MN Government...SHUTDOWN.

Domestic Abuse Project...OPEN.

Because no budget agreement was reached, the Minnesota state government has officially shut down.   Thanks to all those reading this e-blast, the Domestic Abuse Project has diverse funding streams that allow it to remain fully open during the shutdown.  We are working with our colleagues to ensure continued services for families experiencing domestic violence.  I was present last Thursday when our state coalition petitioned the Special Master, Judge Kathleen Blatz, to consider all crime victim programs (domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and general crime), as level 1 critical services that must remain available even in light of the shutdown.   This request was ultimately supported by the Attorney General's Office and the Governors Office and awaits a decision by Supreme Court Justice Gearin.

However, State funding continues to remain a question.  Once the budget is approved, we will know how deep the cuts will be to crime victim services.  Various amounts have been proposed - 10%...17%?

Some good news - If you live in the City of Minneapolis, please thank your City Council person and our Mayor.  The City was notified by HUD in April that funding for CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds would be cut by 17% forcing the city to quickly revamp a budget for services to begin June 1^st!  DAP was part of that funding plan and thanks to our Mayor and City Council remains a part of the plan. 

I would like to share with you, our partners and investors, other steps DAP is taking to deal with the reality of the economy, more need for services and the strain on everyone's budget.

• In response to the growing Latino population in Minneapolis, DAP has been providing a women's therapy program for Latinas since 2009.   Latinas Unidas is a language and culturally specific therapy program for battered Latinas.  Our friends at CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio) recently notified us that they had received funding to begin a battered Latinas group.  Working together, DAP has determined that we will run our group until the end of August and will then begin referring Latinas to CLUES.   DAP's advocates, Adriana Pinner and Adriana Salgado, are providing a Latina support group and will be working with CLUES on referrals to their therapy group and receiving referrals for advocacy.    DAP continues to offer our men's program - Hombria - for Spanish speaking men who are abusive to their partners.
•  Based on an identified community need, DAP will be resuming our Emerging Young Men's Program for young men who have been abusive to family members or in dating relationships.  We have been hearing from probation officers, judges, social service providers and parents that there are few or no options for groups for these young men to stop their abusive behavior and learn new skills.  Many referral sources identify that these young men have seen or experienced domestic violence and are now repeating the behaviors they have learned.  In other words, they are both "victims" and now "abusers".
•  DAP's women and children's therapy staff continue to travel to Sojourner Shelter in Hopkins/Minnetonka community to provide therapy to women and children in the shelter and in the community.We are working with Sojourner to identify a continuing funding source for this important work.

And finally, I have to report on the immediate challenges we are facing at DAP.

• DAP's emergency fund, used to provide concrete help for battered women in crisis (food, transportation to safety, repair of windows and doors damaged in the assault, damage deposits, lock changes) has been depleted.  There will be no funds for women in crisis until we replenish the fund in 3 months. 
• The men's therapy program, for the first time in many years, is experiencing a waiting list.  We know how important it is to get men in when they are motivated to call and begin group and we have restructured our program to make that possible.   However, because DAP is one of a handful of programs that operate on a sliding fee scale or offer service when men are unable to pay, we have seen a huge increase.  Currently the wait is a month.  Anyone calling today will not be able to start until the end of August.   

Click here to make a donation today to support DAP's emergency fund or men's program.

As you can see, DAP is open, working hard and making difficult decisions to fulfill our mission to end domestic violence, prevent it in the future and create safe and healthy family relationships. Thank you for your continued support, as we strive to ensure that everyone is safe at home.