ANNUAL REPORT to the Community Letter to the Community 2019
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ANNUAL REPORT to the Community Letter To The Community 2019 Greetings! By design, the YWCA Metro St. Louis Annual Report is a look back at our work and impact during the previous year. However, this year, we feel compelled to begin these opening remarks to you with recognition of the present time. COVID-19 and the killing of George Floyd, while admittedly very different events, have led to dramatic changes in our lives. They also added urgency to our mission: eliminating racism and empowering women. YWCA Metro St. Louis responded to the need with increased services and expanded community outreach. We adapted to the “new normal” and continued to provide safety, security and stability to women and families. Just as we have done for 116 years. As you review the YWCA 2019 Annual Report, please keep in mind that we are focused on the future. A future that may seem uncertain in this time of a global pandemic yet also holds great promise as people around the world are demanding racial and gender equity. As always, we are extremely grateful for our talented Board of Directors, selfless volunteers and dedicated staff. Our donors and partners enable and amplify our services, allowing us to better serve the St. Louis community. Our clients and participants amaze us with their courage, resiliency and achievements. Our story is their story, and we thank you for hearing our voice. Adrian E. Bracy Kelly Baumer YWCA Chief Executive Officer YWCA Board Chairwoman 1 YWCA Metro St. Louis 2019 Safety, Security and Stability YWCA Metro St. Louis is the area’s leading advocate for the safety, security and stability of women and children. Our mission is eliminating racism and empowering women. We are a nonprofit whose services remove barriers and build lives, whether it’s tackling violence against women, creating safe places to live, expanding educational opportunities or advocating for racial justice. Our holistic approach helps women and families achieve their fullest potential. Safety for women impacted by: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault or Homelessness Security for single mothers: Financial and Life Skills Support to Ensure Educational and Economic Advancement Stability for children, teens and our community: Head Start, Teen Leadership and Racial Justice 2 YWCA Metro St. Louis 2019 YWCA Clients YWCA Metro St. Louis is the region’s leading advocate for the safety, security and stability of women and children. Our services remove barriers and build lives. Often, our clients have more than one barrier to overcome. For example, a mother whose children are in YWCA Head Start might be struggling in a low-paying job. She could be a candidate for our Women’s Economic Stability Partnership that supports single mothers returning to school to obtain a degree or certification in a higher paying vocation. Perhaps a client receiving help for domestic violence has also suffered the trauma of sexual assault and could benefit from our free counseling. The possibilities are many, but the result is that each woman gets the assistance she needs. YWCA’s holistic approach helps women and families achieve their fullest potential. That is truly empowering. 6,373 Clients Served by YWCA Women’s Resource Center 1,696 Children in YWCA Head Start/Early Head Start 70 Women in YWCA Head Start Pregnant Women’s Centers 3 YWCA Metro St. Louis 2019 YWCA Volunteers We are often asked how an agency can accomplish so much for our community. One reason is our volunteers! Whether their hours are spent in service areas, assisting with events, reading to children or supplying special expertise, all of our volunteers are essential to the success of the YWCA mission. 49,778 Volunteer Hours Donated in 2019 4 YWCA Metro St. Louis 2019 4 YWCA Metro St. Louis 2019 Sexual Assault Services and Sexual Health And Disability Education “You’re not a victim for sharing your story. You are a survivor setting the world on fire with your truth. And you never know who needs your light, your warmth and raging courage.” - Alex Elle Specially trained YWCA advocates meet victims in the hospital or the police station, bringing a change of clothing, resources, and support. As one survivor said about her experience with a YWCA advocate in the hospital, “I don’t even know her name, but she was there when I needed her the most.” YWCA counselors help victims recover with trauma-informed therapy, proven coping skills and the understanding that victims are not to blame.. YWCA Sexual Health And Disability Education (SHADE) helps individuals with developmental disabilities with healthy relationship choices. These individuals are at greater risk of victimization than the general population, so understanding what abuse is and how to stay safe are of paramount importance. YWCA sexual assault services are open to all victims seeking to become survivors, regardless of gender identity or expression. No one should have to survive sexual assault alone and no one does at YWCA. Sexual Assault and SHADE Services • 24/7 In-person Crisis Intervention at 17 area hospital Emergency Rooms • Group and Individual Counseling • Trauma Informed Training for police and medical personnel • Support Groups • Community Awareness and Prevention Programs • Court Advocacy • Rapid ReHousing for women and children fleeing sexual or domestic violence 3,434 Clients Served 86% female; 14% Male 56% African American; 41% Caucasian; 3% Bi-Racial/Multi-Racial 6 YWCA Metro St. Louis 2019 Domestic Violence Services “Each time a woman stands up for herself without knowing it, possibly without claiming it, she stands up for all women.” - Maya Angelou Maya Angelou’s words resonate at YWCA. We know that living in an abusive relationship can be isolating and frightening. That is why we empower every woman with the information and resources she needs to advocate for herself in the way that is right for her. YWCA has a 24-hour hotline and the only Drop-In Center for domestic violence services in St. Louis where no appointment is needed, and there are no fees for services. What are her options? Perhaps she just wants to know the signs of an abusive relationship. Or, she may want to learn about safety planning. She might have questions about child custody issues, emergency shelters, finances, Orders of Protection and court appearances. We have answers. Sometimes, her situation is so bad that she has to flee without any resources.That was the plight of a mother who was living in her car with her children when she came to YWCA. We immediately found her housing in a hotel and provided necessities for her and her family during the few days it took to find her safe, permanent housing. Not all of the women and children we help are in such immediate danger, but for those who are, YWCA is here. Domestic Violence Services • Drop-In Center and Support Services for victims of domestic violence, including safety planning and referrals • Support Groups for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault • Informational programs for friends and family of those impacted by domestic violence • Community awareness and prevention programs • Court advocacy • Rapid ReHousing for women and children fleeing sexual or domestic violence 1,057 Clients served 100% Female 78% Caucasian; 19% African American; 3% Bi-Racial/Multi-Racial 8 YWCA Metro St. Louis 2019 Housing “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” –Henry Ford It is true. The wind flowing over the airplane’s wings gives it additional lift and enables it to become airborne more easily. Just like an airplane, we all can benefit from an additional boost, especially those of us who have personal challenges. At YWCA, we provide the resources that help chronically homeless women succeed in our Permanent Supportive Housing service. Chronic homelessness is defined as being homeless for more than one year or being homeless four or more times during the last three years. Contributing factors usually include a physical or mental diagnosis. In addition to providing housing, YWCA offers support services to help our tenants navigate the system, develop coping skills and locate community resources. We also provide Rapid ReHousing for women and children who are homeless due to sexual abuse, domestic violence, or stalking. By quickly settling these women and families into safe housing, YWCA reduces their trauma and accelerates their healing. Permanent Supportive Housing Services • Studio and one-bedroom apartments • Secure building • Communal commercial kitchen, dining room, library and activity room • Support services and referrals for physical and mental health care, disability status, finances, legal needs, employment and transitioning to independent housing Rapid ReHousing Services • Housing in St. Louis City and County • Rental subsidy • Assistance with household necessities • Support services and community referrals • Emergency bridge housing in hotels 363 Clients Served 100% Female 82% African American; 17% Caucasian; 1% Bi-Racial/Multi-Racial 10 YWCA Metro St. Louis 2019 The Percentage of Missouri Children Living in a Single Parent Household: 35% 2017 Data from The Annie E. Casey Foundation Economic Empowerment “Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” - Wilma Rudolph Olympic champion Wilma Rudolph broke gender barriers in the male dominated world of track and field in the 1960s, and 60 later YWCA’s Women’s Economic Stability Partnership (WESP) is helping women here in St. Louis reach their own potential. WESP supports single mothers who are going back to school to earn certifications or degrees in fields with higher earning potential. These vocations typically are in male-dominated fields such as auto me- chanics, engineering, or computer programming.