Tessa

“The executive committee of the board of directors meets monthly and reviews all financial documents, including annual audit report and the form 990.”

“Potential new board members receive all policies before joining the board. The board is asked annually to reaffirm that they do not have interests that could give rise to conflicts of interest.”

“Tessa uses data from canpo (colorado association of non-profit organizations) surveys for comparability of job responsibilities and compensation. Tessa strives to be in the 25th percentile of our peers (size & services) for annual salary rates for all positions.”

“Tessa's governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available to the public upon request. Certain documents are also available on the organization's website.”

“Pre-plea investigation reports. The district attorney will refer an individual who has been arrested in a domestic violence dispute and the district attorney has doubts whether the domestic violence was truly domestic violence or defense, particularly in cases where a woman has been arrested. The individual will pay for the case assessment $250 per case.”

“Continued: we pursue three primary objectives toward our mission: to provide immediate safety for women and children in crisis. To empower survivors through supportive services such as our advocacy, counseling and children's programs. To create a safer community for all families through education and awareness outreach.”

“Safehouse continued: the safehouse program provides safe shelter vouchers to adult male victims and their children through collaborations with local hotels. In fy2019, tessa provided 11,540 nights of shelter to 164 (new) adults and 189 (new) children. Staff and trained volunteers provide crisis intervention, information, safety planning, and community referral services to domestic violence and/or sexual assault victims. Approximately, 1,250 calls come through the crisis line each month.”

“Victim advocacy continued: services are provided in a secure and safe environment. Advocacy allows victims to identify options; develop safety plans; receive assistance with temporary protection orders; and acquire information and referrals. Confidential victim advocates also provide 24/7 hospital response to victims seeking medical attention due to an incidence of abuse and/or sexual assault. In fy2019, tessa provided advocacy services to 2,168 clients, including hospital call outs to 440 victims via tessa's full time hospital advocate.”

“Rural advocacy- to improve service access for victims located in isolated rural areas, tessa operates satellite offices in teller county and eastern el paso county. A full-time advocate staffs each office while a staff therapist splits her time between the two. Confidential advocacy, education, outreach, and counseling are provided, while clients who require shelter are referred to tessa's safehouse in colorado springs. In fy2019, tessa provided services in the rural communities to 130 victims. Dhs program- tessa advocates are co-located within the el paso county department of human services tanf (temporary aid to needy families) division, increasing the accessibility of services for those served by tanf who have also been affected by intimate partner violence and streamlining the inter-agency cooperative efforts that best serve this cross-population. The counseling program staff provide clinical services to victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. Tessa's counselors, specifically trained to treat the psychological issues that result from these types of violence, provide individual psychotherapy; psycho-educational support groups for adult victims of domestic violence; and therapeutic support groups for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors. These services encourage participants to work on self-esteem, provide education about healthy vs. Unhealthy relationships, and assist in goal setting and problem solving. In fy2019, tessa provided individual counseling services to 658 victims. Another 432 individuals attended group counseling. Tessa provides training and education to schools, businesses, community associations, and faith-based organizations. In addition, tessa staff work closely with many schools in our community to provide education and outreach to teachers, staff and students around interpersonal violence prevention and teen dating violence. In 2019, tessa reached 1,908 individuals through direct education and countless others at local health fairs and community awareness events. Housing first program - tessa will assist crime victims in meeting their long-term housing needs by providing rental assistance, moving assistance, emergency housing and/or utility assistance. Tessa launched the project in earnest on august 1, 2017 and since then have helped 614 victims' households with rental assistance. Crime victims will receive mobile advocacy (meet survivors where they are in the community, home, or wherever is most convenient and safe for the survivor. The survivors have a say in how and where the contacts will take place (e.g. Home visits, coffee shop, etc) and advocates along with survivors can safety plan to determine where meetings will occur. Accompany survivors to meetings and appointments such as, assisting in the housing application process, if needed). In fy2019, the mobile advocate had provided in person advocacy services to 126 clients enrolled in the program. This has included meeting clients in their home, meeting at coffee shops, and meeting at the library. Lawyers for victims - tessa will assist crime victims in accessing direct civil legal representation. Tessa has continued to connect with colorado legal services, the el paso county bar association, the el paso county women's bar association, and the pikes peak justice and pro bono center to build contacts and recruit attorneys. The project coordinator has reached out to over 40 attorneys through meetings, coffees, and lunches, and has successfully recruited 20 to join as contract attorneys. In fy2019, tessa contract attorneys provided legal representation for 297 individuals in a permanent protection order hearing.”