REACH of Jackson County By: Alyson Glenn, Jade Gragg, Simon Phillips & Madison Akers CIS 304

REACH of Jackson REACH of Jackson CountyCounty

By: Alyson Glenn, Jade Gragg, By: Alyson Glenn, Jade Gragg, Simon Phillips & Madison AkersSimon Phillips & Madison Akers

CIS 304CIS 304

REACH MissionREACH Mission::

Is committed to promoting economic self-Is committed to promoting economic self-sufficiency and zero tolerance for domestic sufficiency and zero tolerance for domestic

violence and sexual assault in the community. violence and sexual assault in the community.

Respond to NC counties: Haywood, Macon and Respond to NC counties: Haywood, Macon and Jackson.Jackson.

Source: http://www.reachofjackson.com/mission_history.htm

REACH HistoryREACH History

In In 19781978 was founded, one of the first programs was founded, one of the first programs in NC to address the problem of domestic in NC to address the problem of domestic violence and sexual assault. violence and sexual assault.

19881988:Board of Directors decided to purchase a :Board of Directors decided to purchase a house in Sylva, NC to serve as a shelter home. house in Sylva, NC to serve as a shelter home.


The Results:The Results: Client stays up to 90 days receiving counseling, Client stays up to 90 days receiving counseling,

legal advocacy, support of other clients, and legal advocacy, support of other clients, and intensive referral assistance. intensive referral assistance.

The number of clients returning to their abusers The number of clients returning to their abusers decreased, although still remaining highdecreased, although still remaining high

Problems are very complex and not quickly Problems are very complex and not quickly resolved.resolved.


History Cont’dHistory Cont’d

19891989: REACH began to earn respect, support, : REACH began to earn respect, support, and cooperation of law enforcement, and cooperation of law enforcement, Department of Social Services, local churches, Department of Social Services, local churches, and the Jackson County Commissioners. and the Jackson County Commissioners. Number of clients increased each year. Number of clients increased each year.

19941994: Staff grew to 10 full-time and 2 part-time : Staff grew to 10 full-time and 2 part-time professional employees and broaden services. professional employees and broaden services.


19951995: the Work Initiative Network (WIN) program : the Work Initiative Network (WIN) program was started for displaced homemakers and single was started for displaced homemakers and single parents who are unemployed or underemployed. parents who are unemployed or underemployed.

Name changed to WINNERS CircleName changed to WINNERS Circle

Helps enter into job market, improve education, Helps enter into job market, improve education, job skills, reduce dependency. Move toward job skills, reduce dependency. Move toward economic self-sufficiency. economic self-sufficiency.


19991999: Purchased 2.33 acres of land to become the : Purchased 2.33 acres of land to become the site of nine housing apartment units, called REACH site of nine housing apartment units, called REACH Village. Village.

Opened The Community Table: 13,000 meals Opened The Community Table: 13,000 meals served to the communityserved to the community

20022002: The Village recognized statewide as an : The Village recognized statewide as an innovative program, and was nominated for several innovative program, and was nominated for several awards. awards.


20032003: REACH committed to implementing a : REACH committed to implementing a regional children’s and teen’s counseling center regional children’s and teen’s counseling center called KidREACH. For children who are victims of called KidREACH. For children who are victims of domestic violence. domestic violence.

Also a rape crisis center was established to operate Also a rape crisis center was established to operate within the REACH administrative facility and the within the REACH administrative facility and the REACH Out program was created for victims of REACH Out program was created for victims of rape and sexual assault. rape and sexual assault.


Today: REACH is recognized as a leading human Today: REACH is recognized as a leading human services resource, and provides services to the services resource, and provides services to the community from crisis intervention to public community from crisis intervention to public education.education.

Works collaboratively with all other agencies, and Works collaboratively with all other agencies, and takes the leadership role in advancing client takes the leadership role in advancing client services that reduce the limited dollar resources services that reduce the limited dollar resources available to all of us. available to all of us.


How does REACH communicate How does REACH communicate with the public?with the public?

Newsletters (3-4 times a year)Newsletters (3-4 times a year)Press ReleasesPress ReleasesPSA RadioPSA RadioFundraisersFundraisersAuctionsAuctionsGuest SpeakersGuest SpeakersHotlineHotlinePresentations at local schoolsPresentations at local schoolsBillboardsBillboards

REACH BenefitsREACH Benefits

REACH, along with other organization’s that are REACH, along with other organization’s that are affiliated with REACH, host benefits yearly.affiliated with REACH, host benefits yearly.

These benefits could be viewed as incentive to These benefits could be viewed as incentive to the community to donate money and in return the community to donate money and in return the public can enjoy cocktails and appetizers at the public can enjoy cocktails and appetizers at the event.the event.

An example of these benefits is the event held at An example of these benefits is the event held at the Sapphire Valley Country Club in October the Sapphire Valley Country Club in October where Rozetta Mowery spoke about her recent where Rozetta Mowery spoke about her recent book, “Tragedy in Tin Can Holler”.book, “Tragedy in Tin Can Holler”.

Source:

October 17, 2007. Friends of REACH will host benefit. Crossroads Chronicle. Page 9A

Results that MatterResults that MatterImproving CommunitiesImproving Communities

Engaging citizens by giving them real Engaging citizens by giving them real opportunities to make a difference.opportunities to make a difference.

Measuring results by the conditions in the Measuring results by the conditions in the community or the results of services.community or the results of services.

Getting things done by planning, making Getting things done by planning, making decisions and taking actions that affect the decisions and taking actions that affect the conditions of either public or private conditions of either public or private parties.parties.

Source:

Epstein, Paul; Coates, Paul; Wray, Lyle. Results That Matter. 2006. San Francisco, CA.

REACH and local affiliatesREACH and local affiliates

REACH has local partners in the REACH has local partners in the community that are assisting the non-profit community that are assisting the non-profit organization, such as the Harris Regional organization, such as the Harris Regional Hospital.Hospital.

Harris Regional was recognized in the Harris Regional was recognized in the Crossroads Chronicle for dedicating a safe Crossroads Chronicle for dedicating a safe and confidential room for victims during and confidential room for victims during REACH’s counseling processes. REACH’s counseling processes.

Source:

July 5, 2006. Harris Regional dedicates special room for domestic violence victims. Crossroads Chronicle. Page 5B.

REACH and Teen violence weekREACH and Teen violence week

REACH urged it’s surrounding community REACH urged it’s surrounding community to stop teen violence and to notice warning to stop teen violence and to notice warning signs through an article in the Crossroads signs through an article in the Crossroads Chronicle in late January of 2007.Chronicle in late January of 2007.

As well as informing of the effects of teen As well as informing of the effects of teen violence, the article also listed the hotline violence, the article also listed the hotline number so that anyone who would like number so that anyone who would like more information can receive it through more information can receive it through REACH.REACH.

Source:

January 31, 2007. REACH urges community to heed teen violence week. Crossroads Chronicle.

REACH fundraiser, “Viva Las REACH fundraiser, “Viva Las Vegas”Vegas”

In March 2007, REACH hosted a 4In March 2007, REACH hosted a 4thth annual spring fundraiser to raise money annual spring fundraiser to raise money for victims and survivors of domestic for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

Sandy Frazier is the director of Sandy Frazier is the director of development and community outreach and development and community outreach and was in charge of reservationswas in charge of reservations

Source:

March 21, 2007. REACH benefit in Cashiers to feature ‘Viva Las Vegas’ on May 3. Crossroads Chronicle. Page 11A.

REACH and communication about REACH and communication about dating violence and stalking victimsdating violence and stalking victims REACH is well known for being published in REACH is well known for being published in

newspaper articles to help speak to the public newspaper articles to help speak to the public about many issues, including dating violence about many issues, including dating violence and stalking.and stalking.

Young adults, as well as their parents, need to Young adults, as well as their parents, need to be notified of the negative situations that they be notified of the negative situations that they can easily be put in and REACH has been can easily be put in and REACH has been promoting knowledge about programs that can promoting knowledge about programs that can help, such as loveisnotabuse.comhelp, such as loveisnotabuse.com

Source:

January 24, 2008. REACH offers advice for stalking victims. The Sylva Herald & Ruralite. Page 6A.

What does the public What does the public notnot know know about REACH?about REACH?

The personnel at REACH are “dedicated, The personnel at REACH are “dedicated, caring individuals”. –Mr. Frasier caring individuals”. –Mr. Frasier (development director of REACH)(development director of REACH)

Employees here have long longevities and Employees here have long longevities and work hard to help all women, children, and work hard to help all women, children, and men.men.

REACH can not work to their potential REACH can not work to their potential without more volunteers and money.without more volunteers and money.

Misinterpretations about REACHMisinterpretations about REACH Rumors often create a bad Rumors often create a bad

name for REACH. name for REACH. Many don’t believe in this Many don’t believe in this

organization because most organization because most women go back to their women go back to their abuser even after hours of abuser even after hours of counseling and character counseling and character building.building.

Its estimated that an abused Its estimated that an abused woman will go back to an woman will go back to an abuser nine times before she abuser nine times before she finally leave the abuser for finally leave the abuser for good.good.

The women at REACHThe women at REACH

““Women come from isolated, abusive Women come from isolated, abusive relationships and often do not have a relationships and often do not have a relationship with their community” –Mrs. relationship with their community” –Mrs. Farris (counselor of REACH)Farris (counselor of REACH)

Abused women feel that law enforcement Abused women feel that law enforcement and courts do not advocate enough for and courts do not advocate enough for them.them.

The best thing the community can do for The best thing the community can do for an abused woman is to listen and care!an abused woman is to listen and care!

What do the abused women face What do the abused women face that the community is unaware of?that the community is unaware of?

Abused women are not only Abused women are not only emotionally and physically emotionally and physically abused, but economically as abused, but economically as well.well.

These women leave their These women leave their primary source of income, so primary source of income, so financial issues arise once financial issues arise once she leaves the abuser.she leaves the abuser.

This can be especially hard This can be especially hard if they’re children involved.if they’re children involved.

How can REACH communicate How can REACH communicate better with the public?better with the public?

Less than 8% know REACH as a domestic Less than 8% know REACH as a domestic violence shelter or the rape crises center.violence shelter or the rape crises center.

REACH needs more full time help so their REACH needs more full time help so their personnel are not run too thin.personnel are not run too thin.

Sandy Frasier (director) says REACH personnel Sandy Frasier (director) says REACH personnel “wear too many hats”.“wear too many hats”.

One person is often doing grants, press One person is often doing grants, press releases, maintenance, and radio shows all at releases, maintenance, and radio shows all at once.once.

How can REACH communicate How can REACH communicate better with the public?better with the public?

They need more help and more money!They need more help and more money! It cost around $1 million to run REACH It cost around $1 million to run REACH

every year!every year! So, with more help, REACH would have So, with more help, REACH would have

more time to organize events with the more time to organize events with the public.public.

What can the community do for What can the community do for REACH?REACH?

Be aware of violence near you!Be aware of violence near you! Call for help when you see or hear Call for help when you see or hear

violence going on.violence going on. Support your community and REACH by Support your community and REACH by

volunteering or donating money.volunteering or donating money. Put REACH out of business!! Lets end Put REACH out of business!! Lets end

domestic violence.domestic violence.

What can the community do?What can the community do?

REACH goes into the community to give REACH goes into the community to give abuse prevention lectures at local high abuse prevention lectures at local high schools.schools.

DONATE, DONATE, DONATEDONATE, DONATE, DONATE

Step forward. “It isn’t just REACH’s Step forward. “It isn’t just REACH’s problem”- Farrisproblem”- Farris

FLIP programFLIP program

Prevention program designed to Prevention program designed to encourage a support systemencourage a support system

Mainly for families with childrenMainly for families with children

What REACH offersWhat REACH offers

There are group counseling options as There are group counseling options as well as individual sessionswell as individual sessions

Crisis hotline.Crisis hotline.

What you can doWhat you can do

Advocate support groupsAdvocate support groups

VolunteerVolunteer

Documents

REACH of Jackson County By: Alyson Glenn, Jade Gragg, Simon Phillips & Madison Akers CIS 304