FY2020 In Review

Between July 2019 and June 2020, MSCFV served 440 victims of family violence and their 687 children. The total number of services provided include:

  • 403 hotline calls
  • 487 crisis counseling sessions
  • 923 safety planning sessions
  • 4,224 non-crisis counseling sessions
  • 3,899 information & referrals
  • 5,867 follow up contacts
  • 2,214 legal advocacy services
  • 2,529 legal information & referrals
  • 355 medical or legal accompaniments
  • 373 medical advocacy services
  • 1076 housing advocacy services
  • 625 financial advocacy services
  • 267 public benefits advocacy services
  • 1495 personal advocacy services
  • 470 translation services
  • 89 food boxes & food cards

While knowing how many people are helped, how many services are provided, and other data related to the work of MSCFV, the impact of MSCFV's programming goes well beyond the numbers. To provide comprehensive, person-centered services that meet the changing and diverse needs of victims, program evaluation is a strong component to MSCFV services. Utilizing tools such as the Safety Planning Score and the Threat Appraisal Scale, MSCFV tracks the impact services have on the overall sense of safety experienced by victims. Tracking of hotline calls, services provided, service requests, and regular feedback from clients and partner organizations through program evaluations and focus groups assist MSCFV in identifying areas of program strength, gaps in service, and program successes.

Understanding Rights and Isolation

In FY2020, MSCFV provided 736 nights of temporary emergency shelter for 18 survivors and their 15 children. Among clients completing stays at MSCFV’s shelter…

  • The majority have learned more ways to plan for their safety (74%), feel less isolated (66%) and feel better about themselves (72%).
  • Eight out of ten (74%) have a better understanding of their legal rights.
  • Most (75%) have learned about resources that can help them.
  • Nearly two-thirds (63%) have a lower risk of violence.

Economic Empowerment

MSCFV has found that victims of domestic violence often experience challenges from economic abuse that can have a devastating lasting impact on their ability to recover from an act of violence, leave an abusive situation or achieve financial independence.

So I mean my credit was a mess, I barely qualified for a car loan, I didn’t have a bad job, but it wasn’t enough to get a handle on, it wasn’t enough to run the household, pay the car, electric, water, everything. So thank God for mid‐shore, I don’t know where I’d be. So they got me in that house, yeah, that was such a huge day.

                                                                                                                       ~MSCFV Client Four

A total of 406 clients have completed MSCFV’s Economic Empowerment Center intake, including the Ability to Meet Basic Needs Measure. This data reveals that, when victims come to MSCFV’s Economic Empowerment Center, most say their family income is “not at all adequate” (46%) or “can meet necessities only” (35%). In addition:

  • 54% had trouble meeting basic needs recently, (i.e. running out of food, unable to afford health care or medicine, and having utilities cut off).
  • 52% have debt difficulties
  • 75% would be unable to handle a financial emergency that cost more than $200.

After completing the Economic Empowerment Program, participants reported:

Since opening its doors, the EEC represented 180 victims in a total of 343 legal cases, including bankruptcy, child support/custody, debtor/creditor, taxes, motor vehicle administration, landlord/tenant, expungement, employment and protective order modification. So far 200 of those cases have closed. The efforts of the EEC team resulted in:

  • $241,301 in total lump sum benefits
  • $10,929 in total monthly benefits
  • $712,618 in cost savings, mostly from bankruptcy cases

Hotline Call Results

Hotline calls are an important crisis service, providing victims with support and actionable information about MSCFV resources, their legal rights, and possible next steps for ending the violence. MSCFV advocates answered 403 hotline calls from victims in crisis in fiscal year 2020. During these calls, advocates often discuss Safety Planning, Community Resources, and Legal Rights & Options.

The majority of victims achieve positive outcomes in these calls, including a better understanding of the cycle of violence, a better understanding of their rights and options, and a readiness to take the next step in ending the violence.

We know from our services data that most hotline callers do go on to receive other services. For example, 86% received additional counseling, 88% received follow up services, and 38% had an advocate accompany them to court. 

Pet Safety Program

The MSCFV Pet Safety Program helps victims care for their pets throughout their journey from crisis to self-sufficiency, including providing pet friendly emergency shelters, pet boarding, pet supplies, and regular and emergency vet visits.