About My Sister's Place
My Sister's Place (MSP) is part of an interactive community committed to eradicating domestic violence. We provide safe and confidential emergency shelter, transitional housing, supportive programs, counseling, education and advocacy for battered women and their children. Our goal is to empower women to take control of their own lives.
Organizational Overview
In 1976, The Women's Legal Defense Fund began providing hotline support services to victims of domestic violence. In response to increasing need, MSP was founded in 1979 as a confidential, 24-hour hotline and 15-bed emergency shelter. Capacity was reached instantly, and in 1981, the agency moved to a new shelter with a 22-bed capacity. In 1989, My Sister's Place began offering transitional housing assistance to shelter residents. In fall 2010, MSP completed its initiative to expand and renovate its emergency shelter, Sanctuary Plus, to provide immediate sanctuary for up to 15 families.
Since its inception, MSP has continued to offer a confidential 24-hour emergency hotline as well as emergency shelter and transitional housing and has expanded its programs and services to include residential and non-residential counseling and case-management, community outreach and education, after-care services, and referrals to appropriate community resources. Our holistic approach aims to empower survivors, break the cycle of abuse, and prevent the next generation from repeating the pattern of domestic violence.
MSP’s programs and services currently include:
24-Hour Hotline: MSP’s confidential hotline serves as a lifeline for many battered women in the metropolitan area. Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year MSP’s counselors work with callers to develop safety plans and refer them to community resources. Approximately 2,000 callers receive support, safety planning, and referrals to appropriate community partners through MSP’s hotline annually.
Emergency Housing: MSP’s emergency shelter residents receive individual and group counseling, clinical case-management, and referrals focused on addressing the multiple barriers facing victims. In fall 2010, MSP completed its initiative to expand and renovate its emergency shelter, Sanctuary Plus, to provide shelter for up to 15 families. The 9,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility features 15 bedrooms, a children’s resource center, a secured playground, and a commercial kitchen with a full-time chef who plans nutritious meals for families. Many mothers come to MSP’s shelter in the middle of the night with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and of course, their children. The shelter’s dormitory-style design encourages a sense of community and support that reminds families that they are not alone during this tough period of their lives.
Transitional Housing: Counseling, clinical case-management, and skills development at the emergency shelter prepare clients to manage more independently in transitional housing. This program offers continuity of supportive services, while clients begin a more independent life.
Children’s Program: As in most domestic violence shelters, children comprise the largest population in MSP’s residential program. Often lacking the ability to express their fear and frustration, children who have experienced trauma act up in school and at home. MSP staff and volunteers conduct play and coloring therapy to help children express themselves in a healthy, constructive manner.
Residential and Nonresidential Counseling and Case Management: The non-residential program implements evidence-based treatment modalities for working with women and children affected by victimization. Beyond intervention, counselors collaborate with clients to address other barriers to safety and work with clients to develop goals towards independence.
Aftercare Program: Upon exiting the residential program, clients benefit from ongoing contact with case-management staff to support them in their independence. Services include counseling, referrals to community-based services, and advocacy as needed for a minimum of 90 days with the goal of providing active outreach and assisting clients in building long-term supportive systems within their communities, to reduce the likelihood of future victimization.
Community Education: Eradicating domestic violence requires a coordinated community response that embraces prevention and intervention. MSP partners with law enforcement, the legal community, clergy, and others to ensure that service providers and community members are equipped to appropriately respond to victims’ needs.
Community Outreach: MSP’s community outreach program raises awareness about domestic violence in English and Spanish with a focus on prevention and intervention through the distribution of literature, dissemination of information at events, and innovative projects.
Community Partnerships: MSP’s holistic approach and continuum of care rely on partners in the community to provide clients with referrals for programs, including but not limited to legal, housing, child-care, literacy, nutrition, life-skills training, job training and placement, educational, and medical services. Additionally, MSP also relies on community partners and individual volunteers to coordinate drives and assist with various projects, including a children’s critical thinking program, children’s literacy, nutrition education, and life-skills training.
Success Stories
The following success stories illustrate the importance of a comprehensive approach to effectively empower survivors of domestic violence and help them build independent lives, free from abuse.
Olivia came to MSP after her boyfriend of two years beat her severely over $20.00, stopping only because of her children’s cries. She arranged for a family member to care for her 9-month old daughter and fled with her four and six year old children to the emergency shelter. Already in a job-training program, she focused on helping her children overcome the trauma of witnessing domestic violence and building an independent life for her family. She soon moved into MSP’s transitional housing, where she excelled at work and built a personal support network. She left MSP a passionate volunteer with secure housing and employment, deeply proud of her “unusual path to success.”
Seven-year old Tim came to MSP’s counseling center displaying symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The second-grader had already been suspended twice from school for threatening classmates with violence. He hadn’t seen his father Aaron in 4 years, but the impact of Aaron’s abuse against Tim’s mother continued to trouble the boy. Counselors at MSP worked with Tim to address his trauma and encourage expression of thoughts and feelings through art and play therapy. In third grade, Tim excelled socially and academically and proudly smiled at his accomplishment of overcoming the trauma he had experienced.
For more information, please visit www.mysistersplacedc.org
Phone: 202-529-5261
24-Hour Hotline: 202-529-5991
Mailing Address: PO Box 29596 Washington, DC 20017
UW #: 8449 CFC #: 97535
