Sojourner Family Peace Center Inc

Programs: Shelter - programs include a domestic abuse hotline, crisis housing and basic needs assistance. The sojourner domestic abuse hotline offers 24/7 access to trained volunteers and advocates who will provide crisis intervention to victims, information and referral to the public, assist law enforcement officers who are responding to domestic violence calls for service, and notify victims when their abusers have been released from jail. Through the 54-bed sojourner truth house emergency shelter, women and their children have access to safe shelter, nutritious meals, child care, clothing and personal hygiene items. While residing in the shelter, mothers work with onsite mps social worker to arrange transportation to school to ensure that their children's education is not disrupted. Children residing in the shelter will continue to receive tutoring focused on academic enrichment. Victims who are taking their first steps toward independence when leaving the shelter receive basic needs assistance with securing safe housing, food, clothing, transportation, household items and school supplies. Program statistics: 18,520 callers to the domestic abuse hotline; 18,425 nights of crisis housing provided to 280 homeless women and 277 children who were fleeing abuse.

family advocacy support services - sojourner focuses on helping victims regain their sense of empowerment and obtain the resources and skills they need to achieve self-sufficiency and independence. This is accomplished through individual case management, support groups and life skills programs. Support groups help victims understand the dynamics of abuse, how their abuser's use power and control tactics to manipulate them, and help them to regain their dignity, hope and empowerment as survivors of domestic violence. Individual and group services assist survivors in their efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and economic empowerment. Services assist survivors with personal goal setting and empowerment. Program statistics: 2,208 individuals served; 10,153 contacts.

family peace center - this 72,000 square foot facility, which opened in nov, 2015, provides co-located services with 14 co-located partners and 4 visiting partner agencies. Organizations represented include aurora healthcare, children's hospital of wisconsin, district attorney's office, milwaukee police department, milwaukee public schools, core el/centro, goodwill industries, jewish family services, milwaukee county wrap around and sojourner family peace center.

community domestic abuse advocacy program - advocates are co-located in all seven milwaukee police department districts working side-by-side with mpd officers who are responding to domestic violence calls for service. They will conduct safety planning with victims, assist them in obtaining restraining orders, connect them to resources for housing, food, clothing and other basic needs, accompany them to court hearings, and link them to sojourner and other community-based services that will help them achieve safety and freedom from abuse. Program statistics: 3,706 clients served; 6,083 contacts. Courthouse - advocates provide assistance at the milwaukee county courthouse, assisting victims with filing restraining orders, developing personal safety plans, and linking them to legal advocacy and other services that will support their safety and well-being. Program statistics: 4,892 clients assisted with safety planning and filing at least one restraining order; 9,228 contacts. Children - individual and group support help children and teens who have witnessed domestic violence to understand that domestic violence is never their fault, develop age-appropriate safety plans, and learn healthy conflict resolution skills they can use in their own interpersonal relationships. Program statistics: 352 clients served; 5,432 contacts. Beyond abuse - sojourner conducts ongoing offsite batterer's education programs (a structured 23-week program) focused on helping batterer's accept responsibility for their behavior, identify triggers for their abuse, learn skills to express their feelings in a non-abusive manner, and make a commitment to remain violence-free in the future. Program statistics: 570 clients served; 4,054 contacts. Community education - the focus is on increasing awareness about domestic violence in the community, educating youth about healthy relationships, and educating bystanders to take action to support victims. School-based education including healthy dating youth summits conducted by sojourner for middle and high school's students from several mps schools. These summits are designed to promote respect, reduce dating violence and foster healthy relationships. The speakers bureau conducts presentations for workplaces, the interfaith community and for community based organizations to increase awareness and understanding of family violence issues in our community. Program statistics: 13 youth summits; 195 presentations; 7,823 total attendees. Domestic abuse victim advocates - sojourner assists victims who are seeking protections through the milwaukee county criminal, civil, family and children's courts to understand their rights, navigate through the complex legal system and obtain legal representation. In partnership with legal action of wisconsin, assistance will also be provided to victims who are seeking to protect their children from witnessing or experiencing abuse. Program statistics: 1,383 clients served; 2,610 contacts. Education center - the family peace center building contains five meeting rooms which are available to non-profit organizations, community organizations and other governmental agencies to promote connectivity within the community. Program statistics: 3,060 meetings/events