Domestic Violence
Overview
The Blaine Police Department is proud to partner with the locally based Alexandra House, whose goal is to end violence for women, families and communities. The Alexandra House provides numerous area of support related to domestic violence.
Order for Protection Project
Purpose
In January 2002, Alexandra House began the Order for Protection (OFP) Project, which provides free legal representation to victims of domestic violence in Anoka County seeking Orders for Protection and Harassment Restraining Orders. Orders for Protection are court orders designed to protect victims of domestic violence from their abusers.
Referral Sources
People are referred to the OFP Project from a variety of sources, including:
- County social services
- Family court
- Law enforcement personnel
- Victim witness and others
Process
Those involved with the OFP Project are able to work with an attorney who guides them through the process. Additionally, Alexandra House advocates assist in preparing them for court, accompany them to hearings and work closely with the OFP Project attorney at every stage of the process.
The OFP Project Attorney also conducts "Family Law Information Sessions" on the second Tuesday of each month. These sessions are designed to educate victims of domestic violence on:
- Child support
- Custody
- Divorce
- Paternity
- Protection orders
- Visitation
Purpose
The Community Program provides advocacy and support services to Anoka County women, children and families who are experiencing violence in their lives, but who may not necessarily need emergency shelter. Advocates work in the civil and criminal courts, health care and educational/school settings.
Violence Prevention
In addition to direct service provided to individuals experiencing violence in their lives, Alexandra House Community Program includes a Violence Prevention Program.
Through this program, an advocate works directly with the schools in the Anoka-Hennepin and Spring Lake Park School Districts to provide violence prevention presentations to classrooms from kindergarten through high school. Presentations are offered on a variety of topics, including:
- Child abuse
- Dating violence
- Domestic violence
- Healthy relationships
- Respecting each other
- Safety planning
Additionally, the Violence Prevention Advocate works directly with middle and high school students who have experienced violence in their homes, among peers or in dating relationships, providing individual and group support, crisis intervention, safety planning and referrals.
Choose Respect Project
Alexandra House has recently piloted the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) project "Choose Respect." Through teaching middle school-aged youth to respect themselves and others, future violence and risky behaviors can be prevented.
Purpose
The Shelter Program provides individual advocacy and support to women and families during their stay at the shelter. The shelter operates 24 hours a day and can accommodate up to 35 women and children. Families served by Alexandra House represent every economic, cultural, educational and lifestyle demographic.
Support for Women
Advocates
Women's Advocates work closely with resident women, offering support and connecting them to valuable community resources, such as:
- Economic assistance
- Education/Job training
- Housing resources
- Legal advocacy services
- Medical services
- Safety planning
Support Groups
Support Groups are an integral component of the program and are offered several times each week. Topics include:
- Community resources
- Domestic Violence education and support
- Parenting
- Self-esteem
Support for Children
Family Advocates work with the children residing in the shelter, partnering with the Women's Advocates and also working closely with the mothers to provide comprehensive, wrap-around services for the entire family. Family Advocates offer support on issues such as:
- Child abuse
- Safety planning
- Self-esteem
- Sexual abuse