Annual Report 2016

FAITH HOUSE

P.O. Box 93145

Lafayette, La 70509

337.267.9422

Crisis Line

337.232.8954

1.888.411.1333

Mission Statement To provide safety, shelter, empowerment, and advocacy to survivors of domestic violence .

Who We Are Faith House is a private, nonprofit program for survivors of domestic violence and their children. The program has six components; an emergency shelter, a non-residential program, a transitional housing program, a permanent housing program, a 24-hour crisis line, and a public education program.

Where We Serve Acadia, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Lafayette, Rapides, St. Landry and Vermilion Parishes.

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Message from the Executive Director Highlights of the Year

The Family Justice Center of Acadiana opened January 2016.

The Family Justice Center of Central Louisiana opened March 2016.

Complete kitchen remodel at the Emergency Shelter.

Began “In Our Best Interest”, an Outreach Support Group at the Cottonport Correctional Facility.

Faith House was recognized as Organization of the Year by the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Three staff members graduated from the Advocacy Learning Center, an 18 month experiential advocacy course.

This past year has been an exciting time for our organization. We have

seen tremendous growth in programs and services through our two

new Family Justice Centers. The forward thinking communities of

Lafayette and Alexandria have both embraced this concept of provid-

ing multi-disciplinary services to survivors of domestic violence under

one roof. This has addressed some of the major barriers for survivors

in accessing services by streamlining processes, getting helpers on the

same page, and focusing on safety. Congratulations to all of the

visionaries who dedicated their talents to making these Centers a safe

place committed to serving survivors of domestic violence.

We were honored to receive the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic

Violence’s Organization of the Year Award this April. This honor was

a special recognition of the committed work of our staff members, the

dedication of our volunteers, the diligence of our board, the generosity

of our supporters, and the incredible resilience of the survivors we

serve. We remain committed to excellence in our services and

appreciate the recognition from our coalition.

Through our work with survivors we have seen the most incredible

transformation of lives and rebuilding of bright new futures. If we can

work together to heal the pain of abuse we can change the future for

so many.

- Billi Lacombe

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Walking with a survivor on their journey to safety and empowerment is one of the greatest gifts.

Faith House uses an empowerment model to provide an

environment that enables survivors to recognize their own

strengths and abilities thereby reinforcing the choices that

they make for their own lives.

Faith House empowers survivors through:

Education Resources

Advocacy Support Groups

Safety Planning Economic Justice Program

The support, encouragement and resources provided enable

survivors to make their own choices for their future and

achieve their goals.

This program is a financial education course offered to resident and non-

resident survivors of domestic violence. Faith House uses the Allstate

Foundation’s Financial Empowerment Curriculum “Moving Ahead Through

Financial Management”. This curriculum is a comprehensive program designed

to empower victims to be self-sufficient with their finances and includes:

Strategies for addressing the complex financial and safety

challenges of ending a relationship with an abusive partner

Information on how to protect personal and financial safety in an

abusive relationship and after leaving an abusive relationship

Methods for dealing with the misuse of financial records

The tools offered through this

class provide long term

economic empowerment and

strengthens a survivor’s ability

to support herself and her

children.

Economic Justice Program

“Assisting survivors to understand the

implications of how to begin to rebuild her

credit, saving for the future and where to

find on-going support can make the differ-

ence between building financial stability

and a survivor returning to her abuser."

This year Faith House began a new program developed from the book “In Our Best Interest” by Ellen Pence.

Thanks to the persistence of our Rapides Parish Survivor Advocate and with the support of Major Darren Bordelon from the Avoyelles Sheriff's Department, this was the FIRST domestic violence education program accepted by the Depart-ment of Corrections in the state of Louisiana.

A Domestic Violence Support Group at Cottonport Correctional Facility

“ It is impossible to put into words how honored I have been to walk into this prison and sit in a circle with these brave, intelligent, strong, beautiful women. This is why we do what we do as advocates. This is the true definition of what empowerment truly means.”

-Henrietta Lewis, Survivor Advocate

This powerful material has given women in prison the opportunity to come together in an intimate group setting to share their experiences as battered women and begin to heal from their abuse.

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T he Family Justice Center model brings together a multi-disciplinary team of professionals to provide coordinated services to victims of domestic violence. The core concept is to provide one place where victims can

go to receive any services offered by the community. The goals of the Justice Center are to increase victim’s safety and to reduce homicides related to domestic violence by closing the gaps in the system and creating an experienced, efficient response team to domestic violence.

Family Justice Centers provide a safe place for victims to:

Talk to an advocate

Plan for their safety

Interview with a police officer

Meet with a prosecutor

Obtain civil legal services

15 - 25% of pregnant women

are battered

The Family Justice Center of Acadiana opened in January 2016. Our center brings together advocacy, law enforcement, prosecution, civil legal services, and supervised visitation services in a comfortable, trauma informed setting. In addition, on-site child care is provided to survivors receiving services.

The 2 Justice Centers, have already provided services to 300 adults and 133 children

The Family Justice Center of Central Louisiana has been operating out of a temporary location since March of 2016 and we expect to be in our permanent facility by August. Already we have seen tremendous benefit to survivors of domestic abuse and the Central Louisiana community as a result of the family justice center model.

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Breaking the cycle of domestic violence is integrated into every aspect of what Faith House

does on a daily basis. Advocates assist survivors with

understanding the cycle of domestic violence while

providing the tools necessary for them to establish

safety and independence. In addition to our advocacy

work with adult survivors our Education, Public

Relations, and Children’s Program all focus on

domestic violence education as a key to Breaking the

Cycle.

F rom the time families arrive in the shelter, an outreach office or a Family Justice Center, the children are given a safe space to play and ex-

press their feelings.

Our child advocates are always available with a supportive ear to help children through all of the various emotions they experience while going through crisis situations and major life changes.

Through one-on-one activities and support groups, children are educated on personal safety and empow-ered to protect themselves and their siblings when danger is present. They are taught about how to express anger in a healthy way, and many other coping skills in an effort to provide them with the tools to create healthy relationships as they grow.

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Our Education Programs help adults, adolescents and young children recognize potentially abusive relation-ships, understand what creates a healthy relation-ship, and gain an understanding of how the cycle of violence may apply to their lives.

Our youth programs are provided to young children and teens in school and community settings; they represent a critical component in our efforts to support young people in breaking the cycle of violence through prevention and intervention.

nation

"Hands are Not for Hitting" targets elementary aged children and focuses on appropriate ways to use your hands in positive ways and offers alternatives to hitting as a method of anger management.

"Safe Dates" targets 12-17 year olds . This curriculum includes information on dating violence including warning signs of an unhealthy relationship and how to help a friend

who is experiencing dating violence.

"Love Is" targets 11-17 year old girls. This summer program features games and skits in a relaxed atmosphere and reinforces the material covered in Safe Dates.

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4563 Nights of Shelter for Women

4832 Nights of Shelter for Children

Residential Services Provided to:

170 Women 177 Children

Non-Residential

Services Provided to:

1213 Women

716 Children, 25 Men

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Legal Advocacy

Temporary Restraining…

Attorney Services

Women's Support Groups

Childrens Support Groups

Women's Counseling Sessions

Children's Counseling…

Referrals

Crisis Counseling

Financial Services

Transportation Services

Non-Residential Services

422

3540

8842

2966

1007

4154

302

680

4077

3310

420

Public

Appearances

19%

Faith House

Presentations

21%

Professional

Training

1%

Mass Media

59%

Public Awareness

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3744

4253

“My work with Faith House is the beginning of this chapter of my life. I didn’t know anybody here. It was just me and my

boy. I had nobody. My guy tried to strip me of all my resources. He tried to empty my toolbox, but working with Faith House gave me new tools. I’ve rebuilt my self-esteem. I took my will back. He doesn’t

control me any more. This chick right here is gonna keep it motivated and moving!”

— Survivor of Domestic Violence

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Total Proceeds $2,862,198

* Includes residual grant reimbursements

Government Grants $1,804,167

Private Grants $72,437

United Way $142,160

Donations $297,037

Fundraisers $114,190

Miscellaneous $17,642

In Kind Donations $414,565

Total Use of Funds $2,758,253

Organizational Expenses $2,242,689

Depreciation $100,999

In Kind Donations $414,565

(2015-2016 Unaudited Financials)

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Platinum Circle $50,000+ Acadian Home Builders

Diamond Circle $25,000 - $49,999 Kappa Delta

Gold Circle $10,000 to $24,999 Avon Foundation The Joe W. & Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation Thomas & Carmer Falgout Sr. Halliburton Charity Golf Tournament Louisiana Bar Foundation Rena Anderson Prejean Foundation Tomahawk Downhole, LLC Woman's Foundation

Silver Circle $5,000 to $9,999 Baker Hughes Foundation Junior League of Lafayette Dr. & Mrs. J. Jerome Smith St. Romain Oil Company, LLC The TJX Foundation Verizon

Patrons $2,500 to $4,999 Cynthia Broussard Classic Auto Spa Robert & Patti Gauthier Hampton Management Co, LLC Kiwanis Club of Lafayette, LA Lourdes Foundation, Inc PVG Global Realtor Association of Acadiana Iris Landry Slayton St. Patrick's Catholic Church

Supporters $1,000.to $2,499 Thomas Callender Frank Domino Episcopal Church of the Ascension Fort Polk-Central Louisiana Combined Federal Campaign Mr. Roy Geesey Holy Cross Catholic Church J & J Exterminating Tim Larson Louisiana Assoc. of United Ways Martial F. Billeaud, Sr. Foundation Donald J. Mendoza Murphy Oil Corporation Mustang Club of Acadiana Mrs. Marlene Patin PetroQuest Phoenix Benefit Services, Inc Rucks Family Foundation St. Mary Church St. Pius X Church Bart Theriot Thomson Smith & Leach Ins. Group Walmart Walters & Mason Retail, Inc. Ziler Architects Zonta Club of Lafayette Foundation

Benefactors $500 to $999 Acadiana Shopping Events Mary Landry Blackstock Judy L. Bozeman Covenant United Methodist Church Crossroads Church Faith Lutheran Church Priscilla Fitch Judith Garber Gopher Sport JB Mouton Lila T. Lambert Leslie Jacobs, DDS Matthew McConnell Mary Neiheisel New Acadians Roy O. Martin Hazel Rudick Mr. Warren Sensat The J.C. Moss Memorial Fund for the Arts & Humanities The Rapides Foundation Mrs. Margaret Vidrine Dorothy Wells Thomas West Wildwood Pizza

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Speak Up: If you know someone who’s being hurt by their partner, remind

them they deserve to be safe and respected. If you witness an assault call the police. You can do a lot by simply speaking up.

Learn About and Share Resources: Everyone deserves support in

breaking free from abuse, but it’s hard to know where to begin. Learn about the services Faith House can provide and share that information with anyone who may need help.

Share/Like/Post: You’re not alone in wanting to end domestic violence,

and social media is another powerful tool for connecting people with help. Follow Faith House on Facebook and share our posts. Invite friends to like our page.

Vote/Call/Email: Survivors of violence depend on stronger and more

effective legislation. Get involved with Faith House as we advocate for stronger laws that safeguard survivors of domestic violence.

Check In on Work Policies: Domestic Violence doesn’t just happen at

home, it can affect the community and the workplace. See if your employer has policies in place to protect survivors of domestic violence. If not, contact Faith House and we can provide you with resources.

Get Involved and Volunteer Make Change Happen

Adopt-A-Room Volunteers Individual or Groups adopt one of the sleeping rooms in the shelter

and provide the décor for a welcoming home-like environment. Painting, changing bed linens, wall décor, etc. is all part of this program.

Administrative Volunteers Providing Clerical assistance at the shelter or Family Justice Center.

Immediate Needs Volunteers

Providing immediate needs items for survivors and the shelter.

Shelter Clean Up Volunteers Assisting staff and residents in keeping the shelter clean and tidy.

This includes light-medium handy work and yard work.

Direct Service Volunteers Providing assistance in playroom at the shelter or Family Justice

Center or providing assistance in the wardrobe room or front office.

Donation Volunteers Assisting at Bridge Storage collecting and sorting donations. Contacting individuals, groups, and/or companies for items needed

at the shelter.

Special Event Volunteers Assisting with organization of special events and fundraisers.

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Board of Directors Faith House Leadership

Billi Lacombe Executive Director

Crystal Scrantz Assistant Director Director Family Justice Center of Acadiana

Michelle Izzo-Voss Development Director

Rebecca McMillan Shelter Manager

Sara D. Terro Children’s Services Manager

Lindsey Johnson Housing Manager

Preston Mansour Director Family Justice Center of Central Louisiana

Executive Board: Sara Ritchey, President University of Louisiana Lisa Leblanc, President Elect University of Louisiana Laurel Montagnet, Treasurer Broussard, Poche’, LLP Lisa Lilley, Vice-President MFC Graphics Marcus Smith, Secretary Lafayette General Health System

Board of Directors: Marcelle Fontenot Ashley, KATC TV 3 Tonya Bolden-Ball, The Family Tree Adrienne Fontenot, The Acadian Home Builders Assoc. Britney Hebert, Glen Armentor Law Corporation Paulette Landry, University of Louisiana Judy Leblanc, Gueydan Journal Mark Veverica, Classic Auto Spa

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A sincere “THANK YOU” to the generous organizations, individuals, corporations, and foundations that donate in-kind and monetary resources to Faith House.

Without the continued support of our community and our partners we would not be able to fulfill our mission of providing shelter, safety, empowerment and advocacy to survivors of domestic violence.

Faith House is funded in part by Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services; United Way of Acadiana; St. Landry; Evangeline; Central Louisiana and Combined Federal Campaign; Louisiana Bar Foundation; Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement; Federal, State & Local Grants and Community Donations.

Special Thanks Faith House Needs

Cleaning & Maintenance Spray Cleaners Liquid/Bottled Cleaners Dish Detergent Trash Bags Comet/Powder Cleaners Scour Pads Bleach Laundry Detergent Batteries Personal Care & Hygiene Body Wash Body Spray Shampoo/Conditioner Lotion Liquid Hand Soap Maxi Pads Tampons Panty Liners Paper Products Kleenex Toilet Paper Paper Towels Napkins Paper Cups Baby Items

Pull-Ups Sippy Cups Pacifiers Wipes Miscellaneous Comforter Sets Sheets Blankets Underwear (New) Wash Cloths Seasonal Needs School Supplies Back Packs Office Needs File folders Copy Paper Pens Liquid Paper Highlighters Paper Clips, Staples Binder Clips Desks/Desk Chairs

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Cash Donations can be made by mail or online

at www.FaithHouseAcadiana.com