2005-07-27 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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battered women needed more than someone to talk to; they needed safety and protection from the abuse, and services for their children who had been witness to the violence. The fIrst shelter for battered women and their children in Anoka County opened its doors in ] 980. Named "Alexandra House", which means "defender of womankind", it was located in the City of Fridley and housed 12 women and children. In ]983, in an effort to accommodate the growing number of women and children served, the shelter moved to a new site in the City of Blaine that provided space for up to ] 7. Having outgrown the second shelter, the organization built a new shelter facility in ] 994 in the City of Blaine capable of housing 35 women and children. A]exandra House has long recognized that assisting battered women and families goes beyond providing emergency shelter, and over the years has expanded services to meet the growing and changing needs of battered women and their families. In addition to the 24.hour temporary, emergency shelter, A]exandra House opened a community office located in the City of Anoka in ]999. Advocates provide services that include on-site health care advocacy, community support groups, crime victim advocacy following a domestic assault, assistance in fIling orders for protection, teen advocacy and support groups in the schools, and community education and professional training. Also in 1999, Alexandra House began the Day One Project, a collaborative effort among battered women shelters throughout the State of Minnesota. Through use of a secure, Internet web site and conference call technology, Day One provides emergency shelter access for battered women and families in just one call. Pro rams IShelter Progra~ Alexandra House is one of 27 shelters in the State of Minnesota. The shelter and crisis line operates 24. hours per day and can accommodate 35 women and children. Anoka County women and families receive priority with a guarantee of shelter regardless of bed space availability. The average length of stay is ]6 days, yet many women and families remain in shelter for up to 30 days due to lack of safe, affordable housing and other barriers they face. The families served by Alexandra House represent every economic, cultural, educational, and lifestyle diversity. The majority of people served are women and their children/youth with middle to low incomes that are very often financially dependent on their abusive partners. Program services are designed to provide individual advocacy, support, information, referrals and transportation to women during their stay at the shelter. Women's Advocates work closely with resident women, providing assistance in protection planning, securing safe housing or relocation, and connecting them to valuable resources in their community such as economic assistance, medical services, educational/job training resources and legal advocacy services. Support groups are an integral component ofthe program and are offered several times throughout the week. Family Advocates work with children and youth residing in the shelter and partner with the Women's Advocates to provide comprehensive, wrap-around services for the entire family. Family Advocates provide support group services to children and youth residing in the shelter that focus on safety planning, domestic violence, child abuse, self-esteem and sexual abuse. Family Advocates also work closely with the moms, providing information about how domestic violence affects children and youth and assisting 3Ljj