2009

Annual

2 0 0 9 Repo rt

Planting the seeds of

healing ...

is to offer sexual abuse survivors and their loved ones opportunities for healing by providing support, advocacy and community education.

allows us to create a model sexual trauma service agency committed to providing integrative and holistic services to adult survivors. We embody the best practices of scholarship, experience and, most importantly, survivor wisdom. We operate from a philosophy of abundance, inviting all to share their gifts as part of healing our community. We believe healing is possible for everyone. We are honored to be a part of the journey.

Dear friends of The Healing Center, I am especially proud to present to you The Healing Center’s 2009 Annual Report. The theme of this year’s report is growth from the ground up. Just like the birth of The Healing Center, we began through the sprinkling of seeds by strong, courageous community women like Linda Davis, Mindy Lubar-Price, Chris Doerfler, Janine Arseneau and Sally Turner. These fearless women were willing to take a chance and create a special place for sexual assault survivors in Milwaukee. Now our roots have begun to take hold and we are seeing healthy branches and fruit by the women and men we so gratefully serve. As in years past, we continue to serve more survivors with each passing year. In 2009, we increased our previous number of clients served by more than 25%. We are proud to be one of the leading sexual assault programs in Wisconsin.

Just like a tree grows, such is our approach to nurturing survivors. When first beginning their healing journey, we are careful to give them the right mix to help them establish themselves in their surroundings. We feed them a variety of nutrients, like counseling, support groups, alternative healing therapies and educational opportunities. Later, we admire their growth and encourage them to spread their branches to receive more sunlight. Please join me in remembering the achievements of 2009. You will meet survivors like Rhonda, whom I liken to a beautiful fruit tree, and David, a vibrant maple. As I look at The Healing Center, I would have to say we are a strong and flexible young willow. In peace, hope and partnership,

Maryann Clesceri

1. One-on-one counseling

When survivors are ready to work on an individual basis with a counselor, we are here to listen. Everyone heals in a different way, so we work hard to build on existing strengths and restore the whole self.

2. Bilingual advocacy

Sexual assault infiltrates the lives of men, women and children of all ethnic backgrounds and language groups. At The Healing Center, we know how important it is to be heard and understood. Because of the large Spanish-speaking population in Wisconsin, we find it crucial to offer bilingual services to the community.

3. Group therapy

Groups offer an understanding and support system that allow a client to realize one of the most important factors in healing: he or she is not alone. Groups include: a. AMAC (Adults Molested as Children) b. Open Group c. STR (Survivors Toward Recovery) d. Creative Healing e. Sexual Wholeness f. Men’s Group g. Support for Spanish Speaking Survivors h. Adult Rape/Sexual Assault Support Group

4. Community outreach

In 2009, The Healing Center facilitated awareness presentations for over 50 organizations, reaching 3,831 people. We also taught 40 social service representatives about community-based advocacy for survivors and provided more than 50 hours of consultation to local providers on how to advocate for the clients they serve.

5. Alternative healing therapies

Through our partnership with Core/El Centro, clients of The Healing Center take part in the positive effects of natural movement classes, Reiki, massage, acupuncture, etc.

6. Sexual assault advocacy/counseling training

Led by the experienced staff of The Healing Center, this training covers topics about sexual violence and its effects on survivors. It also explores the important issues surrounding the healing process and how to respond and become an advocate. Our intern counselors attend this training in order to enhance experience and build on their skill base to better assist our clients.

7. Topic nights

These informative sessions offer a look into some issues that may affect survivors of sexual abuse. Topics such as: grounding, coping mechanisms and the neurobiology of trauma are just some of the many ideas discussed.

“

When I decided to get counseling for what I experienced as a child, I thought that I had it all figured out. The bad decisions I made and the negative experiences I had in my adult life suddenly made sense when my sessions began at The Healing Center. Once I became honest about where I was,

I became empowered to change my behavior for the better in all areas of my life. My counselor re-builds me piece by piece with

a stronger foundation and a resilient frame and the renovation never stops. ‘I am’ because of The Healing Center.”

– Rhonda Begos

1st Annual Survivors read poems and shared thoughts about their unique, healing journey.

Unsung Heroes

2009

Staff and volunteers performed a drama to show the significance of working together to help survivors of sexual abuse.

marked a year for fresh, new events and awareness about The Healing Center. Specifically, the 1st Annual Unsung Heroes event proved a great success and honored caregivers who reach out to Latina/o survivors of sexual assault. In collaboration with the UMOS Latina Resource Center and The HIV Department of the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, we joined hands to create awareness and celebrate hard work with music, drama, delicious food and heartfelt presentations.

Clearing a path for healing

“

A wise man once said,

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

”

At The Healing Center, we know that healing is a journey. When survivors feel the need to reach out for help, we are there to walk alongside. Picking up the phone is the first, and oftentimes most difficult, step in starting the healing journey.

The epidemic of sexual assault is so prevalent in today’s society it affects

1 in 3 women 1 in 6 men

At The Healing Center, we strive to help adult survivors travel the path to healing and take back the power that was once taken from them. We think, we listen and we teach. Our counselors, advocates and staff feel passionately about our powerful mission and offer comfort and compassion to all who come through the door.

In 2009,

The Healing Center provided services to 743 survivors and reached out to 3,831 people through education in the community. We provided bilingual advocacy services for 172 clients and individual counseling for about 167 adult men and women. The Healing Center also served over 150 survivors through group therapy, such as Creative Healing, Adults Molested as Children and Survivors Toward Recovery.

“

The Healing Center is a

place, like no other, where I can receive such a complete program direct ed specifically at my childh ood sexual abuse history and its aftermath . The people working here are so kind and really care. I’ve gained so much insight from my on e-on-one sessions, first working with Melind a, and now with Natalia. They’re both easy to talk to, even on the toughest of subjects, and are very straight forward and frank in the ir feedback. I really need that. As a man, I feel like I’ve received as much assistance from Th e Healing Center as the women receive. I do n’t know of another men’s group like the one provided here. The top ic nights are so informati ve and, although they are mixed gender gro ups, the sharing from the clients can be very personal and unifying in nature. Just getting to kn ow many female survivors here, and sensin g that they are safe, has helped me relax, somewhat, my hyper-vigil ance. All-in-all, unlike bef ore, I’m now more able to enjoy spending tim e alone and, slowly, my troubled perspective on life is changing to a mo re positive one.”

– David

Dear Director,

t, d I haven’t met you ye You don’t know me an letter is to let you know but the purpose of my m] jail*. I have released that I’ve just [come fro world, and it was the my dark secret to the t I made it, thanks to toughest thing to do, bu doctors, angels – that’s my fairy godmothers, my atalia and Lacy) – to what I called them (N d in the [Adults Moleste sisters and all the girls so, to my coach Jennifer as Children group]. Al ght s, yes also Nia. I thou and to Nia for surivor too much at the same that it was going to be d in ia helped me let go an time, but it wasn’t. N ly incarcerated, but survivor was not actual *Note to the reader: this s similar to that of assault, her mindset wa felt that after the sexual cell. being confined to a jail

yway, I thank God for so many other ways. An wish there could be The Healing Center. I part of the world. a healing center in every w much damage this You have an idea of ho us, but you have no molestation has caused lives for good. idea you changed our ank care of my wound. Th Thank you for taking time . Thank you for your you for giving me hope king this work. and your effort in ma

– RM

“

munity! for a safe and healthy com ive str uld sho s, ng bei n We, as huma ment for safe and healthy environ a is r nte Ce g lin ea H e Th kee Metropolitan l violence in the Milwau victims/survivors of sexua then provides the understands, listens and r nte Ce g lin ea H e Th . area which are ed sexual assault services, appropriate patient-center r community. g victims/survivors into ou hin irt reb in l nta me tru ins The Healing ll strike, but in our case wi y ged tra en wh a ide We have no traumatic experience. r support during a very ou be to re the s wa r nte Ce teerism; tivated me toward volun mo ss oce pr ng ali he my of The rebirth g at The Healing rs, I have been volunteerin yea e fiv st pa the for d an in-kind on, giving monetary and ssi mi ir the ing cat vo ad Center by aising committee. We, tly, serving on the fundr en rec st mo d an ns tio na do the growth to make sure we support ue tin con uld sho s, ng bei as human rebirth of victims/ it can strive to support the so r nte Ce g lin ea H e Th of y deserve.” n dignity and respect the survivors with the huma

– Kathleen Gean

The Healing Center works with predominately uninsured or underinsured survivors in the community. Our priority is to help men and women with no or low income, and those who find barriers when accessing services due to reasons such as language and inability to pay.

Our Survivor Clients Gender

95% women 5% men

Ethnicity

Age

19% 18-25 years 43% 26-40 years 37% 41-60 years

39% African American Income 13% Latino 75% earn < $15,000 per year 43% Caucasian 78% uninsured or 5% Multi-Racial, Asian and/or underinsured Native American or Alaskan

Total budget.............$422,677

45%

Foundations/Corporations $133,950

Bilingual advocacy .......................................................$133,782

Government grants $122,000

29%

Aurora Health Care (fringe benefits) $68,197 Individual contributions $56,530

32% 29% 16% 13% 10%

Counseling the underserved population ....................$204,675

Carry-over $42,000

Marketing and fund development ................................$74,788

16% Prevention, outreach and system change....................$46,164

10% Total budget.................$459,409

“

I am a 46-year-old survivor of incest and have experienced several types of therapy, including traditional and untraditional. Though some of these experiences have been positive and helpful, I never felt “healed.” After many years of profound struggle and feeling I was about to give up, I found The Healing Center. The Healing Center has provided me with an unconditional and supportive atmosphere within which to heal. My counselor was the voice of a consistent and unconditional message of hope. With the blame and responsibility placed solely on the perpetrator, I was able to release myself from the deep sense of shame that was holding me back and keeping me from healing. Workshops, topic nights and group sessions have been additional support for the therapy work that I was doing. They not only provided relevant information about abuse and healing, but they also provided a network of fellow survivors so that I understood that I was not alone in my journey. Because of the dedicated and talented people at The Healing Center, I have been able to accept that the abuse is a part of me, but not all of me. I am now able to continue my journey with the knowledge that I have something to offer to other survivors. The Healing Center gives me the space to stay connected and to support other survivors in their journey.”

– Dawn

Clearing a path to the

Russian Community

Naturally

people express themselves best in their native language. Being able to communicate in your native tongue becomes especially important when one needs to express an emotional part of him or herself. Unfortunately, when individuals emigrate from their homeland to a foreign country, they lose the convenience of receiving counseling services in their own language. This is what happens to the majority of the population in the Russian community, one of the largest communities in Milwaukee. Some Russian speaking people do not speak English well enough to carry a conversation with an English speaking counselor about the most intimate parts of themselves. Others are simply uncomfortable to express their feelings in the foreign language. There are also those who avoid working with English speaking professionals due to fear of not being understood for their cultural beliefs or mentality. Unsurprisingly, sexual abuse/assault work is one of the most challenging areas for Russian women and men to seek counseling for. Luckily, there is a place in Milwaukee which is able to continued to next page ...

provide services to Russian speaking individuals who wish to work on their sexual abuse/assault issues, in their native language. This place is The Healing Center. I am proud to share that the number of Russian speaking clients at The Healing Center has been steadily increasing, mostly as a result of our partnership with Sojourner Family Peace Center. Indeed, all the current clients happen to be referred by a Russian speaking advocate from Sojourner who understands the importance of resolving sexual trauma issues, which significantly impact women and men’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. The Healing Center staff is very passionate about and dedicated to continuing to provide multilingual services for all those in need. Realistically, this goal can be achieved and maintained only with support of the community. United, we can make a true difference in the lives of community members affected by sexual abuse/assault.

– Natalia Ottesen,MS Bilingual Counselor

Each day, we ask ourselves,

what can we do to reach more survivors?

In September, staff from The Healing Center traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, and met with members of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center in order to learn how this premier organization functions. We heard far and wide about the amazing strides the center had accomplished in preventing, counseling and treating men and women who experienced sexual assault.

We believe the answers to these difficult questions can be found by reaching out, educating ourselves on a variety of advocacy models, such as those used by the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, and listening to our staff and survivors. Specifically, in Cleveland, we learned how advocates partner with the police and hospital staff to help give sexual assault survivors support during their time of crisis. We also visited with members of the Cuyahoga County’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and gained knowledge about its organizational structure and use of key community members to further its goals.

At The Healing Center, we facilitate groups, practice different therapeutic techniques, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and Holographic Memory Resolution, and strive to advocate on behalf of these men and women in the courts, hospitals and police stations. As we continue this work, we constantly question: What can we do to improve our services and how can we foster long-term growth and healing for our clients? Lt. Robert Menzel, Cpt. James Shepard, Audrey Skwierawski, Maryann Clesceri, Dan Clark, Debbie Donovan, Jeanie Kurka-Reimer, Melinda Hughes, CJ Figgins-Hunter, Melissa Ugland

The Healing Center Staff Standing: Melinda Hughes Jennifer Ward Kim Schwartz Natalia Ottesen Maryann Clesceri

Not pictured: Cindy Barczak Ami Bedi Venessa Farn Dayna Freund Kristin Nelson Katherine Stewart

Seated: Brooke Phelps Tricia Damm Stephanie Frazier Laci Jones Stacy Andraski

“

”

I’ve never been so happy to be a counselor. It helps my healing process through helping others.

Community Cabinet

Sally Turner, Chair* Maggi Cage, PhD Tom Cooper

Linda Davis* Jill Desmond Chris Doerfler*

– Dayna Freund

Debbie Donovan* Juli Kaufmann Mindy Lubar Price* Carmen Pitre* Colleen Fitzgerald Mira Ketzler Dan Magnuson Marianna Rodriquez Lina Juarbe-Botella Alice Kramer, CNS* Jane Pirsig *Founding members – who gathered in 2001 to create The Healing Center.

We feel so grateful for the generous support and heartfelt dedication from all who gave to The Healing Center. Through monetary and in-kind donations, survivors know our staff and volunteers can maintain the work in fostering peace and healing. Aurora Sinai Medical Center continues to believe in our mission and provided $150,000 of support in the form of human resources, philanthropy, fringe benefits, Creative Services, information systems, etc. This strong connection with Aurora allows all fundraised money to directly benefit survivors of sexual assault. Thank you to all our donors!

Bradley Foundation Brico Fund Linda and Bob Davis Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Henriette S. Neverman Fund Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation The Rock Bottom Foundation United Way of Greater Milwaukee Violence Against Women Act Funds of Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee

The Gardner Foundation Northwestern Mutual Foundation The TJX Foundation

Anonymous (3) Maryann and Joseph Clesceri Thomas Cooper Chris Doerfler John and Kathleen Schneider Family Foundation Laughlin/Constable, Inc. continued ...

continued ... Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation Foundation PPC Foundation, Inc. Rachel Roller Nick and Kathleen Turkal Kimberly Welch Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee

Steve Ohly Wendy Peche Pragmatic Development LLC Jill Spannagel United Way of Greater Milwaukee, Inc. Patty and Ed Zganjar

Anonymous Norma Barr Elizabeth Blair Jay and Ellen Blankenship Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee Carol Lynn Busche Dr. Marjorie Cage Dr. LaRoyce and Minnie Chambers Eva Chess Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin City of Milwaukee Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes

Linda Cottreau Pat Dahn Joanne Damico-Grajczyk Eileen J. Davis Karen and Neil Desmond Carol Diplaris Angela and James Elliott Debra and Matthew Fahey Joseph and Barb Farmerie Colleen Fitzgerald David Franczyk Anne and William Frazier Kathleen and James Gean Constance Gerlach Carole and Adam Glass David Glish Rebecca and Alan Goldman Mildred Green Sue and Peter Hitler Deborah and David Hoffman Carol Holley Melinda Hughes Impact Strategies Karen Jamiola Dawn Jordan Mira and Keith Ketzler Janice and Daniel Klosowski Shannon and Jeff Kornelli Alice and Dan Kramer Jane Lazynski The Lemonade Stand Mitchell Lewis Raymond Maida

Patricia and Michael Marchant Suzanne Marchant Marquette University Mary Alice and Jim Marx Margaret Mead Ms. Elizabeth Irwin and Mr. Robert Moore Tiffany Mullen, M.D. Judy and James Murphy Jane Nefzer Mary Elizabeth Nelis Ane Ohm Jeff Olenchek Natalia and Ronald Ottesen Cindy and Jay Paulson Sally Pegelow Joseph Perez Brooke Phelps and Don Shelley Premier, Inc. Steve and Francine Rau Rockwell Automation Jacquelyn Roob Karen Schaefer Sheila Semrou Leonard Sobczak Soryal Soryal, M.D. Karen Stahovic Sara and Steven Stanislaus State of Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services Kathleen Stramowski Aretha Stricklin continued ...

continued ...

Michael Suminski Natalie Swanson Sally and Timothy Turner Jennifer Vogel Michelle Voskuil Dyan and Jeffery Wagner Jennifer Ward and Vickie Ortiz Vazquez Jean Woodmansee-Poklasny Melissa Zemlak

Anonymous Terri Adams Callie Appelstein Marlene Arce Cindy and Robert Barczak Stephen and Bernadette Bates Diane Batten Rachel Bergstrom-Carlson Jennifer Bermudez Nicholas Blonien Jo Anne and Michael Brown Patricia Browne John Bruce Andy Carlson Gene and Carol Cichon Kathryn Cleereman Kevin Clement Cindy Conrad Raina Cordero

Jill Cruz Tricia and David Damm Jill Desmond Alberta Dhillon Rod and Wendy Dole Dustin Duerson Julie Ellsworth Claire and James Elsesser Michele Evers and Todd Evers Tom Ewing Annette Fabiano Sandra Lee M. Fair Jeffrey Fete and Susan Leukaufe-Fete Miriam and Thomas Foote Dayna Freund Betty Gaines Antoinette Garbarek Madeline Gianforte Ronald Glass David Gonzalez Ivan Gonzalez Yalonda Graham Jeffrey Graunke John Greffer Jeanne Gurda Carol and Steve Haegler Laura Harsh Latanya Harvey Dawn Helmrich Donna and Larry Henderson Elena and Michael Hennick Karen and James Heuberger

Karen Higgins Lori Horn Fred Huck Alice Jelich David Jerger Cheryl Johnson, Ph.D. Stephanie Johnson Jill Kahabka Jim Katz Phyllis and Thomas Kaufman Marianne Kearney Kathryn Keleny Marie Kingsbury Cheryl Klinkowitz Nancy and Stephan Klug Debra Kradecki Christine Kremer Karla Kroeplin Thomas Kurtzweil David Laatsch Ann Larkin Kristen and Kyle Lauder Deborah Leannais Kristine Lewandowski Rose Loeffelholz Alison Lopez Elliot Lubar James Lunde Karen Maahs Mack Law Offices Juanita Malloy Emmett Martin Douglas McConnell continued ...

continued ...

Meg McCormick Claude McGhee Edward McGraw Deonna McIntosh James Meiers Diana Metz James Mills Rachel Monoco-Wilcox Cora Monteen Athena Moody Jodi Moris Evonne Moritz Anna Morris Ellen and John Morris Carla Moseby Daniel Murawski Mary Nelson Lynn New Jill Nowack Tom O’Laughlin Janet Olson Christine Orlowski Donna Ovendorff Annie Owens Julie Petersen

Jacqueline Reed Anne Renquin Juan Rocha Mariana and Luis Rodriguez Karen Rozwadowski Tracy Ruehl Salone Laverne Schmidt Sue Selker Lori Settersten Gene Shaffer Arthur Smith Lyle Sobczak Carlos Solano Stephen Sondermann Steven St Onge Georgette Stamm Lillie Staples Janice and Ronald Stockstell Chris Straw Michael Strieter Kathleen Sullivan Lisa Sullivan Kim Sweet Julie Swenson

Please note that many donors supported The Healing Center through in-kind donations to events and through the Rock Bottom Foundation. These individual donors are not listed in this report.

Tax Airfreight, Inc. Diane Taylor Janice Thompson Suzanne Titschler Helen Towell Teresa Triggs Jose Valle Randolph Vena James Wagner Maureen Wahhab Brenda Ward Jeffrey Warren Karlene Waters Duane Wesenberg Mary Weyrum Marilyn Wilson Kevin Wrobel Patrick Wronski Tracy Wymelenberg Janice Yglesias

We have done our best to include all donors. If you gave to The Healing Center, but were not listed, please contact us!

Healing Center The

611 W. National Avenue, 4th Floor Milwaukee, WI 53204

Healing happens here! www.TheHealingCenter.org X37222 (07/10) ©AHC