Safe Haven recently received additional funding through a Wisconsin Department of Justice, Victim of Crime Act grant to provide for a new full-time family services advocate.
The position was filled by Raechel Nelson, who began her work at Safe Haven in early May. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in human development and an emphasis in child welfare.
The new position will expand the current program level to provide late afternoon and evening hours to ensure that participants have more access to professional advocacy and support services, according to Stacey Cicero, executive director.
Nelson will be able to work with participants in shelter during the evening when children are home from school and participants are home from work. Outreach participants will also have more access to programming, especially those who may work during the day and cannot take time off.
Nelson will also be available to assist shelter advocates, who typically work alone, during peak times in shelter.
Cicero said the additional position allows for more flexible 1-on-1 appointment times, will add new evening groups for shelter and family time, allows for more time with family appointments, including 1-on-1 time with children, and provides for increased mentoring time children and families.
Cicero also said Safe Haven has also expanded services to include a text-only crisis line. Victims of domestic violence or sexual assault can text Safe Haven staff 24 hours per day and receive immediate support, schedule appointments and receive program information. The text-only number is 715-584-1258.
Other new services at Safe Haven include a summer book club, art workshop for adults and children, and a music makers group, Cicero said. The music makers group is looking for gently used musical instruments for participants to use.
Safe Haven currently employs six full-time and 12 part-time staff members. Paid staff are available at all times to assist residents with their needs, answer crisis lines and monitor shelter activity.
The agency provides emergency shelter and a wide range of support services for victims of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. Free and confidential services include a 24-hour, staffed emergency shelter; 24-hour toll-free crisis line and text-only line; provision of food, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, clothing and other items as available and necessary; support group facilitation; legal/hospital/medical advocacy; 1-on-1 case management; transportation (cab tokens, bus tickets, gas cards as available); and referral to other programs as warranted, including shelter for pets.
The emergency shelter opened in Shawano County in February 2002 and provides shelter to adults and children who have experienced domestic violence, child abuse or sexual assault.
The shelter typically provides emergency housing to five to seven families at any given time during year. 2016 was a very busy year with 55 women and 67 children receiving safe shelter, with an average stay of 27.3 days, total bed nights of 3,385; 514 victims (335 women, 21 men and 158 children) receiving advocacy and support.
Advocates answered 2,064 crisis calls from our community members. The shelter was never empty and was occupied by two or more families 99 percent of the year. Shelter was over capacity (five or more families) 29 percent of the time, or 104 days.
In 2016, the adult population provided with emergency shelter was approximately 40 percent Native American, 39 percent Caucasian, 5 percent Hispanic, 9 percent African American and 7 percent multi-racial.
The average age of an adult client in shelter was 36. The average age of a child in shelter was 7. Two percent of residents were over the age of 60.
Children in shelter were comprised of 50 percent Native American, 9 percent Caucasian, 15 percent Hispanic, 10 percent African American and 16 percent multi-racial.
More information on all of the programs can be found on Safe Haven’s website at www.shawanoshelter.org.