A Message from our CEO This has been a busy and exciting year for all of us at Safe Berks (formerly “BWIC”). To commemorate our 40th Anniversary, we embarked on an ambitious campaign to educate various audiences throughout Berks County. First CELEBRATING we began with assemblies in our high schools focused on understanding dating violence and sexual assault and the role of peer groups to ensure safety and respect. Next we worked with Women 2 Women to tell the story of Elizabeth 40 YEARS! Smart and her resilience after her traumatic abduction. To offer some context of the role of women and girls in the world, we then partnered with Alvernia University to bring New York Times columnist and writer Nicholas Kristof to address the experiences of women in developing countries. We also highlighted the stories of survivors and how our services have supported them on their road to safety and healing. Two of those stories were shared at our annual Celebration of Peace through our honorees, Gwen Gage and Kelly Gage Mocey. We have also reflected on the growth of BWIC and the evolution of our programs and services over the years. The most notable aspect of this evolution is our new Center located on Chestnut Street in Reading. The impact that this safe, accessible and attractive facility has had on those we serve is illustrated in the tribute to Voices for Change honoree, the Kindness Coalition. Finally, our Healthy Village project provided us with the forum to hear from those we serve and those who may need us. They have described what they know of our services and how we can best ensure that ALL who need us know we are available and ready to support them on their path to safety and healing. We shared the results of our Healthy Village project at our Celebration of Peace, which culminated in the announcement of our new name and identity “Safe Berks!” The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, both to our new name and to the idea that we all have a role to play in preventing domestic violence and sexual assault in our community. We rely on your support to ensure that those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault find the safe space and resources they need to heal from the trauma of this violence. Thank you for all you have done to make Safe Berks a reality for 40 years! Chief Executive Officer SAFE Berks • ANNUAL REPORT 2016 1 Hires New Attorney Carmen J. Bloom White, Esq. joined Safe Berks in a newly created position as an advocate for victims of sexual assault and domestic vio- lence on college campuses in January 2017. She comes to Safe Berks from the District Attorney’s Office where she served as an Assistant District Attorney. Carmen handled the most serious domestic violence cases in Berks County along with adult sexual assault cases, and a few child abuse cases. Additionally, she handled elder abuse cases and indirect criminal contempt cases (Protection from Abuse order violations). Carmen earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science at Kutztown University. She then went on to pursue her law degree at Seton Hall University School of Law located in Newark, New Jersey. She clerked for one year for a judge in the Passaic Vicinage of the New Jersey Superior Court, before returning to Berks County to work for the District Attorney’s Office. When asked what she is most excited about in her new role, Carmen states, “I am looking forward to being available for the college community and providing early intervention for victims of domestic violence and 89% sexual assault. I am excited about promoting healthy relationships as well as providing legal assistance of Safe Berks clients for victims.” felt supported through the Please join us in welcoming Carmen and wishing her the very best in her new position. legal system 2 SAFE Berks • ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Services Crisis Services WE ARE Housing Education and • Safe House- • Bridge House for six families for up to Community Emergency shelter HERE six months Outreach for 50 individuals for 24/7/365 • Housing Advocacy–assist clients in • Programs for children and youth in schools, 30-60 days; multiple identifying and securing safe, permanent colleges, and universities, and community services, case housing options settings management, children’s • Camp Safe Berks: Teen Alliance for program Legal Services Social Justice • 24-Hour Toll-free Hotline/text line • Representation by an attorney at final • Professional trainings for systems • Rapid Response- 24/7/365 response by a Protection from Abuse (PFA), Sexual Violence partners, law enforcement, employers counselor/advocate to the courthouse to Protection Order (SVPO) and Protection from • Programs and initiatives that raise assist a victim seeking an Emergency Intimidation (PFI) order hearings awareness of domestic violence/sexual Protection from abuse order • Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) assault in the community • Medical Advocacy- 24/7/365 response by a • Court Accompaniment to interviews, • School Programs- Shifting Boundaries, counselor/advocate to assist victims of hearings, trials, and sentencings Camp Safe Berks, Media Literacy, Young domestic violence and sexual assault in the • Legal Referrals Women’s Lives, Young Men’s Work local hospitals and health clinics • Custody Clinics- Free information sessions by local attorneys via the Berks County Bar Systems Advocacy Counseling Services Association • Advocating for best practices and a • Trauma-informed empowerment counseling • Legal Representation and support on campus victim-centered response to domestic including issues surrounding victims and on issues about Title IX (a comprehensive violence and sexual assault survivors, family members, and significant others federal law that prohibits discrimination on • Advocating for the rights of victims, and • Support groups the basis of sex in any federally funded offender and systems accountability • Victim advocacy response to the Children’s education program or activity), Sexual • Advocating for justice for all survivors of Alliance Center of Berks County Violence Protection Order (SVPO), Protection domestic violence /sexual assault • Mental Health Counselor from Abuse (PFA) and other processes related • Safe Healing Project, therapy services for to domestic violence and sexual assault survivors of childhood abuse SAFE Berks • ANNUAL REPORT 2016 3 2015/2016 Operating Revenue & Expenditures OPERATING REVENUE Federal Grants 1,089,753 38% State Grants and Local Grants 476,059 17% Other, Foundations 103,124 4% United Way 180,094 6% Other income 135,838 5% Contributions 847,030 30% TOTAL 2,831,898 OPERATING EXPENSES Safe House 1,003,386 40% Counseling 171,382 7% Legal 410,260 16% Transitional 90,449 4% Community Education 331,138 13% General and Admin 461,434 18% Fundraising 63,144 2% TOTAL 2,531,193 4 SAFE Berks • ANNUAL REPORT 2016 2016/2017 Operating Revenue & Expenditures OPERATING REVENUE Federal Grants 1,159,485 42% State Grants and Local Grants 778,874 28% Other, Foundations 114,977 4% United Way 184,919 6% Other income 46,873 2% Contributions 491,942 18% TOTAL 2,777,070 OPERATING EXPENSES Safe House 1,117,683 37% Counseling 234,022 8% Legal 439,614 15% Transitional 61,177 2% Community Education 342,999 11% General and Admin 677,175 23% Fundraising 105,271 4% TOTAL 2,977,941 SAFE Berks • ANNUAL REPORT 2016 5 Healthy Village Project & 40th Anniversary Celebration of Peace The Safe Berks rape survivor whose experience was Victor Rivers Healthy Village documented in the 1992 film “True Stories: masterfully Project was a No Visible Brusies- The Katie Koestner Story.” conveys his yearlong series own story of of educational In June, hundreds of local men committed horrific abuse programs and events to our cause by adding their names to our at the hands of that took place during 2016. The programs full-page Father’s Day pledge ad in the his father, and were presented to a variety of Berks County Reading Eagle. the “village” audiences who have a stake in promoting that raised him. In October, Nicholas Kristof, Pulitzer Rivers had the the healthy, peaceful and supportive Prize-winning journalist and human rights co-existence of the people of the Berks opportunity to advocate, presented his book, Half the Sky, visit the Safe Celebration of Peace keynote County community. Audiences included speaker, Victor Rivas Rivers. about the empowerment of women and Berks shelter, high school and college students, legal girls, at the freshman seminar reading event professionals, medical professionals, tour the facility at Alvernia University. This event was and see firsthand the work that is done by faith-based organizations, women’s groups, presented in partnership with Safe Berks. professional groups and the general public. Safe Berks. At our Celebration of Peace event our Additionally at our Celebration of Peace Educational messages were presented by keynote speaker was Victor Rivas Rivers, a nationally-known event, our staff unveiled the nonprofit’s Cuban-born new logo and tagline: experts in the field Hollywood actor, of domestic best-selling author, violence and and NFL football sexual assault, player, who including Time presented his story, Magazine “I am the child that the cover-story Village Raised: How subject Katie Teachers, Coaches, Koestner, a Katie Koestner speaking at Safe Berks’ and Schools Saved and college campus 40th Anniversary luncheon, 2016. Transformed my Life.” 6 SAFE Berks • ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Celebration of Peace keynote Nicholas Kristof speaker, Victor Rivas Rivers. Photo courtesy of Reading Eagle Company. Reprinted with permission. 83% of Safe Berks clients reported an increase in their sense of empowerment SAFE Berks • ANNUAL REPORT 2016 7 Safe Healing Project Safe Healing Project is a new Safe Berks Safe Berks and several other rape crisis In 2016, the Safe Berks Safe Healing initiative that provides individual centers across the state successfully Project has served in total 31 clients.