My Sisters Place Inc

Target demographics: survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.

Geographic areas served: Westchester County, New York.

Programs: My sisters' place offers non-residential services to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking and their dependent children. Non-residential services include individual and group counseling for adults and children, as well as child care. Through non-judgmental supportive services, we aim to create a safe environment where we can help our clients empower themselves to make healthy choices that will benefit the emotional and physical well-being of themselves and their children. We strive to help clients identify the red flags of abuse, increase positive self-esteem, and provide relevant resources and options. We also conduct ongoing personalized safety planning with each client who engages in our services. During the fiscal year, our adult counseling program served 517 adult clients and provided 10,824 individual counseling sessions to adult victims. Our children's counseling program served 141 children and provided 430 individual counseling sessions to children. Through our collaboration with child protective services, we provided counseling and advocacy to 575 caregivers who care for 1,171 children. Our therapeutic childcare program served 187 children, which allowed caregivers to attend their counseling, legal and other appointments. The anti-trafficking program serves victims of sex and labor trafficking, including victims of any age, gender identity, and immigration status. During the year, MSP provided direct services or technical assistance to smaller organizations on 72 cases of human trafficking. MSP is co-founder of the Westchester County Anti-Trafficking Task Force, a group of federal, state, and local law enforcement and service providers who convene to increase the number of investigations into trafficking cases and ensure appropriate referrals and service provision for victims. My Sisters' Place offers emergency residential services to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking and their dependent children, providing temporary housing and advocacy on their behalf. During the fiscal year, the shelters provided 11,372 bed nights to 80 adults and 79 children. Our 24-hour crisis hotline, where victims can receive emotional support, information, referrals, and access to shelter services, responded to 4,779 calls during the fiscal year. Residential counselors provided supportive counseling and creative activities to families in MSP's residential shelters through 12,148 individual counseling sessions and facilitated 432 therapeutic support group contacts with adult and child residents during the year. MSP's Karen Cheeks-Lomax Center for Legal Services (CLS) offers free legal assistance in the areas of family law and immigration law to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking and their dependent children. Legal services include direct representation of clients in court, legal advice and counsel, and administrative advocacy. Last year, the CLS served 1,260 survivors. With the goal of keeping both clients and their children safe, our family law attorneys and advocates provided direct legal advocacy and/or representation to 780 victims of domestic violence and their children. Our immigration team provides legal services to undocumented victims by advocating for and securing their legal status in the United States. Our immigration and human trafficking attorneys and advocates provided direct legal advocacy and or representation to 480 victims of domestic violence and human trafficking during the year. CLS staff also conducted numerous trainings on a variety of legal topics for audiences including judges, lawyers, law students, community-based organizations and others. CLS attorneys also train and mentor pro bono attorneys from law firms and corporations who supplement the work of CLS staff. The agency also provides community education and outreach on domestic violence and human trafficking. Our training program provides trainings to courts, police, government agencies, faith-based institutions, community groups, and MSP staff. During the fiscal year, MSP provided 30 trainings to the outside community reaching 447 participants, and 22 trainings for MSP staff. Our operation safety program provides trainings on how to screen for intimate partner abuse in hospitals, clinics and other health care settings and how to make appropriate referrals for potential victims throughout the county. During the year MSP provided 77 trainings to 890 participants. MSP's domestic violence education & prevention program addresses the problem of violence in families and teen dating relationships by offering children educational, individual and group support services, providing 504 classroom presentations to middle and high school students in the county each year. The Sisters-in-Law program trains volunteers to accompany victims to outside appointments, including court appearances, social services appointments, as well as to file police reports. During the year, volunteers conducted 447 accompaniments for MSP clients. During the year, the human trafficking program conducted 21 trainings for professional and community members on identifying and assisting human trafficking victims, with 627 individuals in attendance.