MONROE - Green County Family Advocates, a domestic violence agency headquartered in Monroe, is not backing down from its responsibilities, but the community-based, non-profit organization is doing some creative thinking to find ways to replace the loss of an annual $25,000 state support services grant for the next three years.
"(The grant application) has never been competitive before," said Chandra Pelikan, executive director for Green Haven, "but this year it became a competitive grant."
This fall, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families awarded 42 grants of up to the maximum award amount, $25,000, per agency for each of the calendar years 2013, 2014 and 2015.
"It's nothing we did wrong," Pelikan noted. "The grants went to specialty agencies."
Green Haven is not the only agency in southern Wisconsin to be left out of the awards, Pelikan said. At first, Green Haven staff thought they lost the grant because they are not a shelter facility, but they noticed similar agencies with shelters in Platteville, Beloit and Elkhorn were also passed over for a grant. An agency in Janesville was spared the financial loss.
Agencies serving more diverse ethnic and disability groups received more points on the grant application. Out of 170 points for "solutions" on the application were 30 points for Cultural Competency. The applicant agency had to describe how it incorporates respect for cultural diversity into its values and programming; how it hired and retain a diverse workforce; how it recruited a diverse Board of Directors; and how it reaches out to connect with and provide services to a racial/ethnic minority community or other traditionally underrepresented community.
Green County, a rural community, lacks racial and ethnic diversity, Pelikan said, but she added domestic violence happens everywhere and can happen to anyone.
The agency assisted 521 victims of domestic violence in 2011, about 290 of those were children under the age of 18. The agency saw an increase in clients last year, compared 506 in 2010. Green Haven has also seen an increase in the number of women with children needing legal advocacy, according to its records.
Of the totals in each 2010 and 2011, more than 300 clients have been from Monroe; more than 50 from Brodhead and more than 35 from New Glarus. Albany had about 30 in each year. Green Haven saw an increase in clients from all Green County communities between 2010 and 2011, except Browntown and Blanchardville. Brooklyn clients remained steady. The agency also saw about 55 clients from out of the county each of the past two years.
Pelikan said some clients may need up to 100 hours of on-going assistance, including for court procedures, housing and employment.
"Even though we are struggling, we are not taking away services," Pelikan said.
Green Haven is making sure the community knows of its financial needs, contacting organizations, including the United Way and Monroe Fund, and looking for more volunteers.
It has cut each staff members' hours by eight hours per week, cut staff training and mileage reimbursements and is closing the office on Fridays. But Pelikan said the advocates can still be reached by appointments or by the crisis hotline.
What are not getting downsized are the programs, especially school programs and police-on-scene project. Monroe High School continues to have group sessions once a week. Albany School will continue to have its 1-on-1 sessions, as needed. And all police officers and the sheriff's deputies on the scenes of domestic violence continue to act as an immediate, direct link to Green Haven crisis advocates for victims.
Green Haven also continues to collaborate with Sexual Assault Recovery Program of Green County and Family Promise.
More information on Green Haven, its needs and its services can be found at greenhaven4help.com or by calling (608) 325-6489.
"(The grant application) has never been competitive before," said Chandra Pelikan, executive director for Green Haven, "but this year it became a competitive grant."
This fall, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families awarded 42 grants of up to the maximum award amount, $25,000, per agency for each of the calendar years 2013, 2014 and 2015.
"It's nothing we did wrong," Pelikan noted. "The grants went to specialty agencies."
Green Haven is not the only agency in southern Wisconsin to be left out of the awards, Pelikan said. At first, Green Haven staff thought they lost the grant because they are not a shelter facility, but they noticed similar agencies with shelters in Platteville, Beloit and Elkhorn were also passed over for a grant. An agency in Janesville was spared the financial loss.
Agencies serving more diverse ethnic and disability groups received more points on the grant application. Out of 170 points for "solutions" on the application were 30 points for Cultural Competency. The applicant agency had to describe how it incorporates respect for cultural diversity into its values and programming; how it hired and retain a diverse workforce; how it recruited a diverse Board of Directors; and how it reaches out to connect with and provide services to a racial/ethnic minority community or other traditionally underrepresented community.
Green County, a rural community, lacks racial and ethnic diversity, Pelikan said, but she added domestic violence happens everywhere and can happen to anyone.
The agency assisted 521 victims of domestic violence in 2011, about 290 of those were children under the age of 18. The agency saw an increase in clients last year, compared 506 in 2010. Green Haven has also seen an increase in the number of women with children needing legal advocacy, according to its records.
Of the totals in each 2010 and 2011, more than 300 clients have been from Monroe; more than 50 from Brodhead and more than 35 from New Glarus. Albany had about 30 in each year. Green Haven saw an increase in clients from all Green County communities between 2010 and 2011, except Browntown and Blanchardville. Brooklyn clients remained steady. The agency also saw about 55 clients from out of the county each of the past two years.
Pelikan said some clients may need up to 100 hours of on-going assistance, including for court procedures, housing and employment.
"Even though we are struggling, we are not taking away services," Pelikan said.
Green Haven is making sure the community knows of its financial needs, contacting organizations, including the United Way and Monroe Fund, and looking for more volunteers.
It has cut each staff members' hours by eight hours per week, cut staff training and mileage reimbursements and is closing the office on Fridays. But Pelikan said the advocates can still be reached by appointments or by the crisis hotline.
What are not getting downsized are the programs, especially school programs and police-on-scene project. Monroe High School continues to have group sessions once a week. Albany School will continue to have its 1-on-1 sessions, as needed. And all police officers and the sheriff's deputies on the scenes of domestic violence continue to act as an immediate, direct link to Green Haven crisis advocates for victims.
Green Haven also continues to collaborate with Sexual Assault Recovery Program of Green County and Family Promise.
More information on Green Haven, its needs and its services can be found at greenhaven4help.com or by calling (608) 325-6489.