SAN MIGUEL RESOURCE CENTER (SMRC)

IN 2024, THE SAN MIGUEL RESOURCE CENTER (SMRC) MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN PROVIDING ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT SERVICES ACROSS OUR RURAL SERVICE AREA. OUR 24-HOUR HELPLINE REMAINED A CRITICAL LIFELINE, STAFFED BY 14 DEDICATED VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES WHO COLLECTIVELY CONTRIBUTED 5,208 HOURS OF COVERAGE. TO CULTIVATE FUTURE ADVOCATES AND LEADERS, WE TRAINED 20 TELLURIDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS PEER ADVOCATES, EQUIPPING THEM WITH TOOLS TO SUPPORT THEIR PEERS AND FOSTER A CULTURE OF SAFETY AND EMPATHY.WE PROVIDED EMERGENCY SAFEHOUSING TO 29 INDIVIDUALS, OFFERING 97 NIGHTS OF REFUGE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CRISIS. OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS ALSO EXPANDED THIS YEAR: WE DELIVERED 32 PRESENTATIONS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTNERS, STRENGTHENING AWARENESS AND COLLABORATIVE RESPONSES TO DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE. OUR PREVENTION WORK REACHED 729 STUDENTS AND 39 PARENTS THROUGH YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, PROMOTING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND EARLY INTERVENTION.IN ADDITION TO ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION, SMRC PROVIDED $214,816 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CLIENTS TO HELP COVER HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, BASIC NEEDS, LEGAL FEES, AND THERAPY --SUPPORT THAT HELPED STABILIZE LIVES AND PROMOTE LONG-TERM HEALING AND SAFETY.OUR CLIENTS IN 2024 REFLECTED THE ONGOING NEED FOR SPECIALIZED, TRAUMA-INFORMED SUPPORT: 83% IDENTIFIED AS SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 15% AS SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND 2% AS SURVIVORS OF OTHER CRIMES. THE MAJORITY OF OUR CLIENTS --84% --WERE WOMEN, AND 37% IDENTIFIED AS LATINE. WE ALSO SUPPORTED 19 YOUTH SURVIVORS. GEOGRAPHICALLY, 69% OF OUR CLIENTS RESIDED IN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, 13% IN WEST MONTROSE COUNTY, AND 18% LIVED IN NEIGHBORING COUNTIES BUT WORKED IN SAN MIGUEL COUNTY.THIS YEAR ALSO BROUGHT EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS TO OUR TEAM. WE WELCOMED LISA SEBREE AS SMRC'S NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BRINGING STRONG LEADERSHIP TO OUR MISSION. RUTH RIVAS ROJAS JOINED US AS A BILINGUAL VICTIM ADVOCATE, EXPANDING OUR CAPACITY TO SUPPORT SPANISH-SPEAKING SURVIVORS. IN OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO MAKE ADVOCACY TRAINING MORE ACCESSIBLE, WE PILOTED A NEW 40-HOUR VICTIM ADVOCATE TRAINING MODEL, EMPHASIZING ONLINE, SELF-PACED LEARNING WITH REDUCED IN-PERSON REQUIREMENTS. THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH IS HELPING US DETERMINE HOW TO BETTER ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AND STRENGTHEN OUR HELPLINE COVERAGE.