Running head: AN INSIDE LOOK 1

An Inside look at STAND! For Families Free of Violence

Gala Hunter

Field Seminar SWRK 444-91

Sister Shirley Fineran

February 22, 2017

AN INSIDE LOOK 2

An Inside Look at STAND! For Families Free of Violence

If one were to read the mission statement for STAND! For Families Free of Violence, he/she

would have a very good understanding of the goals STAND! strives to achieve. The mission

statement reads as follows: STAND! For Families Free of Violence is a catalyst for breaking the

multi-generational cycle of violence, promoting safe and strong relationships, and rebuilding

lives. This statement rings true in the many programs STAND! provides and supports. They are

also a founding member of the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative (Zero Tolerance)

which is a cross-sector agency that works to solve domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual

assault (STAND!, 2017).

STAND! originally began in 1977 and was called Battered Womens Alternatives. In the year

2000 the name was changed to STAND Against Domestic Violence. However, in 2010 when the

agency merged with Family Stress Center, they again changed their name to the current, STAND!

For Families Free of Violence. Today, STAND! is Contra Costa Countys only all-inclusive

family violence reduction organization, serving more than 10,000 clients per year. The

comprehensive programs offered are always free and intersect with three distinct branches:

Prevention: Changing the Future, Intervention: Saving lives, and Treatment: Rebuilding Families

(STAND!, 2017).

STAND!s prevention programs include First 5 Bay Point Center, which provides parenting

classes and early intervention screenings for children 0-5 years old. Proud Parenting provides

support groups that focus on parenting skills, behavior, and communication techniques. The

Kinship Program has supportive programs for children and their non-parental caregivers. Delta

is a great program that engages adult men and celebrates non-violent behaviors. YESS (Youth

Education Support Services) is a community and school based program that caters to teenagers,
AN INSIDE LOOK 3

addressing teen dating violence (TDV), redefines gender stereotypes, and much more. Finally,

the Speakers Bureau and Volunteer Services provide an outreach to educate other agencies and

the public, while volunteers remain at the heart of nearly every program (STAND!, 2017).

STAND!s Intervention programs save lives through their Crisis Line, the Emergency

Response Team (ERT), the Rollie Mullen Shelter (RMC), Transitional Housing (TH), Domestic

Violence Support Groups, and Restraining Order Assistance Clinics. Treatment programs include

the Anger management and Domestic Violence Treatment Program (DVTP), which is a 52-week

court mandated course for those who have used violence. The Differential Response (DR)

Program which offers services and support before the court intervenes with child custody

decisions. There is the SAMHWorks Counseling Program that provides unemployed families

with socioeconomic support and services. There is also the Mentor Program which provides 5-

18-year-old children who have severe behavioral problems with one on one support. Finally,

there is CHAT (Child Abuse and Treatment) which provides children who are living at RMC or

TH with therapeutic services (STAND!, 2017).

It is true that all the afore mentioned services are free, but the means to run these programs

must come from somewhere. STAND! For Families Free of Violence relies heavily on its

volunteers to keep the movement going. Volunteers work under staff members and make up a

good portion of STAND!s manpower. The agency is also dependent upon monetary contributors

and thankfully there are quite a few of them, too many to mention here. STAND! also receives

grants, gifts, and holds special events to raise money. In fact, every year they host their

Rebuilding Lives Luncheon which brings in a good amount of revenue (STAND!, 2017). This

is an event where donors, local politicians, and the community are invited to attend, but it is not

free, unless you are law enforcement or the mayor. This remains one of STAND!s most fruitful
AN INSIDE LOOK 4

fund raisers. The following was taken from guidestar.org, showing the financials for STAND! in

2015:

Revenue and Expenses Fiscal Year 2015 (Source; Self-Reported by organization)

Expenses
Revenue Program Services $4,809,291
Contributions, Grants, Gifts $858,953 Administration $1,408,149
Program Services $4,502,510 Fundraising $0
Membership Dues $0 Payments to Affiliates $0
SpecialBalance
Events Sheet Fiscal Year 2015 (Source; Other
$144,944 Self-Reported
Expensesby organization $0
Other Revenue $341,358 Total Expenses $6,217,440
$5,847,76
Total Revenue
5

Balance Sheet Fiscal Year 2015 (Source; Self-Reported by organization)

Assets
Total Assets $4,428,255
Liabilities
Total Liabilities $1,306,400
Fund Balance (EOY)
Net Assets $3,121,855

STAND! For Families Free of Violence does not really have any symbols or rituals that are

there very own, but they do encourage the awareness of domestic violence (DV) which is

symbolized by the color, purple. Many agencies will come up with their own creative way to

display it; wristbands, ribbon, tassels, purses, but they all stand for DV awareness. In fact, since I

have been interning with STAND!, I have acquired all the above, except for the purse of which I

believe is a fund raiser that one can access online.

STAND! has many community partners; such as, West Contra Costa Family Justice Center,

Bay Area Legal Aid, Deaf Hope, The Rainbow Community Center, Richmond YouthWORKS,
AN INSIDE LOOK 5

Monument Community Partnership, Families Thrive, STAND in PRIDE, CVS (Community

Partnership to End Domestic Violence), EHST/TEM (Employment and Human Services

Dept./Team Decision Making), and of course Zero Tolerance. Though this is not a complete list,

it covers many of them, not to exclude Law Enforcement and Health Care Providers (STAND!,

2017).

Though Domestic Violence can be present in any socioeconomic setting, shelters ascribe the

rise in abuse to stress and financial issues, such as job loss. For couples who are experiencing

high levels of stress due to financial strain, DV is 3 times more likely to occur in their

relationship than when financial strain is low. Domestic violence takes the lead in women and

childrens homelessness and these victims are more likely to experience serious health issues

later. It is estimated over 90 percent of women who are homeless have been severely abused

physically or sexually during their lifetime. This is a big part of the population that STAND!

serves, but they also have prevention programs specifically for men and boys (STAND!, 2017).

These are the people and populations that I as an intern at STAND! will be serving as well as well

as the community.

As I have already discussed with my supervisor and the Tier 2 group, I am worried that I will

not say the right thing when dealing with people in crisis. I am worried that I will not have the

answers to the questions when asked. What I learned was that when people call in crisis, more

than anything, they just want someone to listen to them. As my supervisor said, STAND!s Crisis

Line is not 911 and those types of calls are not the norm. I have been able to discuss with my

supervisor, my concerns regarding my internship role as they have come up and she is always

great about talking with me. I could not have asked for a better place to learn.
AN INSIDE LOOK 6

Resources

GuideStar. (2017). Stand for families free of violence. Retrieved from

https://www.guidestar.org/profile/94-2476576

STAND! (2017). Stand for families free of violence. Retrieved from http://www.standffov.org/