Alexandra House Inc

Community program "legal advocacy services: many participants who have experienced domestic and sexual violence do not require shelter, but do need legal advocacy and support services, especially as it relates to civil and criminal legal issues. In 2024, 486 program participants were served by our criminal justice and civil legal advocacy services. Criminal legal advocates partner with local law enforcement agencies so that victims of domestic violence receive the assistance of an advocate immediately following a domestic assault or domestic-related crime. In 2024, alexandra house received 509 referrals from law enforcement; of those referrals, 328 victims were identified via lethality assessment screening conducted by first responders as high risk and connected to an advocate from the scene. All other victims were referred to advocacy services by law enforcement shortly after the incident. Criminal legal advocates provided crisis intervention, ongoing support, and crime victim advocacy throughout criminal court proceedings to include accompanying victims to court hearings; serving as a liaison to prosecutors; helping victims understand the criminal court process and crime victim rights; and assisting victims in accessing resources like crime victim assistance, reparations, and victim notification. In addition to criminal legal advocacy, advocates also assisted victims/survivors in their efforts to obtain a protection order. In 2024, legal advocates assisted 126 victims with their protection order, including assisting 85 victims in filing their protection order paperwork and providing free legal representation to 50 victims through our ofp project. "hospital advocacy services: alexandra house advocates also work with victims of domestic and sexual violence identified by health care personnel. In partnership with mercy hospital and mercy hospital - unity campus and select allina affiliated clinics, advocates provide in-person, patient follow-up to victims of domestic or sexual violence 24-hours/day. When the victim has been sexually assaulted, we also work closely with the sexual assault nurse examiners (sane) program to support the victim through the evidentiary exam, assist them in reporting the assault should they wish to file a police report, and provide ongoing emotional support and referrals to the victim. In 2024, 167 victims of sexual and domestic violence were provided crisis intervention, safety planning, and support through our hospital advocacy program in person, and over the phone. "elder abuse services: in addition to conducting outreach to community groups, senior centers, agencies, and professionals who interact with potential elder abuse victims, we also offer ongoing case management and supportive services to victims of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation in anoka county. Services offered include ongoing support, help in navigating systems, connection to community resources, and basic needs, housing, financial, and legal assistance. We also partner with anoka county adult protection on cases involving vulnerable victims of elder abuse. This program served 42 program participants in 2024; provided support to 310 older adult victims via our 24-hour help line; provided 229 support group services to 12 ongoing "on our way" support group participants; reached 329 older adults through 15 outreach/education events held at local senior centers, senior living communities, and other spaces where seniors congregate; participated in 7 local senior resource fairs, reaching approximately 1547 seniors; and conducted 3 professional trainings reaching 62 members of law enforcement and others within the criminal justice community. "youth services: our youth service program intervenes in the lives of youth who are experiencing relationship violence. We remove barriers youth face in accessing safe, confidential services by partnering with six local school districts and the lino lakes juvenile correctional facility to bring services to them. Advocates spend time each week at many high schools and alternative programs in anoka-hennepin, spring lake park, centennial, fridley, columbia heights, and st. Francis school districts. In addition to meeting individually with students, healthy relationship groups are held in select school sites. Advocates also provide prevention education in the classroom setting on a wide variety of topics and to make students aware of available services and how to access them. We also provide educational groups and presentations throughout the year to youth who reside in one of three programs of the lino lakes juvenile correctional facility. During summer months, youth services advocates partner with local community education and youth summer programs throughout anoka county to offer interactive, educational presentations on healthy relationships and bystander intervention to middle school age youth. In 2024, the youth services program provided in person school-based individual advocacy and support groups to 175 youth; piloted new prevention education curriculum to elementary-aged children, reaching 223; reached 190 youth via on-site groups/education sessions at lino lakes juvenile correctional facilities; and reached 137 middle school aged youth through summer programming activities. In addition, 5120 students from local middle schools, high schools, and community colleges learned about healthy relationships through their participation in one of 274 classroom presentations and 8 youth completed our annual summer leadership institute. Community education and professional training community education and professional training: alexandra house understands that education is critical to creating significant, long-term change. We offer free presentations and facilitate dialogues with community groups and individuals on various topics, including domestic and/or sexual violence and alexandra house services. Alexandra house also offers a wide variety of trainings tailored to various professional groups such as first responders, social services, customer service, clergy, and lay leaders, and in corporate settings. In 2024, over 4,853 community members and professionals increased their awareness and knowledge through participation in one of 84 community education presentations, professional trainings, resource fairs, and organizational events.