOR EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE ORDERS. GRACE SMITH HOUSE ALSO HAS A SEPARATE COURT ADVOCATE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCOMPANYING VICTIMS TO COURT, HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THE COURT PROCEEDINGS, CONNECTING THEM TO LEGAL SERVICES, AND PROVIDING ADVOCACY AS NEEDED. THIS ADVOCATE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE EXTENSIVE COURT ADVOCACY SERVICES TO 130 VICTIMS BY PROVIDING ADVOCACY AND/OR ACCOMPANIMENT TO COURT. THIS IS A 35% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LIASON PROGRAM - GRACE SMITH HOUSE HAS TWO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LIAISONS EMBEDDED IN THE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT AT OUR LOCAL DISTRICT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. 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. THESE LIAISONS SERVED 161 FAMILIES AND PROVIDED 150 CONSULTATIONS TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES CASEWORKERS. DURING THE YEAR, 12 SEPARATE TRAINING SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES CASEWORKERS ON RELEVANT ISSUES REGARDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.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 6,917 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YOUTH. GRACE SMITH HOUSE ALSO EDUCATES THE GENERAL COMMUNITY, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY PROVIDERS ON HOW TO IDENTIFY, ASSESS AND SAFELY SCREEN FOR THE PRESENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. DURING THE YEAR, WE PROVIDED 58 PRESENTATIONS AND SUCCESSFULLY EDUCATED 1,347 ADULTS ON HOW TO IDENTIFY AND RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HELP THOSE IMPACTED TO GET CONNECTED TO OUR SERVICES.