August Change for Good Partner: Community Works

August's Change for Good Partner is

Community Works

Founded in 1996, Community Works is the only domestic and sexual violence resource center serving Jackson County, Oregon. Community Works was created as a merger between three community organizations that had been providing crisis intervention in Southern Oregon since the mid-1970s. As a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, Community Works is funded by government and private grants, the United Way, and the generosity of our community. All of their services are free and confidential.

Community Works

Community Works is here to bring hope, support, and empowerment to those impacted by violence.

They provide crisis support, safe housing, and are in the community to help whenever needed.

Community works operates their programs, services, and activities in compliance with federal and nondiscrimination laws.

All genders are welcome. 

All services are free and confidential.

 

Community Works

 

Community Works Programs and Services

 

Housing Services

Dunn House Shelter

Since 1977, Dunn House Shelter has provided emergency housing for those fleeing abuse.  This Dunn House Shelter size allows us to provide a safe home for up to 35 beating hearts who are escaping domestic violence, dating violence sexual assault, stalking, or sex trafficking. Forty-percent of those staying with us have children. We serve all genders. Each person, or person and their children, has their own bedroom, and there are four large common spaces, as well as green spaces and gardens, all with attention to being calm, trauma-informed, and to offer a place of respite for those escaping abuse. The Dunn House Shelter is the only emergency shelter in Jackson County, Oregon for those fleeing violence, and it is staffed 24/7 with advocates. There are English and Spanish-speaking advocates who provide emotional support, safety planning, action planning, and support survivors in obtaining safe housing after they leave the emergency shelter. Because the Shelter is always staffed, these services can be offered every hour of every day. Approximately 1% of those who stay at the Dunn House are earning a living wage when they arrive. While the model of the Dunn House is a 30-day stay, due to the affordable housing crisis in Jackson County, Oregon, many residents are staying far beyond that amount of time. There has been a 50% increase in the number of days someone is staying at the Dunn House over the past five years. Ninety-percent of Dunn House residents move into stable housing.

 

Transitional Living Program 

For the past two decades, Community Works has been providing transitional housing to survivors ages 16-24 who are homeless. They are able to live rent-free for up to two years in one of the transitional living units of which Community Works has an ongoing relationship with the landlord. While they are living in one of these units, they receive ongoing supportive services through case management, life skills classes, and support in becoming employed and completing their education. Eighty-six percent of those who complete the program enter into permanent housing. Many of those who are in the program have young children of their own.

Community Works

Mobile Advocacy

Co-Located Advocates 

Our agency recognizes the need and importance for our advocates to be in the community supporting victims/survivors. We have a proactive approach to provide services by having staff in the community in order to literally meet survivors where they are, and to be accessible for survivors to access our services. Our mobile advocacy team has grown 180% over the last five years because of the success of reaching survivors, as well as partnering with other systems. We serve nearly 2,000 survivors annually by being out in the community. We partner with 20 different locations in Jackson County, and we have advocates who are out-stationed and embedded within the following locations in our community: the Jackson County Circuit Court; the Department of Human Services Child Welfare and Self-Sufficiency offices in both rural and urban areas of our county; health care providers in both rural and urban areas in our county; and, three different law enforcement agencies.  

Lethality Assessment Program

In addition, we have the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) that since its inception in 2015 has seen major success. This program coordinates the efforts of all law enforcement agencies in our county with Community Works’ advocacy services. The LAP process begins when law enforcement arrives on the scene of a domestic violence call. Using an evidence-based assessment tool, all high lethality survivors are connected immediately, via phone, to Community Works’ advocates on a designated line that is answered 24/7. This call allows survivors to enter into our Dunn House Shelter if they choose. Additionally, they are connected with law enforcement advocates for ongoing supportive services. Last fiscal year, this program provided crisis intervention services to nearly 400 survivors. Ninety-six percent of those screened in were met with services by our advocates; these services might otherwise have never been offered or known to a survivor, and a survivor who is in a very dangerous situation. Instead of law enforcement repeatedly responding to the same home, survivors are met with advocates and supportive safety services. Instead of the nearly dozen people who had been murdered because of domestic violence the year prior to implementing this program, the number of people who are killed has been dramatically reduced.

Support Groups

Our advocates also provide weekly support groups in our community. The groups use the Trauma Recovery Empowerment Model curriculum. They are offered in English and Spanish. We have certain groups that are culturally specific or trauma specific based on the needs of our community

Community Works

Crisis Intervention

HelpLine

We offer a crisis line, HelpLine, that has been in Jackson County for nearly 50 years. This crisis line is answered every hour of every day by advocates. Those who need support regarding domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sex trafficking may access our services 24/7. 

Sexual Assault Hospital Response 

We also have sexual assault advocates who are immediately called out to a hospital in Jackson County, in conjunction with a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, to provide emotional immediate, and then ongoing, support to a survivor obtaining a forensic exam after a sexual assault. All survivors of sexual assault receive follow-up supportive services.

Sex Trafficking

We have a sex trafficking intervention program. This includes an advocate who specializes in providing sex trafficking survivors advocacy support. Our agency initiated the multidisciplinary Jackson County Coalition against Sex Trafficking Team, that is run by our Sex Trafficking Intervention Coordinator. This team has been certified by Oregon’s Department of Justice. Its work includes coordinated efforts to respond to survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and provide community awareness and education.

Schools

Since 1996, Community Works has been providing support groups for children in the local school district who have experienced domestic or sexual violence. These are weekly intervention and prevention groups that teach pro-social skills, healthy relationships, and the belief system that everyone deserves to be safe and it is never okay to exert power and control over someone else.  

Community Works

To learn more about this local nonprofit and the work they are doing in our community please visit

https://www.community-works.org/

 

Change for Good

What is Change for Good?

The AFC Gives committee focuses on ways that the Co-op community can support local organizations and groups doing important work in the Rogue Valley.

2020 was the first year of Change for Good, a register round-up program to benefit a slate of ten organizations, voted on by Co-op owners, through the cumulative donations of shoppers choosing to round-up their shopping total to the nearest dollar.

From one cent to 99 cents, it all adds up to feeling good about supporting the community.

 

More Co-op News

Lisa Beam: Why I'm a Board Member

Why serve on the Board of Directors at the Ashland Food Coop? This was the question that I was faced with about a year ago.

I have lived, worked and shopped in Ashland for the last 20 years. Many of those years I have actively participated on non-profit boards, civic organizations and committees. However, in the last few years I stepped away from those responsibilities to focus on family and business life.

Henry in the Garden: The Pollinator Plan

By Henry Herting, Co-op garden volunteer

It's that fun time of the year when we get to plan our gardens. This year since our pollinators are taking such a hard hit, we are planning a pollinator garden.

Some plants that are considered good for pollinators are not so good fo the gardeners. They are invasive; they are weeds. Nobody likes weeds in their garden - who likes getting down on their knee pads and clawing at deep-rooted weeds growing in places where you don't want them?

Rogue To Go at the Co-op

We are excited to announce the official launch of Rogue To Go at the Ashland Food Co-op!

Rogue To Go is a reusable container pilot program. The pilot connects five participating restaurants by offering a reusable container that can be used for meals to-go and help eliminate single-use boxes. These O2GO containers are made locally in Bend, Oregon by OZZI. The bright green containers are 100% recyclable through a specialty recycler - truly zero waste!

How can you start using Rogue To Go? Check out the steps below and follow along with a walk-through video.

Apply for an AFC Gives community grant

For over 25 years, the Ashland Food Co-op has been re-investing in the local community by awarding grants to non-profit organizations doing important work in the Rogue Valley. Putting the seventh cooperative principle, "concern for community," into action, over $30,000 was donated in 2019 - and in 2020, there are even more opportunities for non-profits.

Click here to apply for a 2020 community grant.

The Co-op is getting a refresh

We are giving our store a much-needed fresh coat of paint. We think you'll enjoy the changes!

When

The painting team will begin our project on February 5th, 2020 with a start time of 9pm.

Where

The entire retail store, deli serving area and interior seating area will receive a fresh new coat of paint.

Timeline

If all goes as planned, our painting project should be finished by February 20.

Will Store Hours Change?

No. We will be painting from 9pm to 5am.

Explore citrus!

Looking to explore some new citrus varieties? Know more before you go! Check out the many types of sweet, sour and somewhere in between that you can enjoy at the Co-op! (Availability may vary due to seasonality.)

Explore citrus varietiesMore citrus varieties

 

Taste for Life winter wellness giveaway

It's a month of giveaways from Taste for Life!

Giveaway #1 has finished up - so it's time for #2! This giveaway runs 1/27-2/2, so sign up below.

This package includes: NOW's Sabucus Zinc-C lozenges, Mushroom Wisdom's SX-Fraction, Bluebonnet's Stress Release formula, ChildLife's First Defense immune formula, Vitafusion's Organic Women's Multi vitamin, Quantum Health's Eye Health supplement, Kyo-Green Sprouts Blend digestion supplement, Solgar's full spectrum Curcumin supplement, and Solgar's No. 7 joint comfort supplement. 

Rogue Co-ops College Scholarship

As part of the Rogue Co-ops, a group of Rogue Valley cooperative businesses that includes Ashland Food Co-op, Grange Co-op, Medford Food Co-op, and Rogue Credit Union, we're excited to offer a scholarship opportunity to local high school students planning on attending college.

The Rogue Co-ops have collectively funded a $2,000 scholarship (and Grange Co-op offers an additional eight $1,500 scholarships) for students (in public, private or home school settings) who meet the following requirements:

Become an Owner-Volunteer with the AFC Board

The AFC Board of Directors is looking for owner-volunteers for three board committees: the Owner Engagement Committee (OEC), Board Development Committee (BDC), and AFC Gives Committee. 

Sustainability Update: Building on a Strong Foundation

Sustainability Update

Our team has been working on many different projects throughout the year, taking great steps to fulfill our four sustainability goals. Our four goals to achieve by 2030 are: carbon neutrality, zero waste, eliminating toxic chemicals, and being a leader in our sustainable community. We look forward to our sustainable success in the upcoming decade! 

2020: A vision for the future through Co-ops and local food

As the 2010s come to a close, the “20/20” eyesight analogy couldn’t be more appropriate for the new decade. With our eye on the future, there’s clearly a sense of urgency and awareness of the unique times we’re living in: a changing climate, increases in costs of living, and the shared pressures of a globalized world. 

5 Items to Try: Spreads, Condiments & Snacks

It's fun trying new things! Here are five items you can find at the Co-op with a distinctly international flavor. Whether you're spreading them on some bread or naan, mixing up a salad dressing, or just want something salty and crunchy to snack on, try these out next time you want to elevate your dishes.

10 Ways to Enjoy: Ginger Spread

Sometimes you might come across a product at the Co-op and ask, "That looks good, but how in the heck can I use it in my cooking?" To answer that question, we picked this Ginger Spread made by The Ginger People (famous for their Gin-Gin candies). Grab a jar and try some of these unique applications in your own kitchen - or get inspired to utilize it in another way.

Meet Your Board: Melina Barker

Hello, Co-op members! My name is Melina Barker, and I joined the AFC Board of Directors this July. Since then, I have been busy learning about all the work the previous members have done to craft strategic goals to support the success of the AFC.

Melina Barker

 

Smart Chicken® Holiday Giving in 2019

During the month of November, Co-op shoppers can nourish their own families and help fight hunger in the Rogue Valley.

Over the years, Smart Chicken® and Ashland Food Co-op have teamed up to donate thousands of pounds of chicken to ACCESS. Smart Chicken® will once again donate Smart Chicken® products based on the total volume that shoppers purchase at Ashland Food Co-op to ACCESS.