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Our Beginning
HOPE Center, formerly WomanSafe Center, delivers advocacy and crisis intervention services to victims of domestic abuse, child abuse and sexual assault through healing outreach, prevention and education. HOPE Center was formed in 1994 by merging the Rice County Sexual Assault Program, Battered Women’s Program and the Northfield Helpline. The result is an advocacy organization that provides extensive services to victims of violence in Rice County. HOPE Center changed its name from WomanSafe Center in January 2004.
In an effort to continue building on innovative child advocacy programming, HOPE Center is developing new programming for children who have witnessed violence. The plan’s focus will be to build resiliency in such children through a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach, which includes children’s support groups.
Mission
The mission of HOPE Center is to create zero tolerance for domestic and sexual violence and child abuse on our community of Rice County.
Goals
HOPE Center supports survivors of sexual, domestic and child abuse by empowering them and giving HOPE for a life fee from violence, and a life in which they can be free to fulfill their potential. We believe that social change is possible. Whenever possible, HOPE Center must advocate for societal change to move this movement forward.
- Healing
Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault can reach advocacy services through our 24-hour crisis line. Trained advocates provide crisis intervention, support counseling and protection planning. A countywide drop in center located in Faribault open from 9AM to 5PM weekdays provides supportive one-on-one advocacy. A legal advocate informs victims of their rights and guides survivors through evidentiary exams, police reports and court processes.
- Outreach
Promoting systems change through facilitation of support groups, community presentations and actively engaging community collaborative efforts.
- Prevention
HOPE Center staff, board and volunteers work diligently to eliminate domestic and sexual violence in all of our communities.
- Education
We believe in raising awareness about the impact sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse has on victims, survivors, community providers and other networks.
2005 Annual Report
Agency Overview FY2005
HOPE Center currently has eight staff members, five full-time and three part-time, and thirty-one active volunteers. It is governed by an eleven-member board recruited from the communities served by HOPE Center. In 2002, HOPE Center was awarded a federal pilot program grant to develop a statewide protocol for rural community response to children who have witnessed violence. The HOPE Center child advocacy program has been recognized by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as one of the Emerging Practices in the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
In an effort to continue building on innovative child advocacy programming, HOPE Center is developing new programming for children who have witnessed violence. The plan’s focus will be to build resiliency in such children through a collaborative approach.
In July of 2004, HOPE Center was awarded a two-year grant to develop sexual assault protocols with vested community agencies. Now HOPE Center will coordinate services for survivors by helping all agencies respond. Corrections, law enforcement, prosecution, the colleges and emergency room staff from both hospitals have agreed to work together for the next two years.
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