190 Pageviews Read Stories
Mission: The mission of steps to hope is to create a community free from the violence of domestic and sexual abuse through education, advocacy and victim assistance. In addition to offering emergency shelter to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, we offer many programs that are preventive in nature to make a positive impact on the generational cycle of violence. These include: 1) domestic abuser intervention programs (daip) (separate classes for men and women), hope for youth (skills and character building as well as enrichment activities for youth 12-17 years old - gender specific), parenting education (a 12-week intensive program, twice a year, utilizing the evidence-based nurturing parenting program), parenting support (twice monthly meetings, facilitated by parents), and rape prevention education (focused on primary prevention). All of our services and programs are free for participants.
Programs: During the fiscal year, we provided 1,422 services to 186 victims of domestic violence or sexual assault and their families. These services included safe shelter, information, advocacy, referral, transportation, therapeutic counseling, court accompaniment and limited financial assistance. The number of calls received from the hotline for assistance was 1,905. Shelter was provided to 59 people for various lengths of time. Over 67 volunteers contributed 5,392 volunteer hours throughout the year, by supporting clients in court, facilitating parenting support, participating as a board member, assisting with fundraising and programs, and helping at the second chance thrift store. Additionally, we provided educational programs to 39 attendees of daip, 41 youth in the skills/character building programs, and 22 attended parenting education.
the organization operates a second chance thrift store to provide low cost clothing & household items to their clients and also to low income families in the community.