Project Renewal Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Inc.
Project ReNeWal actively works to empower victims of family violence to independent thinking and living, free of violence. Project Renewal provides a 24 hour crisis line where individuals in immediate danger are assessed for entry into a safe house with the capacity for housing 20 individuals. Personal care and clothing items are stored on-site in order to meet each family's immediate basic life needs. While participating in our program, residents of the shelter are provided with counseling in both an individual and group atmosphere. During the process, participants form short-term and long-term goals, accompanied by a detailed plan of action. Participants in the program are also required to participate in weekly parenting classes. In conjunction with the on-site children's program, childcare is provided free of charge for both group counseling sessions and parenting classes. A full-time Children's Advocate works with children individually to assess and meet basic life needs, as well as arranging transportation to and from school and doctor appointments. A cook is on staff to prepare a nutritious meal for the residents each evening, while providing victims with information regarding preparing and maintaining a food budget. The cook also educates the participants on general nutrition and the importance of preparing nutritious meals and snacks for children. Staff is available to help with applications for Temporary Orders of Protection, and resources are available to assist with extensive legal and financial matters. Upon completion of all the suggested steps of the program, Project Renewal provides assistance with obtaining safe residence. As funding allows, assistance may include financial contributions toward applications, deposits, and first month's rent. Project Renewal also houses a small, on-site storage for lightly used household goods to assist women in furnishing their new homes. The ultimate goal of each service offered is to prepare victims of domestic violence to start a new independent, non-violent life.
About You
Location
Project Street Address
Project City
Project Province/State
Project Postal/Zip Code
Project Country
Your idea
Focus of activity
Counseling
Year the initiative began
1995
Position your initiative on the mosaic of solutions
Which of these barriers is the primary focus of your work?
Stigma of Abuse
Which of the insights is the primary focus of your work?
Increase Women’s Power
If you believe some other barrier or insight should be included in the mosaic, please describe it and how it would affect the positioning of your initiative in the mosaic
Name Your Project
Project Renewal Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Inc.
Describe Your Idea
Project ReNeWal actively works to empower victims of family violence to independent thinking and living, free of violence. Project Renewal provides a 24 hour crisis line where individuals in immediate danger are assessed for entry into a safe house with the capacity for housing 20 individuals. Personal care and clothing items are stored on-site in order to meet each family's immediate basic life needs. While participating in our program, residents of the shelter are provided with counseling in both an individual and group atmosphere. During the process, participants form short-term and long-term goals, accompanied by a detailed plan of action. Participants in the program are also required to participate in weekly parenting classes. In conjunction with the on-site children's program, childcare is provided free of charge for both group counseling sessions and parenting classes. A full-time Children's Advocate works with children individually to assess and meet basic life needs, as well as arranging transportation to and from school and doctor appointments. A cook is on staff to prepare a nutritious meal for the residents each evening, while providing victims with information regarding preparing and maintaining a food budget. The cook also educates the participants on general nutrition and the importance of preparing nutritious meals and snacks for children. Staff is available to help with applications for Temporary Orders of Protection, and resources are available to assist with extensive legal and financial matters. Upon completion of all the suggested steps of the program, Project Renewal provides assistance with obtaining safe residence. As funding allows, assistance may include financial contributions toward applications, deposits, and first month's rent. Project Renewal also houses a small, on-site storage for lightly used household goods to assist women in furnishing their new homes. The ultimate goal of each service offered is to prepare victims of domestic violence to start a new independent, non-violent life.
Innovation
Description of Initiative
Project ReNeWal actively works to empower victims of family violence to independent thinking and living, free of violence. Project Renewal provides a 24 hour crisis line where individuals in immediate danger are assessed for entry into a safe house with the capacity for housing 20 individuals. Personal care and clothing items are stored on-site in order to meet each family's immediate basic life needs. While participating in our program, residents of the shelter are provided with counseling in both an individual and group atmosphere. During the process, participants form short-term and long-term goals, accompanied by a detailed plan of action. Participants in the program are also required to participate in weekly parenting classes. In conjunction with the on-site children's program, childcare is provided free of charge for both group counseling sessions and parenting classes. A full-time Children's Advocate works with children individually to assess and meet basic life needs, as well as arranging transportation to and from school and doctor appointments. A cook is on staff to prepare a nutritious meal for the residents each evening, while providing victims with information regarding preparing and maintaining a food budget. The cook also educates the participants on general nutrition and the importance of preparing nutritious meals and snacks for children. Staff is available to help with applications for Temporary Orders of Protection, and resources are available to assist with extensive legal and financial matters. Upon completion of all the suggested steps of the program, Project Renewal provides assistance with obtaining safe residence. As funding allows, assistance may include financial contributions toward applications, deposits, and first month's rent. Project Renewal also houses a small, on-site storage for lightly used household goods to assist women in furnishing their new homes. The ultimate goal of each service offered is to prepare victims of domestic violence to start a new independent, non-violent life.
Innovation
The design of the facility at Project Renewal allows the program to assist men and older boys, whereas most domestic violence programs are not equipped for such assistance. Our facility also has a different atmosphere than most domestic violence shelters in that each unit is set up to create a homelike atmosphere to make participants feel as comfortable and confident as possible during our program.
Delivery Model
Project Renewal has developed extensive partnerships with various individuals and agencies in the communities throughout the target service area. Project Renewal's Director and Children's Advocate are active in the community through participation in community events that afford them the opportunity to speak and handout brochures. Opportunities include speaking at schools, daycares, churches, and community meetings. Speaking engagements and brochures give information to allow members of the community to identify and prevent domestic violence. The community is also made aware of resources that are available, both through Project Renewal and in the community, to help deal with domestic violence and its devastating consequences. The phone number to the 24 hour crisis line is listed in the Yellow Pages. Members of the Executive Board of Directors hold a vast variety of positions throughout the community. A newspaper ad is run weekly to advertise the community counseling sessions provided free of charge in Rockdale, Newton, and Walton counties. In addition, Board members are working diligently to create a website to provide information regarding the resources available for victims of domestic violence.
Key Operational Partnerships
Project Renewal has created countless partnerships with individuals, businesses, and government entities that are absolutely critical to our program. A partnership with law enforcement agencies in Rockdale, Newton, and Walton counties help insure the security and confidentiality of the location of the safe shelter provided by Project Renewal. Financial support from Rockdale County and the local chapter of United Way provide substantial funding for the program. Local churches, schools, and businesses provide substantial donations throughout the year to provide clothing, personal care items, and household items to meet the basic needs of the participants in the program. They also provide much needed cash donations that allow assistance to victims of domestic violence to surpass the minimal parameters of the program. Individuals in the community donate their time to assist in providing childcare during group counseling sessions and parenting classes, cleaning, sorting and organization of donations, and general needs of the shelter. Business may donate free services to meet the basic needs of the shelter and administrative office.
Impact
Financial Model
Each of the services offered by Project Renewal is free of charge; therefore each service is available and affordable to all victims of domestic violence regardless of income.
What percentage, if any, of the total operating costs does earned income (from products, services, or other fees) represent?
0%
How is the initiative financed? Is it financially self-sustainable or profitable? How much do beneficiaries contribute?
Project Renewal’s primary source of financial support is from the Department of Human Resources, United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, Covington Newton United Fund, and Walton County United Fund. In addition, various other grants are accessed to help with financial support. Private donations from corporations, individuals, civic groups, and churches are also an important part of Project Renewal’s fiscal infrastructure.
Effectiveness
Project Renewal helped to initiate a Task Force for Domestic Violence in each of the counties in the target service areas. In addition, Project Renewal’s continued community involvement allows other agencies related to domestic violence to work more efficiently through the process of empowering victims to independence and a life free of violence.
How many people have benefited from your program over the last year? Which element of the program proved itself most effective?
The counseling and children’s programs have been the most effective because they serve as both interventions in domestic violence and as preventative measures. Each service is afforded additional opportunities to help victims because they not only reach the families who choose to enter the Project Renewal program, but they also reach members of the community who attend either the community counseling sessions or speaking engagements in the community. As families learn more appropriate ways of living and dealing with problems, the cycle that often results from violent experiences is broken. Families are educated on alternatives to violence, instilling an incredible sense of confidence and motivating families to independence and nonviolence.
Scaling up Strategy
Project Renewal is committed to providing quality counseling services to victims of domestic violence.
Stage of the Initiative
2
Origin of the Initiative
The Rockdale County Task Force on Family Violence was developed following the 1992 call to action of the Governor’s Commission on Family Violence. In 1994 it became apparent to the Task Force that there was a need to develop a local domestic violence shelter. Aware that victims in Rockdale County had no place to turn, the Task Force soon realized the counties of Newton and Walton were also under served areas.
In 1994, the Alcove, Inc., a 501(c) 3 emergency shelter for at-risk youth, under the direction of the late Gail Bayes, applied for a one-time start up find through the Emergency Shelter Grant of the Georgia Housing and Finance Authority. This grant was denied, however the Task Force, along with the Alcove, still saw an increasing need for a local family violence shelter.
During the 1994-1995 legislative session, the Honorable Clarence Vaughn, Superior Court Judge of the Rockdale County Judicial Circuit went to the state capitol to request funds. With the assistance of local legislators, Rockdale County was successful in gaining $25,000 in state support to establish a local domestic violence shelter. In April of 1995, The Rockdale County Task Force voted to continue their efforts for a tri-county shelter to be established under the direction and umbrella of The Alcove, Inc. This tri-county collaboration project was named Project ReNeWal.
Since its opening on November 12, 1995, Project ReNeWal has gained increasing community support and has been able to secure additional grant funding. After completing two successful years, housing over 75 women and 120 children, Project ReNeWal was becoming strong enough to stand on its own. With the help of Project ReNeWal’s dedicated advisory board and the Program Director, ReNeWal began to work diligently toward becoming their own 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.
After many long hours and a lot of hard work, The Alcove’s Project ReNeWal became Project ReNeWal Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Inc. On April 10, 1998. A handful of advisory board members, along with selected residents and employers from our tri-county area became the Board of Directors, and Susan Onuska became the first Executive Director.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Sustainability
How did you hear about this contest and what is your main incentive to participate?
Project Renewal learned of this contest through the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. We are excited to participate in the contest, as we are always looking for funding that will allow us to provide more quality service to victims of family violence.
Main Obstacles to Scaling Up
Funding is the largest challenge Project Renewal faces in our efforts to provide quality services to our participants and members of the community. In addition, because payroll is such a large portion of the budget, Project Renewal struggles with having the manpower available to dedicate the necessary time and attention to locating and applying for funding.
Main Financial Challenges
Lack of funding and manpower are the two main challenges that Project Renewal has faced in regards to financing operating costs. In order to scale up operations, Project Renewal would greatly benefit from $26,072.00, as this is the amount of the Counseling Budget. Having the funding for the counseling program allows us to increase the quality of the counseling offered both in the shelter and in the community, while freeing up critical funding for other aspects of the program. Project Renewal is particularly interested in funding from an foundation. It has been our experience that foundations become more personally involved in the project, and we value that involvement.
Main Partnership Challenges
Project Renewal is fortunate that we have not experienced challenges in partnerships.
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