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Lighthouse
Domestic Violence
   
Drug and/or Alcohol
     
Consulting Services
 
History and Case Stories
         
Lighthouse
Domestic Violence
Drug and/or Alcohol
Consulting Services
History and Case Stories
Lighthouse
Domestic Violence
Drug and/or Alcohol
Consulting Services
History and Case Stories
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Organizational Story
Lighthouse
Training Center Inc., is a non-profit corporation that was certified by the State of
Colorado on March 27, 1990. Lighthouse Training Center spent five years formulating a
therapeutic supportive treatment model based on the concept of a healthy balanced life
style. The tax-exempt status 501(c)(3) was granted June 17, 1994, based on Mi Casa de
Transiciones, the first project of the Lighthouse Training Center.
The
United Way stated in their May 4, 1995 Statistical Evaluation of the Established Needs and
Trends within the Field of Health and Human Services in Pueblo County Colorado:
"The
construction of a safe environment that attends to domestic violence-specific issues is
essential for victimized women and children, to avoid re-victimization, or a return to the
streets. There are an estimated 1,131 children in Pueblo County in need of outpatient
mental health services, that do not qualify for treatment for the chronically mentally ill
(CMI). Particularly susceptible are women and children, who are victims of domestic
violence. Repeated experiences of victimization produce long-term effects of emotional
numbness, extreme passivity, helplessness and apathy. Also susceptible are children, who
are victims of abuse. In 1993, there were over 3,200 reports of child abuse in Pueblo
County, but the actual number of cases is estimated to be two times as great. (Pueblo
Child Advocacy Center). ...Over one half of female heads of household with children were
living below the poverty level."
The
future need for Mi Casa de Transiciones is assured by the sheer numbers of potential
clients, the dearth of existing programs, and the requisite of procedures, long term and
goal oriented in nature. Mi Casa’s success is based on the high level of personal
commitment and motivation required of clients, a screening process, which insures
enrollment of those most ready for utilizing services, and a creative staff and program
design, which not only inspires but, also demands a synergistic focus. Children as well as
parents begin to create a future marked by self-confidence, respectful and dependable
interactions and relationships of trust and integrity. The internalization of additional
positive skills and values is the key to interrupting the cycle of abuse and addictions,
moving a "client" to the status of "former client" and giving relief
to numerous overburdened systems.
Lighthouse
Training Center projects are governed by a voluntary Board of Directors. Mi Casa de
Transiciones opened as the Non-Residential Service Center in Pueblo, Colorado on June 13,
1994. The first services included supportive and educational groups. By December of 1994
demand for services required providing a 24-hour crisis pager and adding an outreach
program which included surplus food delivery.
Goals for
1995 included expanding and opening a transitional home where women and their children may
live for up to two years. This was accomplished when the transaction for the first
residential property was closed on August 30, 1995. The Senior Resident assumed
responsibility on October 1, 1995 and the first family moved in November 10, 1995. It is
anticipated that up to 16 women and children will eventually occupy the transitional home.
In 1996 the garage was converted to handicapped accessible living space and the basement
bathroom was competed. The project to frame the basement began and the playground and
basketball courts were installed. The first resident graduated on October 25, 1996. 1997
saw the completion of the privacy fence and the beginning of the completion of the living
space in the basement.
In August
of 1997 the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRC) congratulated Mi
Casa as one of only fifteen programs in the whole United States reviewed as a model
Creative Approaches Program. The reviewer who lived on site with the clients
for several days stated publicly "Mi Casa is the essence of empowerment."
1998...
1998 was
a very exciting year! A Positive Connection the second project of Lighthouse Training
Center opened and all Lighthouse Training Center programs were approved in June by ADAD,
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division of the State of Colorado, as approved substance abuse
providers. This was important, as 100% of the victims served by the residential program
and TC to date have also been substance abusers as well as victims of family violence.
It is important
to note: In 1998, an important study data was published both by the National Institute of
Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, validating the need
for programs which link chemical dependency and domestic violence treatment. This was a
first in the industry and Mi Casa is on the cutting edge.
1999...
Goals in
1999 successfully included continued collaborative efforts with the communities served and
on going resource development. Important goals also included continued quality
improvement, ongoing board and organizational development.
Work toward completion of the basement also continued. Resources were still
needed for the ceiling, carpeting, and furnishings in the basement living area at the safe
house.
2000...
2000 was a year
of success and accomplishment. A Positive
Connection doubled in size and now provides the monies to pay the Mi Casa mortgage. The first graduate, from Mi Casa de
Transiciones, Erma Espinoza, was named “Educator of the Month” (October
2000), by the Latino Chamber of Commerce.
The new “working” Board really worked hard to successfully enhance
administration. Work on the basement finish
continued. Over 200 needy at-risk
children received Christmas gifts and blessings from the community collaborative efforts
of Operation Merry Christmas 2000.
2001...
2001 is
expected to be a very exciting year. Basement
completion will finally be accomplished which will double bed capacity. Growth of A Positive Connection also continues and
former clients provide on going success stories of lives changed and improved.
Future...
Long term goals
(5-10 years) still include completion of building acquisition and start up of a
Therapeutic Day Care for children as well as future expansion of the non-residential
service centers to include primary prevention activities.
Financial History
Mi Casa
de Transiciones acquired the first residential property utilizing down payment funds
totaling $40,000 via a $33,000 Federal Home Loan grant and $7,000 provided by the Temple
Hoyne Buell Foundation. The first year mortgage payments were paid by a grant from the JJJ
Foundation. Bonfils-Stanton Foundation also provided $10,000 toward making the building
acquisition possible and when Packard Foundation provided their 3rd grant to Mi Casa,
their $9,000 gift to Mi Casa was used toward occupancy for 1997. The mortgage payments are currently $750 monthly
and are paid by contributions and client fees from A Positive Connection.
The Rawlings Foundation contributed $1,000 which
provided a security system at the residential home Pueblo Day Nursery Children’s
Foundation has in the past given Mi Casa $4,500 for a play ground at the residential home,
and another $6,000 for fencing and landscaping and a third grant with funds to pay for
supplies for the children’s programs. Mervyns, Bonfils-Stanton, and Boeing as well as
various Churches and a dance studio and community service workers have provided labor and
materials toward completing the living space in the basement. To completely finish the
full basement into a living space, funds for a ceiling and carpet are still needed.
Additional
grants by Temple Hoyne Buell, JJJ Foundation, funds from the Victims Assistance and Law
Enforcement Fund (local VALE), a small grant from the City of Pueblo, as well as the
Reebok Anti-trust grant, funding from Comprecare Foundation, Anschutz Foundation, Pacific
Aero Manufacturing, Boeing, First Baptist Church, Broadway Christian Church, Saint Frances
Cabrini, Rye Church of Christ, and hundreds of other churches, businesses, and individuals
have provided a way for services at Mi Casa to continue over the years. The first grant from Graham Foundation provided
funds for public relations and for the job development project. The second grant from Mr. Joe Emmons of the Graham
Foundation provided the way to open the doors of A Positive Connection the second project
of the Lighthouse Training Center. A Positive
Connection provides out patient DUI classes and Anger Management sessions for teens. Committed volunteers and tenacious perseverance by
the grace of God have kept the program’s doors open one day at a time.
In 2000 the
David and Lucille Packard Foundation provided their fourth grant and the funds to
formalize program administration and Doors of Hope invested in program expansion and
prevention efforts.
Thank you
for your interest in developing a more informed understanding of Mi Casa de Transiciones,
a program ahead of her time in providing alternatives to women and children who which,
have experienced family violence and who are searching for real possibilities and a new
beginning.
History and Case Stories
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