Lacasa

Adult sexual assault program lacasa's sexual assault services address the issues of sexual assault, incest, stalking, and sexual harassment. Sexual assault services are designed to respond to the needs of sexual assault victims and their families and friends. Sexual assault counseling was provided for 170 survivors (139 females, 29 males, and 2 transgender) in 2024. The sexual assault nurse examiner (sane) program provided forensic evidence collection and medical treatment for 37 victims (32 females, 4 male, and 1 transgender) of sexual assault in accordance with standards of practice established by the international association of forensic nurses (iafn). In 2019, lacasa expanded the sane program to include pediatrics. The sane program provides a forensic examination to minors within 120 hours of an assault but also to minors who report the abuse outside of the 120 hour window.

Children's program services lacasa provides advocacy, shelter (with a parent), support, and counseling services for child victims who experience child abuse (including sexual abuse), dating violence and domestic violence. 164 children (108 females, 54 males, and 2 transgender) received individual and/or group clinical services. Lacasa completed 154 forensic interviews (99 females and 50 males) through the child abuse response effort (care) program, which provides a safe and non- threatening environment for the children and adults. 147 children had the care project. In addition, 3 adults received a forensic interview. 0 children were referred for a trauma assessment at lacasa (0 female and 0 male). The court appointed special advocate (casa) program takes trained community volunteers and appoints them to a case in the children abuse and neglect court system. The volunteer stays with the case until permanency is attained for the children. There are currently 42 volunteers assigned to cases, servicing a total of 85 children in foster care. Lacasa's child abuse prevention (cap) council provides far-reaching prevention programs aimed at protecting children from abuse and neglect. Prevention programs include classes and workshops for child welfare professionals, teachers, parents and child caregivers. The cap council provided or participated in a wide range of awareness and education classes, campaigns and events, including sexual abuse risk education programs at 12 schools; 208 educational workshops; and 7 public awareness community events. These activites reached 1,104 people in the risk education program, including 985 first grade students and 45 adults; 348 participants in the professional development trainings and programs, and participants at the awareness events. The 2024 cap month pinwheels for preventioncampaign had 733 adult attendees and 60 reusable pinwheel displays were distributed in 2024 to the community. In june 2022, lacasa was accredited as a child advocacy center through the national children's alliance. With this, lacasa demonstrated that through written documentation and observed practices that the agency is in compliance with the national accreditation standards. The standards and the accompanying criteria ensures that children and families in livingston county receive effective, efficient, relevant, and compassionate services.

Family and community prevention and education services the lacasa family education services activity includes multiple programs. The healthy families program provides a home visiting program for families at risk for abuse & neglect of children 0-3. Long-term intensive home visits were provided for 68 clients (35 adults and 33 children). In conjunction with the county department of human services, lacasa's parent coach program provides supervised parenting time. 57 clients (15 mothers, 9 fathers and 33 children) received supervised parent coach services in 2024. The fathers' only parenting program offered one eight week parenting class that served 10 men. The nurturing parenting program conducted 4 ten week parenting classes that served 55 clients. Lacasa conducts community prevention, education and public awareness activities about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, and child abuse. Lacasa conducted 42 community presentations that reached 911 individuals from businesses, the faith community, criminal justice workers, human service agencies, medical personnel, child care providers, emergency response teams, and substance abuse providers. 169 youth presentations were provided in the middle and high schools throughout all livingston county school districts reaching 4,636 youth. In addition, lacasa provided 9 community awareness events regarding; dating violence, sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse reached 643 individuals. Transitional housing services lacasa provides transitional housing and support services to domestic violence victims and their dependent children. 12,722 nights of safe, affordable housing were provided along with supportive services (counseling and case management) for 45 clients (16 adult females and 29 children) in 2024. Assailant counseling services lacasa provides counseling to adult and youth who perpetrated violence in their families or community. In 2024, the domestic abuse intervention program provided psycho-education services for 51 individuals who use violence, threats and/or force in their relationships (46 males and 5 females). Approximately 240 volutneers provided 19,171 hours of sevice for lacasa.