Safe Harbor Center: FY2021 Annual Report

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Together, we can end child abuse and neglect.

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Safe Harbor Center 1526 Norwich Street Brunswick, GA 31520 912-267-6000 www.safeharborcenterinc.org

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Annual Report FISCAL YEAR 2021 J U LY 1 , 2 0 2 0 - J U N E 3 0 , 2 0 2 1


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Executive Staff __________ Leslie Hartman, LPC Executive Director

Andrea Belton

Director, Children’s Advocacy Center & Connie Smith Rape Crisis Center

Leslie Hartman, LPC Executive Director

Alician Black

Director, Family Preservation

Jeff Clark

Director, Street Beat

Brittany Clay Office Manager

Keith Fenton

Director of Development

Hillary Johnston

Volunteer Coordinator & Thrift Shop Manager

Lutas LaBarba, LAPC Director, Children’s Center

Dr. Sherzine McKenzie Director, Zach’s Place

Dr. Laura Ridings

Director, STRIVE Transitional Living Services

Marion Snyder

Senior Office Manager

Board of Directors __________ Jack Windolf Chairman

Jeff Misner

Vice Chairman & Treasurer

Alice Selman Secretary

Alison Bouts Michael Butcher Courtlyn Cook Peter Feininger Senetra Haywood, Ed. S George Jackson Michael Kaufman Carrie Lewis Rachel Nash Mary Schellhorn Nicole Spannuth Dr. Shirley Wilson, MD Carrie Wessel

Dear Friends and Loyal Supporters, This past year, Safe Harbor Center celebrated a tremendous year of organizational growth and development. Collectively, all seven of our unique programs provided more than 2,898 individuals with vital services to promote security and stability for at-risk families, children, and individuals. This was the largest one-year growth since Safe Harbor was founded in 1991. Yet, we continue to strive for excellence and to produce outcomes that are impactful for our community. This past year saw our community come together in ways we could have never imagined. The COVID-19 pandemic affected every facet of life at Safe Harbor. From the children and youth served who proved to be resilient and flexible in the face of uncertainty, to the dedicated staff who showed up every day, with a smile behind their masks. From our donors, who showed incredible generosity by selflessly giving of their resources, to our volunteers who looked for every opportunity to have a meaningful impact. It is in these extraordinary moments that we are reminded that our community can stand strong in the midst of fear and uncertainty. Through it all, because of you, we continued serving. We continued answering the call of our community. We continued providing critical needs that became more difficult to meet. We continued raising our voice. And it is because of YOU that we were able to accomplish incredible feats as you will read throughout our annual report. As we celebrate our 30th Anniversary of service, we invite you to join us as we look towards our next 30 years and beyond. Together, we can continue to build on the promise we made at our founding to provide a safe sanctuary to children and youth, and always look for new and better ways to help our kids redeem the promise of their lives. We are proud to stand alongside you to serve our community, proud to work with our incredible Board of Directors, and proud of the amazing staff who continue to further solidify the critical role we play in caring for our communities most vulnerable individuals with the utmost care and compassionate support. Warmest Regards, Leslie Hartman Executive Director


Karleen and John Thompson

Sarah and Nicholas Vrolijk

Brenda Williams

Catina and Wayne Tindall

Mary and John Waters

Dale and G.T. Williams

Jeannine and Donald Torbert

Lisa Weinman

Joellen and Richard Wohlleber

Nancy and Dale Trenda

Christie Weisberg

Molly and Timothy Wolfe

Jonathan Tronolone

Gloria Wesolowski

Bootie and Royce Wood

Carolyn and Jim Trueblood

William Whittle

Ellen and Woody Woodside

Ashley Udell

Thomas Wiker

Cathy Yuhaniak

Elizabeth and William Varn, Jr.

Joanna and David Wilkins

A Year to Persevere

Bryan

Amid the challenges of COVID-19, Safe Harbor Center adapted

Corporate and Foundation Donors A & A Fire Protection, Inc.

Farm Rich

Pinova

Advent Christian Church

Fidelity Charitable

Portum

Al Brown Company

Frederica Academy

Renaissance Charitable Foundation

Amazon

Frederica Golf Club

Rich Products Corporation

Babcox

Friends of Temple Beth Tefilloh

Rotary Club of Brunswick

Beacon Risk Advisors

Golden Isles ACT, Inc.

Rotary Club of Golden Isles

Bonfire Funds Inc.

Golden Isles Mortgage, Inc.

Rotary Club of Jekyll Island

Brunswick Memorial Park Cemetery

Grand Aerie Fraternal Order of Eagles

Schwab Charitable

Gulfstream

St. Simons Community Church

Brunswick Woman’s Club

Hunter, Maclean, Exley & Dunn, PC

St. Simons Presbyterian Church

Butch Paxton Insurance Agency, Inc.

Island ACE Hardware and

St. Simons United Methodist Women

and Funeral Home

C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc.

Garden Center Johnson O’Hare Co., Inc.

SunTrust

Georgia Power, Club of

Jones Day

Target Corporation

Katz Helen & Ray Whittle,

The Links, Inc. Brunswick Chapter

Coastal Computer Consulting

Jr. Foundation INC. King and Prince Seafood Corp.

Torras Foundation, Inc.

Communities of Coastal

KJ Clothier

Uncle Don’s Local Market

Maggie Dutton State Farm Insurance

United Methodist Women of First

Winn Dixie

Mary Jo Prater, Inc.

United Methodist Church

Community Foundation of

Matthews Children’s Foundation

Brunswick

the Chattahoochee Valley, Inc

Merrill Lynch

United Way of Coastal Georgia

Davis Love III Foundation, Inc.

National Financial Services LLC

Whatley Pediatric Dentistry

Delaney Restaurant Group, Inc.

Northern Trust

Dentistry in Redfern

Pearl Insurance

Jeff Davis

Appling

Long

Wayne

McIntosh

Glynn

Camden

Because of you…

Every effort has been to ensure the accuracy of this listing. If your name has been inadvertently omitted or listed incorrectly, please accept our apologies and contact our office at 912-267-6000. Safe Harbor Center recognizes donations within our fiscal year, July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. The listing recognizes gifts of $100 or more. We are deeply grateful to those who contributed gifts under $100. The constraints of printing this report did not allow us to list these important donors individually.

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

Liberty

The Village Oven, LLC

Coastal Oral Surgery Georgia Foundation

of progress and success.

Staples

CF Courageous Faith, LLC Hearts, Inc.

and continued serving children and families, resulting in a year

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We did more than we dreamed we could do.

We pushed ourselves and did more than ever in the 30-year history of Safe Harbor Center. In fiscal year 2021, we served 2,898 children and families throughout coastal Georgia. SAFE HARBOR CENTER

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Safe Harbor’s

Children’s Center The children and youth we serve have experienced complex, compounded trauma throughout their lives; this includes rejection by their families, exposure to violence and abuse, sexual

exploitation, and countless other hardships. After 30 years of serving children and youth in Brunswick and the Golden Isles, we continue to admire their resiliency and ability to thrive and overcome major barriers. At Safe Harbor, we walk alongside youth during their journey, guiding them while helping them understand that their value and destiny are not determined by their past trauma. Sure enough, we help them build their lives and prepare for hopeful and promising futures.

Situated amid stately live oaks in Brunswick, the city center of the Golden Isles of Georgia, Safe Harbor Children’s Center is a home for children in need of a safe, loving environment – a place where they are treated like family. Safe Harbor Children’s Center, commonly known as the Windolf Residence, serves children, ages birth to 18, who have been removed from dangerous situations as a result of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. As a long-term residential shelter, the center provides nurturing care, medical and dental services, academic tutoring, vocational guidance, recreational opportunities, and counseling and therapeutic services in a loving home-like environment. The Windolf Residence provides services designed to facilitate an intensive, comprehensive, and therapeutic services that is centered on the healing of the child. Staff offer a goal focused, learning atmosphere designed to equip youth with emotional stability, educational success, healthy hobbies, and coping skills. Through our skilled and compassionate staff, Safe Harbor serves a variety of residents based upon his or her unique, often complex, needs. Services are designed to facilitate intensive, comprehensive, and therapeutic support that is centered on the healing of the child.

The long-term impact of child abuse and neglect can be profound and may endure long after the abuse or neglect occurs. Although not all forms of abuse and neglect may cause visible injuries, the consequences for children, families, and society can last through generations. Effects can appear in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood and may affect various aspects of an individual’s physical, psychological, and behavioral development.

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Jeffrey Cristal

Marjory and Richard Hollowell

Mary O’Connor

Dale and Paul Cronin

Diane and Robert Hunteman

Cynthia and William Oliver, III

Katherine Darby

Alanson Johnson

Richard Ordeman

Toni Davies

Jean and Todd Jones

Lindy Ott

Tiffany Davis

Joy and Mike Cook

Stanley Pace

Barbara and Fred DeRatto

Nan and John Keach

Richard Palmer

Nina Dmetruk

Charles Keenan

Nancy Pandolfi

Dr. Michael Dunn

Nardis and Mike Kellar

Ronald Parks

David Durant

Maryalice Kimel

Cheryl Parsons

Tamara Durn

Diane and Ray Knight

Senator and Mrs. David Perdue

Walt Dykes

Cathy and Stan Kyker

Kevin Perry

Bill Eckerd

R. Michael LaBounty

Paige Pinson

Laura and Bill Edenfield

Farrell Lafont

Sher Pollard

Martha and Lamar Ellis

John Lane

Julia and Lawrence Pollock

Thomas Elsberry

Mary and Mark Langlais

Sophia Porson

Julie and Eric Epstein

Robert Lee

Susan Portman

Joann and Ron Eulenfeld

Chris Lincoln

Mary Jo and Bob Prater

Lane Farrar

Efren Lopez

Therese Raimondo

Mary Feldman

Jeffrey Lutz

Cindi and David Rawlins

Keith Fenton

Mary Lynch

Vicki Ream

Kevin Fenton

John Maddox

Kay and Charles Reeves

Erin Fetzer

Claudia Malone

Lois Richter

Jacqueline Fledderman

Dr. and Mrs. Hubert Manning

Katie and Nate Rikansrud

Mary and David Folts

Lois and Tom Marchetto

Hannah Roberts

Brian Gale

J. Preston Martin

Suzanne Buckley and John Rodman

Steven Garcia

Frances Marton

Janis and Cesar Rodriguez

Emily and Martin Glickstein

Annette Mason

Geraldine Romano

Kent Goering

Nancy and John Matthews

Patty and Brent Roswall

Jackie and Tavo Gonzalez

Baba and Albert McCaffrey

Valerie Ryals

Faye and Jim Gowen

Lisa and David McCarty

Leslie and Joe Schaitberger

Amber Graff

Jeanne and Jack McConnell

Lucille Scheffer

Coreen Graff

Frances and Dennie McCrary

Beverly and Warren Schollaert

Ronda Green

Kathleen and Robert McCullough

Ashley Seabolt

Carol Guenther

Kate McKelvey

Linda and Terry Seierstad

Charlotte and Robert Guido

Frances and Dave McLean

Linda and Rusty Sewell

Sue and Bill Gussman

Gilbert McLemore

Frances Shaw

Patricia Hamilton

Keith McMahon

June Sherwood

Lynn and David Handke

Susan and Mark Mead

Susan Shipman

Dr. and Mrs. Mark Hanly

Peggy and Frank Meegan

Sandi Spier

Mary Frances and Brad Harmon

Mary and George Mellon

Adam Stock

Pamela Harness

Kim Merck

Birgit and Bernard Stock

Rebecca Harper

Suzanne and Bob Miller

Rosemary and Wade Strickland

Phillis and Max Harrell

Margaret Mitchell

Sally and Tommy Stroud

Jane Harris

Tim Mitchell

Cheryl Surface

Leslie and Ben Hartman

Denise and Warren Morgan

Katherine and Hudson Swafford

Jennifer and Greg Hauck

Michele & Dean Morris

Ruth Swann

Jared Hayes

Martin Mueller

Andrew Taylor

Anne and Roy Hodnett

Deborah and Peter Murphy

Frances Teel

Hank Holcomb

Don Murphy

Angela Thaxton

Beth and Tommy Holder

Kris Nelson

Karen Thompson

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Safe Harbor Center gratefully acknowledges our generous supporters Harbor Society Members The Safe Harbor Giving Society represents those whose vision and leadership in giving ensures the long-term sustainability and transformational impact of Safe Harbor’s future growth and development. Carl Adamek Leonard Bevill Melissa and Bob Blanchard Tori and Braye Boardman Mark Boozer Alison and Larry Bouts Mila and Troy Bouts Melanie and R. Byron Brown Randy Bryant Rebecca and James Calvert William Carmichael Jonathan Case Bill Coleman Kim and Carl Coolidge Lori and Alex Crispo Angel and Steve Deedy Ashley Dopf Andrea Dove Wells Ellenberg Timme and Peter Feininger Glenn and Scott Ferrell Kathleen and Kevin Flynn Alice Glenn Coreen and Chris Graff Jonathan Haney Lee Haverstock Charles Herman Pat and Jim Hill

Mary Louise and Dwayne Hoven Margaret Hutchinson Amanda and Ashley Johnson Anne-Marie and Matthew Jones Christina and Glenn Jones Bentley and Michael Kaufman David Kaufman Jeanne Kaufmann and Roger Ryan Elizabeth and John Killgallon Tina and Bill Kirby Kyle Kirkman Heath Lambert Gail and Scott Ledbetter John Lorentz Kevin Lormand Patrick Malone Martha Martin Dianne and Robert Matthews Claudia and Tom McIlvain Karen and Jeff Misner Diana and Reg Murphy Vicki and Dennis Myers Tyson O’Brien Randy Pace Jane and Paul Parker Page Pate Patrick Perger Jr

Jane and Joe Prendergast Minette and Buzz Raborn Thomas Rooke Eugene Scanlon Estate of Lee Scheinman Dr. Angela Scott Alice Selman Catherine and Howard Seymour Sarah Simpson Chuck Smith Naryan Solow Dan Speight Ron Stock Kevin Teichman Emmy Temples Chris Templeton Diane and Gary Tjaden Robin Tondra Bill Townsend Michael Votta Keith Wayne Cary and Herron Weems James Wethern Neal Williams Muriel and Jack Windolf Susan Rushing and Jim Windolf

Individual Donors Francis X Amsler

Lynda Bisher

Jonathan Clarkson

Verna and Jack Atkins

Elizabeth and Terry Boettcher

Adgate and Dargan Cole

Kelli and Doug Bacon

Celia and James Boykin

Courtlyn Cook

June and James Baumoel

Bryce Brock

Susan and Bruce Corbett

Judy Benjamin

Sue and Chuck Cansler

Brian Corry

Shirley and James Berliner

Drs. Ashley and Buck Cavalier

Kathleen and Chuck Cottone

Patti and Mike Birdsong

Shellee Christensen

Claire Crispo

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56

children and youth served

Age range of those served:

11-17 years

51% Boys

49% Girls

Reasons for placement: physical or sexual abuse child abandonment and neglect

55%

45%

Because of you… We were able to provide a loving home and 24/7 care for 56 abused and neglected children at Safe Harbor Children’s Center. The children and youth served were able to escape years of torment and abuse and regain a sense of hope and purpose. Safe Harbor ensured the health and well-being of each child served by providing 366 medical and dental appointments free of charge. Residents of the Windolf Residence learned effective ways to cope with distressing feelings and traumarelated memories of their own abuse by participating in 3,010 therapeutic counseling sessions. 100% of children served demonstrated significant academic improvement after participating in Safe Harbor’s robust academic tutoring program.

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A Walk In Our Shoes…

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By residents of Safe Harbor Children’s Center

We were faced with the task of telling where we’ve come from. Before we do, we ask that no one here

again. Having a mother who never loved you is a tough pill to swallow but having a mother who loved you enough to get clean and once again put drugs first is a pill who chose to spit out entirely. From January 2018 until recently, we bounced from home to home taking care of each other and going unnoticed by the state once again.

feels any sympathy. We want our story to

move mountains, not bring any more tears.

We caught our breath in August of 2019 when Safe Harbor had two beds available – one for a girl and one for a boy. I no longer had to work to feed the two of us. My brother didn’t have to steal to have school clothes. We were together and each of our needs were met and not because we were breaking our backs to meet them on our own. Being at Safe Harbor, I’ve learned a lot about myself and I’ve worked hard to improve because there is always someone behind me, pushing me, telling me the things I need to hear. Today, I leave our Children’s Center to start a new chapter of my life at STRIVE (Safe Harbor’s Transitional Living Center for young women) where I’ll be focusing daily on how to better prepare myself for life after 18. I am confident in taking a step away from my brother because I knew he is in good hands. My brother and I are here to attest that God truly gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.

A stranger is someone you have no emotional connection to and there is no emotional connection to you. On October 23rd, 2005, I was born to a stranger. A few days later, I went home to a grandmother who loved me unconditionally until God took her home. Because of her, I had an escape until I was 7 years old. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for my brother. You see, living with my mother was like waking up in a mine field. You never knew where you were sleeping that night or where your next meal was coming from. This is typically what happens when you’re put second to something, whether it’s drugs or even a man. Your significance is cut in half. That being so, between the two of us, we have faced every hardship you can imagine. There were days we were so hungry that we went to sleep so that we felt nothing at all. There were days we sat in the guidance counselors’ offices being questioned about marks and bruises. Standing here today, you only see half of something beautiful. We have two younger sisters, ages 9 and 5. My mother was good at tearing things apart and leaving greatness in her path. From age 7 to 11, I was neglected, abused and took every beating I possibly could for my three younger siblings. Each of my mothers’ boyfriends brought a new nightmare within themselves.

The truth is, you’d have to walk a thousand miles in our shoes just to see what it’s like to be us, or any of the kids here, because words don’t do the years justice. My shoes are shoes that I wouldn’t wish to see anyone else walking in. My shoes are shoes that I took off and put on the rack when I became a resident here at Safe Harbor.

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FY2021 Financial Summary

Safe Harbor Center’s financial strength comes from the dedication and generosity of our loyal donors. Safe Harbor Center remains committed to the careful stewardship of all that is entrusted to us – from the children and youth we serve to the contributions of faithful supporters. We believe that excellence of our business operations is crucial to our children’s care; therefore, we are committed to transparency and financial independence.

Sources of Funding

2,843,636 Federal Grants

$

Uses of Funding

90%

598,501 Contributions

$

Programs & Services

% 6 Administrative Where We’ve

INVESTED

Total Revenue $4,700,716

Development

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

safe

The system failed us, day in and day out. While living in a hotel, our mother was arrested for the first time. We had never known our fathers so my brother and I were taken into the system and separated. After spending three months in jail, our mother was given the option of drug court, to which she agreed. This is what brought us to Brunswick and me to Safe Harbor for the first time.

1,258,579

$

Program Remuneration

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By the time I was 13, I went home to a sober mother. She had three years of sobriety, working a great job with all four of us children living with her in a nice home, but that wasn’t enough to keep her clean. In January of 2017, she met and married a man within a 9-day time period. By January 22nd, our mother was gone and addiction became our reality once

ar b or In fiscal year 2021, 90% of gifts went directly to the care of children and programs benefiting their overall development, far exceeding the 65% standard set forth under national ethical guidelines.

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4%

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Safe Harbor

Connie Smith Rape Crisis Center The Connie Smith Rape Crisis Centers provide valuable services to support the physical and emotional healing of sexual assault victims and their families. With locations in Glynn, Appling, Camden, and Wayne counties, services include forensic medical examinations, follow up medical services, 24-hour crisis line, crisis intervention, advocacy services, and therapeutic counseling. Safe Harbor’s Connie Smith Rape Crisis Centers serves anyone impacted by sexual violence, including men, women and children, and their non-offending friends and family members. We support and empower survivors and educate the community to end sexual violence. We help to ensure a responsive medical community, sensitive law enforcement and an active prosecution system. We offer a continuum of care – from intervention to prevention and advocacy, including wrap-around resources.

Forensic Medical Examinations

Our comprehensive Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Services include: • 24/7 Crisis Intervention and Emotional Support 1-800-205-7037 • Medical Accompaniment • Victim Advocacy • Legal Advocacy • Georgia Crime Victim Compensation Application • Counseling Referrals • Information Referrals • Follow-up Case Management

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The purpose of the forensic medical exam is to assess a victim’s health care needs, coordinate treatment of any injuries and collect evidence for potential use during case investigation and prosecution. Since the body is the crime scene, evidence is time-sensitive and may only be present until the victim bathes, washes and/or urinates. A forensic medical examination is performed by our specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) for the purpose of evaluation and treatment of trauma, treatment of possible exposure to infection, referral to counseling and follow-up medical care, and for the collection of evidence following a report of sexual assault by a victim.

Sexual violence can happen to anyone – regardless of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or religion. Victims of sexual assault include infants, adults in later life, people of color, LGBT individuals, individuals with disabilities, women and men. In Georgia, it is estimated that 1 in 6 adult women and 1 in 21 adult men will be a victim of an attempted or completed sexual assault in her/his lifetime

Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Services

When a child, teen, or adult experiences a personal violation of sexual harm, many thoughts and emotions run through one’s mind. The experience is complicated when the person who coerced or forced the encounter is known to or part of the victim’s family or social group. Our Connie Smith Rape Crisis Centers provide crisis intervention and advocacy services for victims and secondary victims by providing support during and after case management, during acute and delayed medical exams and by connecting victims with needed assistance, resources and next steps. Advocacy services provide support for children’s forensic interviews.

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Victims of Sexual Assault Served

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Safe Harbor

Zach’s Place Zach’s Place is Safe Harbor’s Runaway & Homeless Youth Emergency Shelter (RHY) providing for the immediate needs of homeless and runaway children and youth up to age 17 in Glynn County, Georgia. At Zach’s Place, children and youth receive safe, temporary housing, food, clothing, healthcare, counseling, and the encouragement to fulfill their potential and successfully contribute to society. The primary purpose of the Basic Center Program is to provide temporary shelter and counseling services to youth who have left home without permission of their parents or guardians, have been forced to leave home, or other homeless youth who might end up in contact with law enforcement or in the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems.

Runaway and Homeless Children and Youth, ages 9 months – 17 years of age, were served at Zach’s Place

Services are provided in a two-story home that includes eight beds (4 boys, 4 girls), two-and-a-half baths, a large living room, study room, dining room, kitchen, laundry area, family visitation area and activity center, as well as administrative offices for staff. The continuum of counseling services includes aftercare counseling for families. Services provided include: •

Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Crisis Intervention

24 Hour Telephone Crisis Line

Individual, Family, and Group Counseling

3 Meals and 3 Snacks Daily

After School Tutorial and Drop In Center

Weekly Life Skill Groups

Recreational Services

After-care Services

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106

58% 42% Male

Female

Nicole is a 14-year-old female

who entered into our homeless youth shelter two times this year. Her mother was abusive and refused family counseling or any other help. Nicole was abandoned by her mother and left on her own. Like most of our youth, Nicole had little faith in adults and as a result, she kept returning to the streets. Given time and encouragement, we were able to build her trust; her mental health improved; she re-engaged in school and successfully transitioned into safe long-term housing. Nicole no longer lives on the streets. It is stories like Nicole’s that keep us moving forward on our mission, but we can only do it with your continued support.

Research has found that homelessness among young people is a fluid experience. From couch surfing to sleeping on the streets or in a shelter, the vast majority of youth do not become homeless by choice. Many different factors contribute to youth homelessness. The majority experiencing homelessness have either run away, been kicked out of unstable home environments, abandoned by their families or caregivers, involved with public systems (foster care, juvenile justice, and mental health), or have a history of residential instability and disconnection.

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Safe Harbor’s

STRIVE Transitional Living Program care of the Division of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) or who have become homeless. TLP assists female clients for 18 months to develop skills leading to self-sufficiency and independence, while providing a safe living environment. Youth reside in our group home, Hamer House, where all basic needs are met including transportation for work, school, and health purposes. Our welcoming group home has seven beds, and provides real-life experiences in education, employment, roommate and household management, and other personal growth experiences that teens need to successfully transition to adulthood.

Safe Harbor’s STRIVE Transitional Living Program (TLP) provides needed supports for youth and young adults who are most at-risk to experience violence, trafficking, unemployment, homelessness, incomplete education, and poverty. Services are designed to help young people make a successful transition to self-sufficient living while providing a safe living environment. STRIVE Transitional Living Services are made up of three interconnected programs: STRIVE Transitional Living Program (TLP), STRIVE Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF), and STRIVE Rapid Re-housing (RRH).

The purposes of a forensic interview are:

The interviewer asks questions and gives the child the opportunity to share the facts about what happened to him or her. It is a one-on-one interaction. Other members of the

35 young adults, ages 17-21, received vocational training, academic support, life skills training, case management services, and counseling services to successfully transition into independent, productive adults. I

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To assess the safety of the child

To obtain information for Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and/or Law Enforcement that will either corroborate or refute allegations or suspicions of abuse and neglect

To assess the need for medical treatment and psychological care

received personalized attention to meet his/her unique needs.

381 Forensic Interviews were conducted to aid in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse among our community’s most vulnerable citizens.

Age of Victims 0-4

Type of Trauma Experienced

14 individuals went from homeless to hopeful as Safe Harbor was able to provide short-term housing to those once living unsheltered in areas not meant for human habitation.

To obtain information from a child that may be helpful in a criminal investigation

398 Victims of Abuse were served and

Established in 2021, the Rapid Re-housing program offers housing support in the form of advisement, short-term rental assistance, and one-time utility deposit to 18 to 24-yearold individuals (parenting or not) or families (couple with or without children – no adults may be over 24) who have been verified as homeless by HUD definition. This program services youth in both the Glynn and Camden areas.

15 young women were provided a safe and loving home at Safe Harbor’s transitional living group home, Hamer House.

Because of you…

Rapid Re-housing

Our STRIVE Transitional Living Program (TLP) provides services to young women ages 17-22 who are either in the

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Recalling the details of abuse during a forensic interview can be painful. We go to great lengths to limit any additional stress or trauma for the child. The interview takes place in a comfortable space within our center, and is conducted with compassion and sensitivity by a member of the Child Advocacy Center’s forensic interview team. Our forensic interviewers receive specialized training on an ongoing basis and are subject to a structured peer review process to ensure that we continue to meet the high accreditation standards of the National Children’s Alliance.

Our Promoting Safe and Stable Families services, contracted by the Division of Family and Children Services, are intended to support youth ages 17-21 in their transition out of foster care to live independently. This is a non-residential program targeting those at high risk of homelessness without supportive intervention. Participating youth may reside with a foster family, a group home, or any other placement type within the region or may be already living on their own.

STRIVE Transitional Living Program

investigative team are able to observe the interview from another room. This collaborative effort limits the number of interviews that the child must endure and ensures that all members of the investigative team receive the same information for their work on the investigation.

A forensic interview is a structured conversation with a child intended to elicit detailed information about a possible event(s) that a child may have experienced or witnessed.

Promoting Safe and Stable Families

Each program has differences in enrollment criteria and the provision of housing, however the following services are standard across all three programs: • Case Management (Including advocacy, information, and referrals) • Daily Life Skills • Financial Literacy • Employment Support • Educational Support & Tutoring • Health & Wellness Support • Housing Support (advising) • Transportation • Mentoring • Connections to Counseling & Mental Health • Weekly Support Groups

Because of you…

Forensic Interviews

5-12

Witness to Physical or Sexual Abuse

16%

11%

Physical Abuse & Neglect

13-17 18-24

19

%

1%

35%

Ethnicity

Sexual Abuse

61%

78

%

28%

African American

8%

Hispanic

Caucasian

3% SAFE HARBOR CENTER

53%

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Other


Safe Harbor

Children’s Advocacy Centers With locations in Glynn, Camden and Wayne Counties, Safe Harbor’s Children’s Advocacy Centers serve an important role throughout the Brunswick judicial Circuit in identifying and prosecuting child abuse, and helping victims heal from their traumatic experiences. Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Centers are safe, child-focused environments for children who disclose sexual assault, physical abuse, neglect, or have observed violence and/or abuse of another person. To reduce the trauma of victims and their families, the centers utilize a multidisciplinary team approach for the identification, investigation, prosecution, treatment, and prevention of child abuse.

multidisciplinary team approach provides the organizations involved with access to more information, and streamlines evidence gathering. Victims benefit from reduced stress and anxiety with a process that involves fewer interviews and more timely referrals for needed services.

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We are accredited by the National Children’s Alliance which means our centers adhere to the highest standards of practice for child advocacy centers in the nation. Our team members are highly trained professionals who handle every case with respect, care, and compassionate support.

When child abuse is reported, Safe Harbor’s multidisciplinary team is called into action. The team consists of representatives from law enforcement agencies, the Division of Family and Children Services, medical and mental Health professionals, victim advocates, and staff members of the Children’s Advocacy Center.

The Children’s Advocacy Center’s role is to provide an interagency coordinated response center. We help facilitate the sharing of information between agencies and help keep non-offending parents updated on the status of the case. The

2.9 million cases of child abuse are reported every year in the United States. In the United States, more than 4 children die from child abuse and neglect on a daily basis. Over 70% of these children are below the age of 3. Boys (48.5%) and girls (51.2%) become victims at nearly the same rate. Children who experience child abuse/neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.

Safe Harbor’s

Street Beat Street Beat, Safe Harbor’s Street Outreach Program, addresses the needs of runaway, homeless and street youth and their families by providing services that promote safety, well-being, self-sufficiency and permanent connections with caring adults. Street Beat not only helps youth leave the streets, but also assists them in moving and adjusting to a safe and appropriate living arrangement. Many of the young people we encountered have been hurt or abandoned by the important adults in their lives. Our engagement efforts are the crucial first step in building trust between young people and our program staff, who are a supportive and visible presence on the streets, in our shelters and drop-in centers. Our street outreach team offers food, clothing and hygiene supplies, as well as information connecting youth directly to community resources, including our medical clinics, HIV prevention and testing, emergency shelters, housing programs and counseling.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Safe Harbor offered hotel/motel assistance to children and families that were either experiencing homelessness or at-risk of losing their home due to job loss or changes in their economic circumstances.

Total Individuals Served

Drop-in centers, located in local neighborhoods, provide a safe refuge from the streets, and for some young people, are the only indoor spaces they can access. We make it welcoming with events and activities in addition to hot meals, showers, laundry, computer access, and behavioral health services.

1076 864 398 Adults ages 18-above

These entry-level services give young people the support they need to formulate a plan to permanently leave street life behind.

Street-based outreach and education

24-hour access to emergency shelters

24-hour telephone services including crisis hotline

Crisis and trauma intervention

Individual assessments

Counseling services

Case management

Education and employment support

Job skills and readiness training

Information and referrals

Transportation and aftercare

The Coastal Coordinated Entry System is an important I

ANNUAL REPORT

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

Families

As the lead coordinating agency for the Coastal Coordinated Entry System, we partner with Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority, FaithWorks Ministry, Gateway Community Service Board, Salvation Army, and Saved by Grace to ensure children and families in our community have a defined way of accessing crisis response services. The coordinated entry system is a proven method of identifying how many people are experiencing homelessness, determining what supports those people may need, and then assigning appropriate supports to those to end their experience of homelessness.

Coastal Coordinated Entry System SAFE HARBOR CENTER

Children ages 0-17

process through which people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness can access the crisis response system in a streamlined way, have their strengths and needs quickly assessed, and connect to appropriate, tailored housing and mainstream services within the community or designated region.

Services include: •

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Giving a Face to Those We Served At age 18, she was kicked out of her home by her mother. She lived on the streets of downtown Savannah, where she met her husband. They worked together to become more stable and could see a brighter future lying just ahead. When she was pregnant, her husband became abusive. After giving birth to their daughter, she started a years-long journey to gather the strength and courage to leave. Finally, she escaped-but her freedom from violence came at a cost. She and her daughter, now 18-months old, were left without a place to live.

He served his country and did three tours in Iraq. He experienced death, war, and battle. He came home with an honorable discharge, post-traumatic stress disorder and few employment opportunities. One piece of bad luck followed another until he found himself sleeping in the alleyway of a shopping center. He just wants a job and the chance to get his life together again. She is a woman of a certain age, a homemaker married for 30 years before her husband left her. The last thing she would ever do is to become a burden to her grown children who live in different states. They think Mom is doing OK, but Mom is not OK. You see, she lost her house eight months ago and has been sleeping in a car every night since and visiting the library in the daytime hours trying her best to blend in.

Undiagnosed narcolepsy combined with a global pandemic meant that he found himself homeless after having to defer his college courses. With limited options of staying with extended family limited due to Covid, he couch surfed for a brief period before embarking on a roller coaster ride of sleeping in unsafe and unsheltered places.

Family Preservation Safe Harbor’s Family Preservation Program serves families in Glynn, Camden, and McIntosh counties for whom allegations of child abuse, neglect, and/or the need for additional assistance has been identified by the Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) for being in crisis, at imminent risk of having a child removed from their home, or could simply benefit from additional family support. Family Preservation services are designed to help parents and caregivers to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the needs of their children in a safe, positive, and healthy manner.

the family. Parents gain knowledge and skills that help them gain self-sufficiency, keep themselves and their children safe, and decrease factors leading to additional reports to DFCS. Family support workers serve families by implementing holistic, person-centered, and trauma-informed approaches to prepare families for self-sufficiency after the completion of services. The primary goals and objectives of Safe Harbor’s Family Preservation program include:

Family Preservation services grew out of the recognition that children need a safe and stable family and that separating children from their families is traumatic for them, often leaving lasting negative effects. These services build upon the conviction that many children can be safely protected and treated within their own homes when parents are provided with services and support that empower them to change their lives.

Assure children’s stability, safety, and well-being within the home and preserve intact families in which children have been maltreated, when the family’s problems can be addressed.

Effectively improve parenting skills by reinforcing parents’ confidence in their parenting abilities.

Help parents and families identify where improvement is needed and to obtain assistance in improving skills with respect to matters such as child development, family budgeting, coping with stress, health, and nutrition.

The program works to educate and connect parents to resources available to them within and outside the community to promote independence and resilience within

Research data from KidsCount and Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential reflects Glynn County and those within Coastal Georgia, when compared to other counties throughout Georgia, has a disproportionate higher share of families with children who are at risk of neglect or abuse, with few available options for help and support necessary to maintain family stability.

Because of you… Our Coordinated Entry System served 980 children and families in need of crisis support services in Glynn and McIntosh counties Our Street Outreach team identified and engaged 579 individuals and families, 277 children and youth under the age of 18, who were living unsheltered in cars, tents, parks, under bridges, and other locations not meant for human habitation. We provided hotel/motel accommodations to 171 children and their families experiencing homelessness as a result of COVID-19. More than 3,660 hotel/motel bed nights were provided to children and their families due to job loss or inability to maintain stable home environment. 5,780 nutrition and wellness bags were distributed to children and youth in order to meet basic nutritional and hygiene needs.

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

Safe Harbor’s

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ANNUAL REPORT

Because of you… 91 families and caregivers

acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the needs of their children in a safe, positive, and healthy manner.

85% of the families served

did not experience a second referral for services after completing the program.

97% of children were not removed from their homes and placed in foster care

160 children

now reside safely in their home without being displaced from their parent(s) or caregiver.

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

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ANNUAL REPORT


Giving a Face to Those We Served At age 18, she was kicked out of her home by her mother. She lived on the streets of downtown Savannah, where she met her husband. They worked together to become more stable and could see a brighter future lying just ahead. When she was pregnant, her husband became abusive. After giving birth to their daughter, she started a years-long journey to gather the strength and courage to leave. Finally, she escaped-but her freedom from violence came at a cost. She and her daughter, now 18-months old, were left without a place to live.

He served his country and did three tours in Iraq. He experienced death, war, and battle. He came home with an honorable discharge, post-traumatic stress disorder and few employment opportunities. One piece of bad luck followed another until he found himself sleeping in the alleyway of a shopping center. He just wants a job and the chance to get his life together again. She is a woman of a certain age, a homemaker married for 30 years before her husband left her. The last thing she would ever do is to become a burden to her grown children who live in different states. They think Mom is doing OK, but Mom is not OK. You see, she lost her house eight months ago and has been sleeping in a car every night since and visiting the library in the daytime hours trying her best to blend in.

Undiagnosed narcolepsy combined with a global pandemic meant that he found himself homeless after having to defer his college courses. With limited options of staying with extended family limited due to Covid, he couch surfed for a brief period before embarking on a roller coaster ride of sleeping in unsafe and unsheltered places.

Family Preservation Safe Harbor’s Family Preservation Program serves families in Glynn, Camden, and McIntosh counties for whom allegations of child abuse, neglect, and/or the need for additional assistance has been identified by the Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) for being in crisis, at imminent risk of having a child removed from their home, or could simply benefit from additional family support. Family Preservation services are designed to help parents and caregivers to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the needs of their children in a safe, positive, and healthy manner.

the family. Parents gain knowledge and skills that help them gain self-sufficiency, keep themselves and their children safe, and decrease factors leading to additional reports to DFCS. Family support workers serve families by implementing holistic, person-centered, and trauma-informed approaches to prepare families for self-sufficiency after the completion of services. The primary goals and objectives of Safe Harbor’s Family Preservation program include:

Family Preservation services grew out of the recognition that children need a safe and stable family and that separating children from their families is traumatic for them, often leaving lasting negative effects. These services build upon the conviction that many children can be safely protected and treated within their own homes when parents are provided with services and support that empower them to change their lives.

Assure children’s stability, safety, and well-being within the home and preserve intact families in which children have been maltreated, when the family’s problems can be addressed.

Effectively improve parenting skills by reinforcing parents’ confidence in their parenting abilities.

Help parents and families identify where improvement is needed and to obtain assistance in improving skills with respect to matters such as child development, family budgeting, coping with stress, health, and nutrition.

The program works to educate and connect parents to resources available to them within and outside the community to promote independence and resilience within

Research data from KidsCount and Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential reflects Glynn County and those within Coastal Georgia, when compared to other counties throughout Georgia, has a disproportionate higher share of families with children who are at risk of neglect or abuse, with few available options for help and support necessary to maintain family stability.

Because of you… Our Coordinated Entry System served 980 children and families in need of crisis support services in Glynn and McIntosh counties Our Street Outreach team identified and engaged 579 individuals and families, 277 children and youth under the age of 18, who were living unsheltered in cars, tents, parks, under bridges, and other locations not meant for human habitation. We provided hotel/motel accommodations to 171 children and their families experiencing homelessness as a result of COVID-19. More than 3,660 hotel/motel bed nights were provided to children and their families due to job loss or inability to maintain stable home environment. 5,780 nutrition and wellness bags were distributed to children and youth in order to meet basic nutritional and hygiene needs.

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

Safe Harbor’s

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ANNUAL REPORT

Because of you… 91 families and caregivers

acquired the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the needs of their children in a safe, positive, and healthy manner.

85% of the families served

did not experience a second referral for services after completing the program.

97% of children were not removed from their homes and placed in foster care

160 children

now reside safely in their home without being displaced from their parent(s) or caregiver.

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

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ANNUAL REPORT


Safe Harbor

Children’s Advocacy Centers With locations in Glynn, Camden and Wayne Counties, Safe Harbor’s Children’s Advocacy Centers serve an important role throughout the Brunswick judicial Circuit in identifying and prosecuting child abuse, and helping victims heal from their traumatic experiences. Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Centers are safe, child-focused environments for children who disclose sexual assault, physical abuse, neglect, or have observed violence and/or abuse of another person. To reduce the trauma of victims and their families, the centers utilize a multidisciplinary team approach for the identification, investigation, prosecution, treatment, and prevention of child abuse.

multidisciplinary team approach provides the organizations involved with access to more information, and streamlines evidence gathering. Victims benefit from reduced stress and anxiety with a process that involves fewer interviews and more timely referrals for needed services.

DID YOU W? KN

We are accredited by the National Children’s Alliance which means our centers adhere to the highest standards of practice for child advocacy centers in the nation. Our team members are highly trained professionals who handle every case with respect, care, and compassionate support.

When child abuse is reported, Safe Harbor’s multidisciplinary team is called into action. The team consists of representatives from law enforcement agencies, the Division of Family and Children Services, medical and mental Health professionals, victim advocates, and staff members of the Children’s Advocacy Center.

The Children’s Advocacy Center’s role is to provide an interagency coordinated response center. We help facilitate the sharing of information between agencies and help keep non-offending parents updated on the status of the case. The

2.9 million cases of child abuse are reported every year in the United States. In the United States, more than 4 children die from child abuse and neglect on a daily basis. Over 70% of these children are below the age of 3. Boys (48.5%) and girls (51.2%) become victims at nearly the same rate. Children who experience child abuse/neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.

Safe Harbor’s

Street Beat Street Beat, Safe Harbor’s Street Outreach Program, addresses the needs of runaway, homeless and street youth and their families by providing services that promote safety, well-being, self-sufficiency and permanent connections with caring adults. Street Beat not only helps youth leave the streets, but also assists them in moving and adjusting to a safe and appropriate living arrangement. Many of the young people we encountered have been hurt or abandoned by the important adults in their lives. Our engagement efforts are the crucial first step in building trust between young people and our program staff, who are a supportive and visible presence on the streets, in our shelters and drop-in centers. Our street outreach team offers food, clothing and hygiene supplies, as well as information connecting youth directly to community resources, including our medical clinics, HIV prevention and testing, emergency shelters, housing programs and counseling.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Safe Harbor offered hotel/motel assistance to children and families that were either experiencing homelessness or at-risk of losing their home due to job loss or changes in their economic circumstances.

Total Individuals Served

Drop-in centers, located in local neighborhoods, provide a safe refuge from the streets, and for some young people, are the only indoor spaces they can access. We make it welcoming with events and activities in addition to hot meals, showers, laundry, computer access, and behavioral health services.

1076 864 398 Adults ages 18-above

These entry-level services give young people the support they need to formulate a plan to permanently leave street life behind.

Street-based outreach and education

24-hour access to emergency shelters

24-hour telephone services including crisis hotline

Crisis and trauma intervention

Individual assessments

Counseling services

Case management

Education and employment support

Job skills and readiness training

Information and referrals

Transportation and aftercare

The Coastal Coordinated Entry System is an important I

ANNUAL REPORT

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

Families

As the lead coordinating agency for the Coastal Coordinated Entry System, we partner with Coastal Georgia Area Community Action Authority, FaithWorks Ministry, Gateway Community Service Board, Salvation Army, and Saved by Grace to ensure children and families in our community have a defined way of accessing crisis response services. The coordinated entry system is a proven method of identifying how many people are experiencing homelessness, determining what supports those people may need, and then assigning appropriate supports to those to end their experience of homelessness.

Coastal Coordinated Entry System SAFE HARBOR CENTER

Children ages 0-17

process through which people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness can access the crisis response system in a streamlined way, have their strengths and needs quickly assessed, and connect to appropriate, tailored housing and mainstream services within the community or designated region.

Services include: •

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Safe Harbor’s

STRIVE Transitional Living Program care of the Division of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) or who have become homeless. TLP assists female clients for 18 months to develop skills leading to self-sufficiency and independence, while providing a safe living environment. Youth reside in our group home, Hamer House, where all basic needs are met including transportation for work, school, and health purposes. Our welcoming group home has seven beds, and provides real-life experiences in education, employment, roommate and household management, and other personal growth experiences that teens need to successfully transition to adulthood.

Safe Harbor’s STRIVE Transitional Living Program (TLP) provides needed supports for youth and young adults who are most at-risk to experience violence, trafficking, unemployment, homelessness, incomplete education, and poverty. Services are designed to help young people make a successful transition to self-sufficient living while providing a safe living environment. STRIVE Transitional Living Services are made up of three interconnected programs: STRIVE Transitional Living Program (TLP), STRIVE Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF), and STRIVE Rapid Re-housing (RRH).

The purposes of a forensic interview are:

The interviewer asks questions and gives the child the opportunity to share the facts about what happened to him or her. It is a one-on-one interaction. Other members of the

35 young adults, ages 17-21, received vocational training, academic support, life skills training, case management services, and counseling services to successfully transition into independent, productive adults. I

ANNUAL REPORT

To assess the safety of the child

To obtain information for Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and/or Law Enforcement that will either corroborate or refute allegations or suspicions of abuse and neglect

To assess the need for medical treatment and psychological care

received personalized attention to meet his/her unique needs.

381 Forensic Interviews were conducted to aid in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse among our community’s most vulnerable citizens.

Age of Victims 0-4

Type of Trauma Experienced

14 individuals went from homeless to hopeful as Safe Harbor was able to provide short-term housing to those once living unsheltered in areas not meant for human habitation.

To obtain information from a child that may be helpful in a criminal investigation

398 Victims of Abuse were served and

Established in 2021, the Rapid Re-housing program offers housing support in the form of advisement, short-term rental assistance, and one-time utility deposit to 18 to 24-yearold individuals (parenting or not) or families (couple with or without children – no adults may be over 24) who have been verified as homeless by HUD definition. This program services youth in both the Glynn and Camden areas.

15 young women were provided a safe and loving home at Safe Harbor’s transitional living group home, Hamer House.

Because of you…

Rapid Re-housing

Our STRIVE Transitional Living Program (TLP) provides services to young women ages 17-22 who are either in the

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

Recalling the details of abuse during a forensic interview can be painful. We go to great lengths to limit any additional stress or trauma for the child. The interview takes place in a comfortable space within our center, and is conducted with compassion and sensitivity by a member of the Child Advocacy Center’s forensic interview team. Our forensic interviewers receive specialized training on an ongoing basis and are subject to a structured peer review process to ensure that we continue to meet the high accreditation standards of the National Children’s Alliance.

Our Promoting Safe and Stable Families services, contracted by the Division of Family and Children Services, are intended to support youth ages 17-21 in their transition out of foster care to live independently. This is a non-residential program targeting those at high risk of homelessness without supportive intervention. Participating youth may reside with a foster family, a group home, or any other placement type within the region or may be already living on their own.

STRIVE Transitional Living Program

investigative team are able to observe the interview from another room. This collaborative effort limits the number of interviews that the child must endure and ensures that all members of the investigative team receive the same information for their work on the investigation.

A forensic interview is a structured conversation with a child intended to elicit detailed information about a possible event(s) that a child may have experienced or witnessed.

Promoting Safe and Stable Families

Each program has differences in enrollment criteria and the provision of housing, however the following services are standard across all three programs: • Case Management (Including advocacy, information, and referrals) • Daily Life Skills • Financial Literacy • Employment Support • Educational Support & Tutoring • Health & Wellness Support • Housing Support (advising) • Transportation • Mentoring • Connections to Counseling & Mental Health • Weekly Support Groups

Because of you…

Forensic Interviews

5-12

Witness to Physical or Sexual Abuse

16%

11%

Physical Abuse & Neglect

13-17 18-24

19

%

1%

35%

Ethnicity

Sexual Abuse

61%

78

%

28%

African American

8%

Hispanic

Caucasian

3% SAFE HARBOR CENTER

53%

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Other


Safe Harbor

Connie Smith Rape Crisis Center The Connie Smith Rape Crisis Centers provide valuable services to support the physical and emotional healing of sexual assault victims and their families. With locations in Glynn, Appling, Camden, and Wayne counties, services include forensic medical examinations, follow up medical services, 24-hour crisis line, crisis intervention, advocacy services, and therapeutic counseling. Safe Harbor’s Connie Smith Rape Crisis Centers serves anyone impacted by sexual violence, including men, women and children, and their non-offending friends and family members. We support and empower survivors and educate the community to end sexual violence. We help to ensure a responsive medical community, sensitive law enforcement and an active prosecution system. We offer a continuum of care – from intervention to prevention and advocacy, including wrap-around resources.

Forensic Medical Examinations

Our comprehensive Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Services include: • 24/7 Crisis Intervention and Emotional Support 1-800-205-7037 • Medical Accompaniment • Victim Advocacy • Legal Advocacy • Georgia Crime Victim Compensation Application • Counseling Referrals • Information Referrals • Follow-up Case Management

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The purpose of the forensic medical exam is to assess a victim’s health care needs, coordinate treatment of any injuries and collect evidence for potential use during case investigation and prosecution. Since the body is the crime scene, evidence is time-sensitive and may only be present until the victim bathes, washes and/or urinates. A forensic medical examination is performed by our specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) for the purpose of evaluation and treatment of trauma, treatment of possible exposure to infection, referral to counseling and follow-up medical care, and for the collection of evidence following a report of sexual assault by a victim.

Sexual violence can happen to anyone – regardless of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or religion. Victims of sexual assault include infants, adults in later life, people of color, LGBT individuals, individuals with disabilities, women and men. In Georgia, it is estimated that 1 in 6 adult women and 1 in 21 adult men will be a victim of an attempted or completed sexual assault in her/his lifetime

Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Services

When a child, teen, or adult experiences a personal violation of sexual harm, many thoughts and emotions run through one’s mind. The experience is complicated when the person who coerced or forced the encounter is known to or part of the victim’s family or social group. Our Connie Smith Rape Crisis Centers provide crisis intervention and advocacy services for victims and secondary victims by providing support during and after case management, during acute and delayed medical exams and by connecting victims with needed assistance, resources and next steps. Advocacy services provide support for children’s forensic interviews.

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

Victims of Sexual Assault Served

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Safe Harbor

Zach’s Place Zach’s Place is Safe Harbor’s Runaway & Homeless Youth Emergency Shelter (RHY) providing for the immediate needs of homeless and runaway children and youth up to age 17 in Glynn County, Georgia. At Zach’s Place, children and youth receive safe, temporary housing, food, clothing, healthcare, counseling, and the encouragement to fulfill their potential and successfully contribute to society. The primary purpose of the Basic Center Program is to provide temporary shelter and counseling services to youth who have left home without permission of their parents or guardians, have been forced to leave home, or other homeless youth who might end up in contact with law enforcement or in the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems.

Runaway and Homeless Children and Youth, ages 9 months – 17 years of age, were served at Zach’s Place

Services are provided in a two-story home that includes eight beds (4 boys, 4 girls), two-and-a-half baths, a large living room, study room, dining room, kitchen, laundry area, family visitation area and activity center, as well as administrative offices for staff. The continuum of counseling services includes aftercare counseling for families. Services provided include: •

Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Crisis Intervention

24 Hour Telephone Crisis Line

Individual, Family, and Group Counseling

3 Meals and 3 Snacks Daily

After School Tutorial and Drop In Center

Weekly Life Skill Groups

Recreational Services

After-care Services

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106

58% 42% Male

Female

Nicole is a 14-year-old female

who entered into our homeless youth shelter two times this year. Her mother was abusive and refused family counseling or any other help. Nicole was abandoned by her mother and left on her own. Like most of our youth, Nicole had little faith in adults and as a result, she kept returning to the streets. Given time and encouragement, we were able to build her trust; her mental health improved; she re-engaged in school and successfully transitioned into safe long-term housing. Nicole no longer lives on the streets. It is stories like Nicole’s that keep us moving forward on our mission, but we can only do it with your continued support.

Research has found that homelessness among young people is a fluid experience. From couch surfing to sleeping on the streets or in a shelter, the vast majority of youth do not become homeless by choice. Many different factors contribute to youth homelessness. The majority experiencing homelessness have either run away, been kicked out of unstable home environments, abandoned by their families or caregivers, involved with public systems (foster care, juvenile justice, and mental health), or have a history of residential instability and disconnection.

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A Walk In Our Shoes…

h

By residents of Safe Harbor Children’s Center

We were faced with the task of telling where we’ve come from. Before we do, we ask that no one here

again. Having a mother who never loved you is a tough pill to swallow but having a mother who loved you enough to get clean and once again put drugs first is a pill who chose to spit out entirely. From January 2018 until recently, we bounced from home to home taking care of each other and going unnoticed by the state once again.

feels any sympathy. We want our story to

move mountains, not bring any more tears.

We caught our breath in August of 2019 when Safe Harbor had two beds available – one for a girl and one for a boy. I no longer had to work to feed the two of us. My brother didn’t have to steal to have school clothes. We were together and each of our needs were met and not because we were breaking our backs to meet them on our own. Being at Safe Harbor, I’ve learned a lot about myself and I’ve worked hard to improve because there is always someone behind me, pushing me, telling me the things I need to hear. Today, I leave our Children’s Center to start a new chapter of my life at STRIVE (Safe Harbor’s Transitional Living Center for young women) where I’ll be focusing daily on how to better prepare myself for life after 18. I am confident in taking a step away from my brother because I knew he is in good hands. My brother and I are here to attest that God truly gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.

A stranger is someone you have no emotional connection to and there is no emotional connection to you. On October 23rd, 2005, I was born to a stranger. A few days later, I went home to a grandmother who loved me unconditionally until God took her home. Because of her, I had an escape until I was 7 years old. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for my brother. You see, living with my mother was like waking up in a mine field. You never knew where you were sleeping that night or where your next meal was coming from. This is typically what happens when you’re put second to something, whether it’s drugs or even a man. Your significance is cut in half. That being so, between the two of us, we have faced every hardship you can imagine. There were days we were so hungry that we went to sleep so that we felt nothing at all. There were days we sat in the guidance counselors’ offices being questioned about marks and bruises. Standing here today, you only see half of something beautiful. We have two younger sisters, ages 9 and 5. My mother was good at tearing things apart and leaving greatness in her path. From age 7 to 11, I was neglected, abused and took every beating I possibly could for my three younger siblings. Each of my mothers’ boyfriends brought a new nightmare within themselves.

The truth is, you’d have to walk a thousand miles in our shoes just to see what it’s like to be us, or any of the kids here, because words don’t do the years justice. My shoes are shoes that I wouldn’t wish to see anyone else walking in. My shoes are shoes that I took off and put on the rack when I became a resident here at Safe Harbor.

Safe Harbor

safe ar b or

FY2021 Financial Summary

Safe Harbor Center’s financial strength comes from the dedication and generosity of our loyal donors. Safe Harbor Center remains committed to the careful stewardship of all that is entrusted to us – from the children and youth we serve to the contributions of faithful supporters. We believe that excellence of our business operations is crucial to our children’s care; therefore, we are committed to transparency and financial independence.

Sources of Funding

2,843,636 Federal Grants

$

Uses of Funding

90%

598,501 Contributions

$

Programs & Services

% 6 Administrative Where We’ve

INVESTED

Total Revenue $4,700,716

Development

YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

safe

The system failed us, day in and day out. While living in a hotel, our mother was arrested for the first time. We had never known our fathers so my brother and I were taken into the system and separated. After spending three months in jail, our mother was given the option of drug court, to which she agreed. This is what brought us to Brunswick and me to Safe Harbor for the first time.

1,258,579

$

Program Remuneration

h

By the time I was 13, I went home to a sober mother. She had three years of sobriety, working a great job with all four of us children living with her in a nice home, but that wasn’t enough to keep her clean. In January of 2017, she met and married a man within a 9-day time period. By January 22nd, our mother was gone and addiction became our reality once

ar b or In fiscal year 2021, 90% of gifts went directly to the care of children and programs benefiting their overall development, far exceeding the 65% standard set forth under national ethical guidelines.

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

4%

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SAFE HARBOR CENTER

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ANNUAL REPORT


Safe Harbor Center gratefully acknowledges our generous supporters Harbor Society Members The Safe Harbor Giving Society represents those whose vision and leadership in giving ensures the long-term sustainability and transformational impact of Safe Harbor’s future growth and development. Carl Adamek Leonard Bevill Melissa and Bob Blanchard Tori and Braye Boardman Mark Boozer Alison and Larry Bouts Mila and Troy Bouts Melanie and R. Byron Brown Randy Bryant Rebecca and James Calvert William Carmichael Jonathan Case Bill Coleman Kim and Carl Coolidge Lori and Alex Crispo Angel and Steve Deedy Ashley Dopf Andrea Dove Wells Ellenberg Timme and Peter Feininger Glenn and Scott Ferrell Kathleen and Kevin Flynn Alice Glenn Coreen and Chris Graff Jonathan Haney Lee Haverstock Charles Herman Pat and Jim Hill

Mary Louise and Dwayne Hoven Margaret Hutchinson Amanda and Ashley Johnson Anne-Marie and Matthew Jones Christina and Glenn Jones Bentley and Michael Kaufman David Kaufman Jeanne Kaufmann and Roger Ryan Elizabeth and John Killgallon Tina and Bill Kirby Kyle Kirkman Heath Lambert Gail and Scott Ledbetter John Lorentz Kevin Lormand Patrick Malone Martha Martin Dianne and Robert Matthews Claudia and Tom McIlvain Karen and Jeff Misner Diana and Reg Murphy Vicki and Dennis Myers Tyson O’Brien Randy Pace Jane and Paul Parker Page Pate Patrick Perger Jr

Jane and Joe Prendergast Minette and Buzz Raborn Thomas Rooke Eugene Scanlon Estate of Lee Scheinman Dr. Angela Scott Alice Selman Catherine and Howard Seymour Sarah Simpson Chuck Smith Naryan Solow Dan Speight Ron Stock Kevin Teichman Emmy Temples Chris Templeton Diane and Gary Tjaden Robin Tondra Bill Townsend Michael Votta Keith Wayne Cary and Herron Weems James Wethern Neal Williams Muriel and Jack Windolf Susan Rushing and Jim Windolf

Individual Donors Francis X Amsler

Lynda Bisher

Jonathan Clarkson

Verna and Jack Atkins

Elizabeth and Terry Boettcher

Adgate and Dargan Cole

Kelli and Doug Bacon

Celia and James Boykin

Courtlyn Cook

June and James Baumoel

Bryce Brock

Susan and Bruce Corbett

Judy Benjamin

Sue and Chuck Cansler

Brian Corry

Shirley and James Berliner

Drs. Ashley and Buck Cavalier

Kathleen and Chuck Cottone

Patti and Mike Birdsong

Shellee Christensen

Claire Crispo

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

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ANNUAL REPORT

56

children and youth served

Age range of those served:

11-17 years

51% Boys

49% Girls

Reasons for placement: physical or sexual abuse child abandonment and neglect

55%

45%

Because of you… We were able to provide a loving home and 24/7 care for 56 abused and neglected children at Safe Harbor Children’s Center. The children and youth served were able to escape years of torment and abuse and regain a sense of hope and purpose. Safe Harbor ensured the health and well-being of each child served by providing 366 medical and dental appointments free of charge. Residents of the Windolf Residence learned effective ways to cope with distressing feelings and traumarelated memories of their own abuse by participating in 3,010 therapeutic counseling sessions. 100% of children served demonstrated significant academic improvement after participating in Safe Harbor’s robust academic tutoring program.

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ANNUAL REPORT


Safe Harbor’s

Children’s Center The children and youth we serve have experienced complex, compounded trauma throughout their lives; this includes rejection by their families, exposure to violence and abuse, sexual

exploitation, and countless other hardships. After 30 years of serving children and youth in Brunswick and the Golden Isles, we continue to admire their resiliency and ability to thrive and overcome major barriers. At Safe Harbor, we walk alongside youth during their journey, guiding them while helping them understand that their value and destiny are not determined by their past trauma. Sure enough, we help them build their lives and prepare for hopeful and promising futures.

Situated amid stately live oaks in Brunswick, the city center of the Golden Isles of Georgia, Safe Harbor Children’s Center is a home for children in need of a safe, loving environment – a place where they are treated like family. Safe Harbor Children’s Center, commonly known as the Windolf Residence, serves children, ages birth to 18, who have been removed from dangerous situations as a result of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. As a long-term residential shelter, the center provides nurturing care, medical and dental services, academic tutoring, vocational guidance, recreational opportunities, and counseling and therapeutic services in a loving home-like environment. The Windolf Residence provides services designed to facilitate an intensive, comprehensive, and therapeutic services that is centered on the healing of the child. Staff offer a goal focused, learning atmosphere designed to equip youth with emotional stability, educational success, healthy hobbies, and coping skills. Through our skilled and compassionate staff, Safe Harbor serves a variety of residents based upon his or her unique, often complex, needs. Services are designed to facilitate intensive, comprehensive, and therapeutic support that is centered on the healing of the child.

The long-term impact of child abuse and neglect can be profound and may endure long after the abuse or neglect occurs. Although not all forms of abuse and neglect may cause visible injuries, the consequences for children, families, and society can last through generations. Effects can appear in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood and may affect various aspects of an individual’s physical, psychological, and behavioral development.

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ANNUAL REPORT

Jeffrey Cristal

Marjory and Richard Hollowell

Mary O’Connor

Dale and Paul Cronin

Diane and Robert Hunteman

Cynthia and William Oliver, III

Katherine Darby

Alanson Johnson

Richard Ordeman

Toni Davies

Jean and Todd Jones

Lindy Ott

Tiffany Davis

Joy and Mike Cook

Stanley Pace

Barbara and Fred DeRatto

Nan and John Keach

Richard Palmer

Nina Dmetruk

Charles Keenan

Nancy Pandolfi

Dr. Michael Dunn

Nardis and Mike Kellar

Ronald Parks

David Durant

Maryalice Kimel

Cheryl Parsons

Tamara Durn

Diane and Ray Knight

Senator and Mrs. David Perdue

Walt Dykes

Cathy and Stan Kyker

Kevin Perry

Bill Eckerd

R. Michael LaBounty

Paige Pinson

Laura and Bill Edenfield

Farrell Lafont

Sher Pollard

Martha and Lamar Ellis

John Lane

Julia and Lawrence Pollock

Thomas Elsberry

Mary and Mark Langlais

Sophia Porson

Julie and Eric Epstein

Robert Lee

Susan Portman

Joann and Ron Eulenfeld

Chris Lincoln

Mary Jo and Bob Prater

Lane Farrar

Efren Lopez

Therese Raimondo

Mary Feldman

Jeffrey Lutz

Cindi and David Rawlins

Keith Fenton

Mary Lynch

Vicki Ream

Kevin Fenton

John Maddox

Kay and Charles Reeves

Erin Fetzer

Claudia Malone

Lois Richter

Jacqueline Fledderman

Dr. and Mrs. Hubert Manning

Katie and Nate Rikansrud

Mary and David Folts

Lois and Tom Marchetto

Hannah Roberts

Brian Gale

J. Preston Martin

Suzanne Buckley and John Rodman

Steven Garcia

Frances Marton

Janis and Cesar Rodriguez

Emily and Martin Glickstein

Annette Mason

Geraldine Romano

Kent Goering

Nancy and John Matthews

Patty and Brent Roswall

Jackie and Tavo Gonzalez

Baba and Albert McCaffrey

Valerie Ryals

Faye and Jim Gowen

Lisa and David McCarty

Leslie and Joe Schaitberger

Amber Graff

Jeanne and Jack McConnell

Lucille Scheffer

Coreen Graff

Frances and Dennie McCrary

Beverly and Warren Schollaert

Ronda Green

Kathleen and Robert McCullough

Ashley Seabolt

Carol Guenther

Kate McKelvey

Linda and Terry Seierstad

Charlotte and Robert Guido

Frances and Dave McLean

Linda and Rusty Sewell

Sue and Bill Gussman

Gilbert McLemore

Frances Shaw

Patricia Hamilton

Keith McMahon

June Sherwood

Lynn and David Handke

Susan and Mark Mead

Susan Shipman

Dr. and Mrs. Mark Hanly

Peggy and Frank Meegan

Sandi Spier

Mary Frances and Brad Harmon

Mary and George Mellon

Adam Stock

Pamela Harness

Kim Merck

Birgit and Bernard Stock

Rebecca Harper

Suzanne and Bob Miller

Rosemary and Wade Strickland

Phillis and Max Harrell

Margaret Mitchell

Sally and Tommy Stroud

Jane Harris

Tim Mitchell

Cheryl Surface

Leslie and Ben Hartman

Denise and Warren Morgan

Katherine and Hudson Swafford

Jennifer and Greg Hauck

Michele & Dean Morris

Ruth Swann

Jared Hayes

Martin Mueller

Andrew Taylor

Anne and Roy Hodnett

Deborah and Peter Murphy

Frances Teel

Hank Holcomb

Don Murphy

Angela Thaxton

Beth and Tommy Holder

Kris Nelson

Karen Thompson

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

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ANNUAL REPORT


Karleen and John Thompson

Sarah and Nicholas Vrolijk

Brenda Williams

Catina and Wayne Tindall

Mary and John Waters

Dale and G.T. Williams

Jeannine and Donald Torbert

Lisa Weinman

Joellen and Richard Wohlleber

Nancy and Dale Trenda

Christie Weisberg

Molly and Timothy Wolfe

Jonathan Tronolone

Gloria Wesolowski

Bootie and Royce Wood

Carolyn and Jim Trueblood

William Whittle

Ellen and Woody Woodside

Ashley Udell

Thomas Wiker

Cathy Yuhaniak

Elizabeth and William Varn, Jr.

Joanna and David Wilkins

A Year to Persevere

Bryan

Amid the challenges of COVID-19, Safe Harbor Center adapted

Corporate and Foundation Donors A & A Fire Protection, Inc.

Farm Rich

Pinova

Advent Christian Church

Fidelity Charitable

Portum

Al Brown Company

Frederica Academy

Renaissance Charitable Foundation

Amazon

Frederica Golf Club

Rich Products Corporation

Babcox

Friends of Temple Beth Tefilloh

Rotary Club of Brunswick

Beacon Risk Advisors

Golden Isles ACT, Inc.

Rotary Club of Golden Isles

Bonfire Funds Inc.

Golden Isles Mortgage, Inc.

Rotary Club of Jekyll Island

Brunswick Memorial Park Cemetery

Grand Aerie Fraternal Order of Eagles

Schwab Charitable

Gulfstream

St. Simons Community Church

Brunswick Woman’s Club

Hunter, Maclean, Exley & Dunn, PC

St. Simons Presbyterian Church

Butch Paxton Insurance Agency, Inc.

Island ACE Hardware and

St. Simons United Methodist Women

and Funeral Home

C.W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc.

Garden Center Johnson O’Hare Co., Inc.

SunTrust

Georgia Power, Club of

Jones Day

Target Corporation

Katz Helen & Ray Whittle,

The Links, Inc. Brunswick Chapter

Coastal Computer Consulting

Jr. Foundation INC. King and Prince Seafood Corp.

Torras Foundation, Inc.

Communities of Coastal

KJ Clothier

Uncle Don’s Local Market

Maggie Dutton State Farm Insurance

United Methodist Women of First

Winn Dixie

Mary Jo Prater, Inc.

United Methodist Church

Community Foundation of

Matthews Children’s Foundation

Brunswick

the Chattahoochee Valley, Inc

Merrill Lynch

United Way of Coastal Georgia

Davis Love III Foundation, Inc.

National Financial Services LLC

Whatley Pediatric Dentistry

Delaney Restaurant Group, Inc.

Northern Trust

Dentistry in Redfern

Pearl Insurance

Jeff Davis

Appling

Long

Wayne

McIntosh

Glynn

Camden

Because of you…

Every effort has been to ensure the accuracy of this listing. If your name has been inadvertently omitted or listed incorrectly, please accept our apologies and contact our office at 912-267-6000. Safe Harbor Center recognizes donations within our fiscal year, July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. The listing recognizes gifts of $100 or more. We are deeply grateful to those who contributed gifts under $100. The constraints of printing this report did not allow us to list these important donors individually.

SAFE HARBOR CENTER

Liberty

The Village Oven, LLC

Coastal Oral Surgery Georgia Foundation

of progress and success.

Staples

CF Courageous Faith, LLC Hearts, Inc.

and continued serving children and families, resulting in a year

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ANNUAL REPORT

We did more than we dreamed we could do.

We pushed ourselves and did more than ever in the 30-year history of Safe Harbor Center. In fiscal year 2021, we served 2,898 children and families throughout coastal Georgia. SAFE HARBOR CENTER

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ANNUAL REPORT


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Executive Staff __________ Leslie Hartman, LPC Executive Director

Andrea Belton

Director, Children’s Advocacy Center & Connie Smith Rape Crisis Center

Leslie Hartman, LPC Executive Director

Alician Black

Director, Family Preservation

Jeff Clark

Director, Street Beat

Brittany Clay Office Manager

Keith Fenton

Director of Development

Hillary Johnston

Volunteer Coordinator & Thrift Shop Manager

Lutas LaBarba, LAPC Director, Children’s Center

Dr. Sherzine McKenzie Director, Zach’s Place

Dr. Laura Ridings

Director, STRIVE Transitional Living Services

Marion Snyder

Senior Office Manager

Board of Directors __________ Jack Windolf Chairman

Jeff Misner

Vice Chairman & Treasurer

Alice Selman Secretary

Alison Bouts Michael Butcher Courtlyn Cook Peter Feininger Senetra Haywood, Ed. S George Jackson Michael Kaufman Carrie Lewis Rachel Nash Mary Schellhorn Nicole Spannuth Dr. Shirley Wilson, MD Carrie Wessel

Dear Friends and Loyal Supporters, This past year, Safe Harbor Center celebrated a tremendous year of organizational growth and development. Collectively, all seven of our unique programs provided more than 2,898 individuals with vital services to promote security and stability for at-risk families, children, and individuals. This was the largest one-year growth since Safe Harbor was founded in 1991. Yet, we continue to strive for excellence and to produce outcomes that are impactful for our community. This past year saw our community come together in ways we could have never imagined. The COVID-19 pandemic affected every facet of life at Safe Harbor. From the children and youth served who proved to be resilient and flexible in the face of uncertainty, to the dedicated staff who showed up every day, with a smile behind their masks. From our donors, who showed incredible generosity by selflessly giving of their resources, to our volunteers who looked for every opportunity to have a meaningful impact. It is in these extraordinary moments that we are reminded that our community can stand strong in the midst of fear and uncertainty. Through it all, because of you, we continued serving. We continued answering the call of our community. We continued providing critical needs that became more difficult to meet. We continued raising our voice. And it is because of YOU that we were able to accomplish incredible feats as you will read throughout our annual report. As we celebrate our 30th Anniversary of service, we invite you to join us as we look towards our next 30 years and beyond. Together, we can continue to build on the promise we made at our founding to provide a safe sanctuary to children and youth, and always look for new and better ways to help our kids redeem the promise of their lives. We are proud to stand alongside you to serve our community, proud to work with our incredible Board of Directors, and proud of the amazing staff who continue to further solidify the critical role we play in caring for our communities most vulnerable individuals with the utmost care and compassionate support. Warmest Regards, Leslie Hartman Executive Director


Together, we can end child abuse and neglect.

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Safe Harbor Center 1526 Norwich Street Brunswick, GA 31520 912-267-6000 www.safeharborcenterinc.org

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Annual Report FISCAL YEAR 2021 J U LY 1 , 2 0 2 0 - J U N E 3 0 , 2 0 2 1


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