Okmulgee County Family Resource Center, Inc.

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Safehouse Program provides a full range of services including crisis intervention and emergency shelter to stabilize the victim, safety planning, education and treatment to counter the family dynamics, rehabilitation services and case management to restore broken lives for those traumatized by domestic violence, sexual assault and/or stalking. The overall goal of the program is eliminating domestic violence related trauma; but, in the meantime, provide help for those in need of such services. Immediate safety, increased knowledge, awareness of resources and improved community response are shared goals. Secondary goals are to help the survivor relocate to a safe environment and continue a life free of violence.

EVIDENCE

In 2021, OCFRC was unable to accommodate 117 victims due to capacity issues and COVID. These are victims and their children that had to be re-routed to other shelters that were probably at capacity as well. This is a situation that is difficult for families with children in school and jobs and in times of extreme crisis. Oklahoma is overwhelmed with the number of domestic violence victims needing a safe place to stay and rehabilitative services. The court system also refers clients to our outpatient services. The classes were at capacity and a second counseling session was added last year to accommodate the demand for services.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Okmulgee County is considered rural, and one of the poorest counties in the state. The impact of poverty, as well as mental health and substance abuse issues, combined compacted by the lack of resources, contributes to the length of stay and rehabilitation process. The Okmulgee Safehouse provides a wide scope of services to the client. This starts at the initial intake and continues through the case management process and exit. During the stay, a client has available to them: housing, safety planning, counseling and legal services, case management, transportation and children?s services.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

OCFRC staff enters all data collected into the Oklahoma Attorney General Victims Services web-site for billing purposes. The OAG program breaks down client services and demographics and produces a specific report based on the information requested.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma