Staff, Next Step Domestic Violence Project

English

University of Maine

The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Maine Women's Publications - All Publications 9-1-2016 Next Step Domestic Violence Project - Annual Report 2015-2016 Next Step Domestic Violence Project Staff Next Step Domestic Violence Project Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/maine_women_pubs_all  Part of the Women's History Commons Repository Citation Staff, Next Step Domestic Violence Project, "Next Step Domestic Violence Project - Annual Report 2015-2016" (2016). Maine Women's Publications - All. 649. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/maine_women_pubs_all/649 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Maine Women's Publications - All by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact um.library.technical.services@maine.edu. 			ANNUAL	REPORT	OCTOBER	2015-SEPTEMBER	2016	2	|	P a g e 		Next	Step	Domestic	Violence	Project	Staff	Dorathy	Martel,	Executive	Director	Martha	Talbot,	Finance	and	Human	Resources	Manager	Rick	Doyle,	Staff	Attorney	Susan	Saunders	Barrett,	Staff	Attorney	Pam	Gagnon	DaSilva,	Professional	Counselor/Educator	Kelly	Brown,	Community	Education	and	Outreach	Coordinator	Angie	Welch,	Direct	Service	Coordinator	Lindsay	Moon,	Legal	Services	Coordinator	Tammy	Denning,	Residential	Services	Coordinator	Leslie	Linder,	Child	Protective	Liaison/Educator	Missy	Fairfield,	High-Risk	Case	Coordinator	Marcie	Dean,	Rural	Transitional	Services	Advocate	Crystal	Cushing,	Washington	County	Court	Advocate	Tara	Grey,	Shelter	Advocate	Shannon	Flood,	Transitional	Services	Advocate	Melissa	Wells,	Youth	Educator	Cheyenne	Robinson,	Washington	County	Advocate	Board	of	Directors	Bonnie	Tai,	Chair	Jessica	Boyd,	Co-Chair	Cynthia	Shoppe,	Treasurer	Arlyn	Whitelaw,	Secretary	Jason	Appleby	Robert	Hemenway	Susan	Webster	Laura	Neal	Molly	Owen	3	|	P a g e 		Fiscal	Year	2016	Financial	Report	Revenue	Government	Grants	and	Contracts	 $981,798	United	Way	of	Eastern	Maine	 23,094	Private	Grants	and	Contributions	 124,949	Program	Revenue	 5,263	Fundraising	Events	 2,830	Other	Revenue	 33	TOTAL	REVENUE	 $1,137,967			Expenses	Payroll	Expense	 $661,591	Benefits	 152,422	Contracted	Services	 60,356	Rent	and	Property	Maintenance	 37,838	Insurance	 17,590	Communications	 27,697	Office	and	Program	Supplies	 16,896	Mortgage	Interest	 10,083	Travel	 46,245	Outreach	Activities	 5,983	Direct	Client	 17,030	Depreciation	 32,601	Other	Expenses	 36,931	TOTAL	EXPENSES	 $1,123,263				 	4	|	P a g e 		FY2016	Service	Data	Hotline	calls	and	e-contacts	 5,199	Face-to-face	contacts	 10,407	Individuals	served	 916	Adults	attending	support	group	 26	Individuals	sheltered	 45	Transitional	housing	residents	 9	People	receiving	court	advocacy	 423	Volunteers	 33	Volunteer	hours	 3,098		 	5	|	P a g e 		Community	Education	&	Volunteerism		No	Longer	a	Team	of	Few	by	Kelly	Brown	When	I	first	began	my	work	at	Next	Step,	I	was	assigned	the	work	of	Community	Educator.		I	worked	with	Law	Enforcement,	Health	Care	Providers,	Colleges,	Employers,	Faith	Based	Communities,	other	non-profit	organizations	and	the	general	public.		On	my	team	was	a	colleague	who	had	the	same	assignment	as	me,	but	who	focused	on	Washington	County	while	I	worked	primarily	in	Hancock	County.	Also	joining	me	was	a	colleague	who	focused	on	work	within	all	school	systems	K-12	in	both	counties.			Our	little	team	had	the	task	of	gaining	community	support	and	allies	in	all	venues	of	our	community.	Since	all	this	work	was	(and	still	is)	equally	important,	it	felt	like	we	did	a	little	work	in	all	areas.	We	worked	hard	and	did	what	we	could.	It	was	a	great	start,	but	I	never	felt	we	were	able	to	make	a	deep	impact	with	any	one	population	or	community	group.		This	was	over	ten	years	ago.	We	are	no	longer	a	team	of	few.		Next	Step	currently	has	23	volunteers	in	our	Community	Education	Program.	They	join	staff	in	working	on	awareness,	fundraising	campaigns	and	general	presentations.	Thanks	to	our	volunteers,	the	staff	has	been	able	to	specialize	and	do	work	with	very	specific	populations.		6	|	P a g e 		For	example,	we	now	have	a	counselor	on	staff.	She	offers	sessions	on	a	limited	basis	to	referred	survivors	who	have	reached	out	to	Next	Step.	She	also	offers	technical	support	to	other	counselors	in	our	two	county	area.		We	now	have	a	High	Risk	Team	Coordinator.	She	is	able	to	provide	direct	service	to	people	in	the	most	dangerous	domestic	violence	situations	that	our	team	identifies.	She	works	to	create	and	maintain	a	team	of	community	members	for	this	work,	including	law	enforcement,	child	welfare,	and	the	district	attorney’s	office.	With	this	high	risk	work,	she	is	also	educating	and	offering	support	to	all	law	enforcement	departments.	Topics	include	how	to	document	signs	of	strangulation,	how	to	assess	risk	for	victims,	and	how	to	identify	the	aggressor	in	a	relationship	when	both	make	allegations.		As	you	can	imagine,	these	are	extremely	complex	issues	which	require	ongoing	technical	support	by	our	advocate,	for	all	the	many	law	enforcement	officers	throughout	our	service	area.	I	am	still	the	Community	Educator	at	Next	Step.	But	my	role	has	changed	quite	a	lot.	I	now	offer	support	and	training	for	volunteers	who	are	part	of	the	community	education	team.	I	schedule	presentations	between	volunteers	and	community	members.	I	coordinate	Educators	Meetings.	I	still	do	education	programs,	myself.		By	having	such	an	expanded	team,	I	am	enabled	to	work	more	deeply	with	specific	populations,	such	as	Health	Care	Providers.	For	instance,	I	ensure	that	our	materials	are	in	every	hospital	and	clinic	in	both	Hancock	and	Washington	County.	I	learn	about	current	programming	offered	in	health	care	facilities,	and	explore	how	Next	Step	might	collaborate	in	their	endeavors.		7	|	P a g e 		I	am	reaching	rural	areas	such	as	Danforth,	Eastport	and	Blue	Hill	in	order	to	learn	how	their	health	care	facilities	currently	work	with	victims	of	domestic	violence.	I	engage	with	them	to	explore	how	we	can	refer	to	one	another’s	services,	and	each	have	more	knowledge	of	what	the	other	provides.		This	summer	I	met	with	the	Blue	Hill	Hospital	staff,	and	their	CEO.	I	offered	Next	Step	materials	and	technical	support	as	they	created	a	new	domestic	violence	HR	policy	for	all	staff.	They	were	concerned	about	one	of	their	employees	and	wanted	to	be	certain	they	were	thinking	of	all	aspects	of	a	safety	plan,	as	well	as	what	part	they	played	in	that	plan.		A	week	after	working	with	the	CEO	on	their	policy,	Next	Step	received	a	hotline	call	from	their	emergency	room.	A	woman	came	to	the	emergency	room	because	she	felt	she	had	no	other	place	to	go.	When	the	hospital	staff	called	Next	Step	we	were	able	to	get	her	to	a	safe	place.		We	connected	this	woman	with	our	legal	team,	with	a	number	of	advocates,	and	our	residential	service	advocates.	Our	High	Risk	Team	Coordinator	helped	us	connect	with	the	Sheriff’s	Department	as	we	worked	on	a	plan	that	would	help	this	woman	to	return	to	her	community	safely.			Because	of	the	preparation	and	connection	we	had	made	just	days	before,	we	were	able	to	effectively	meet	this	need.	Between	the	survivor,	Next	Step,	Blue	Hill	Hospital,	and	the	Sheriff’s	Department,	it	was	a	real	team	effort.		Speaking	of	teams,	I	am	sure	you	can	see	why	I	am	so	grateful	that	Next	Step	is	no	longer	a	team	of	just	a	few.	Thank	you	for	your	support,	which	enables	us	to	expand	our	effectiveness	in	this	important	work.		

Next Step Domestic Violence Project - Annual Report 2015-2016

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1649&amp;context=maine_women_pubs_all

Next Step Domestic Violence Project - Annual Report 2015-2016

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of Maine