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<br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Item 4.3. <br /> <br />To Build a Community Free of Domestic Violence <br />Through Advocacy and Education <br /> <br />VERS OF HOPE <br /> <br />o :' 2 lmJU <br /> <br />September 27,2000 <br /> <br />Dear Mayor and City Council Members, <br /> <br />Each year millions of families suffer from the effects of domestic violence. Among these are <br />hundreds of families within our own communities. <br /> <br />In 1999, Rivers of Hope, the nonprofit agency serving victims of domestic violence within <br />Sherburne and Wright Counties, provided direct services to 1,136 adult victims of domestic abuse <br />and 331 at-risk youth. In addition, of the 1,136 adults served, their children under 18 who were <br />affected by domestic violence totaled 1,607. <br /> <br />In an effort to support, educate and empower, and promote positive changes for victims of <br />domestic abuse within our communities, Rivers of Hope focuses on services in four areas: <br />Advocacy and Support Services; Community Education; Criminal Justice Intervention; and Youth <br />Violence PreventionlIntervention. We provide crisis intervention, legal advocacy, youth advocacy <br />and education, and weekly support groups. We can assist victims who are seeking court ordered <br />protection. We can accompany a victim who is filing a police report, or who is applying for <br />economic assistance. We also work in our communities training groups and educating the public <br />to ensure awareness about domestic violence and the seriousness of the problem. <br /> <br />Rivers of Hope has entered into numerous partnerships and collaborative and cooperative efforts <br />with local groups and agencies, to respond to domestic violence in our communities in the most <br />broad and effective way. These groups and agencies include law enforcement, hospitals, clinics, <br />counseling centers, attorneys, county human/social services, and Early Childhood Family <br />Education (ECFE). <br /> <br />Since our inception in 1989, we have developed and expanded our services as well as our <br />relationships with numerous community agencies. This growth, along with the rapid population <br />growth in both Sherburne and Wright Counties, has placed an enormous strain on our human <br />resources. <br /> <br />Rivers of Hope is asking each city in our service area for help. Utilizing a very conservative <br />estimate of $197.56 per individual for the cost of advocacy services last year, our services cost a <br />total of$48,797.32 for the 247 individuals we served in Elk River in 1999. We are asking the city <br />to pay 15% of that cost, or $7,319.60 in 2000. <br /> <br />P.O. Box 142 · Elk River, Minnesota 55330 <br /> <br />Sherburne County 612-441-0792. Wright County 612-682-6424. Outside the Metro 1-800-439-2642 <br />e-mail: riversofhope@onrampinc.net <br />