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Middle Way House is a nonprofit domestic violence and rape crisis center dedicated to helping women and children who are the victims of domestic abuse, rape, or sexual assault. Middle Way House's mission is "to end violence in the lives of women and children by implementing or sponsoring activities and programs aimed at achieving individual and social change." [1]

To effect its mission, Middle Way has "designed and implemented programs based on an empowerment model to benefit women and children. The empowerment model is concerned with assessing not only needs but capacities as well, and encourages women and children to grow through safe and structured activities that build confidence and lead to significant change on an individual level."

Middle Way House Programs

Middle Way House provides many important services, including:

Crisis Intervention [2]

• Crisis Hotline: "24-hour a day, 7-day a week Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Hot Line staffed by paid employees and specially trained volunteers who help callers through dangerous situations, provide information and referral, and act as sympathetic listeners." (24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE: 812-336-0846)

• On-scene Advocates: On-scene advocates "respond to pages from Police Dispatch or the Bloomington Hospital Emergency Room. Advocates meet with women immediately following an incident of domestic battery, rape or sexual assault to help ease the initial trauma, work out a safety plan, and provide necessary services."

Housing [3]

Middle Way House provides emergency "shelter for women and children fleeing violence at home. The shelter is a safe place available to families until they have found an appropriate, affordable place to live." Middle Way is also involved with the development of affordable housing in the community through its Housing Development Program, which "acquires and re-habs units for low-income individuals and families," as well as through its participation in The Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Further, Middle Way House built (1998) and operates a transitional housing facility, The Rise!, which, for up to two years, "provides affordable housing for 28 poor and very poor, homeless families headed by women who have experienced life-threatening violence."

Support Services [4]

• Support Groups

Support group services are available for:

- women coping in the aftermath of domestic violence

- parents coping with single parenthood in the context of past domestic violence

- children and youth living in shelter and transitional housing

- survivors of sexual assault

For more information about Support Groups, individuals can contact the Support Group/Outreach Coordinator at (812) 333-7404.

• Case Management

"Through the case management process, residents and clients determine the shape of their future. Women's needs and capacities are assessed, interests explored, and experiences mined for job readiness preparation, if they are currently unemployed. Case workers help women articulate goals, determine action steps and time lines for their achievement, and meet with them as necessary to track progress and make adjustments to the plan. Case workers provide information and referral, encouragement in the face of inevitable setbacks, and programs designed to meet the skill needs of clients."

• Rape Crisis Center

"Through the Center, 24-hour crisis intervention is provided to victims of rape, incest, and sexual assault, and sexual harassment. As a walk-in program, advocates are available from 8AM until 6PM to speak individually with survivors in need of support. The Center works with family members and friends of victims, helping them cope with the secondary trauma of sexual assault and providing information to strengthen their support of their loved ones. A support group for survivors assaulted as adults provides ten to twelve weeks of structured discussion on the aftermath of rape, the healing process, and self-nurturing. Consultation and training is provided to other professionals in the community (counselors, teachers, physicians and emergency room personnel, law enforcement, and clergy) working with rape survivors."

For information about the Rape Crisis Center or a rape support group, individuals can contact Middle Way's Crisis Services Coordinator at (812) 333-7404.

Child care and programming [5]

Because domestic violence affects "every aspect" of children's lives, Middle Way has designed a the Children's that provides "a comprehensive range of services."

• Children's Advocate/case manager: "Children at Middle Way House have their own advocate/case manager. As soon as they are old enough, children are encouraged to meet with their advocate to discuss their interests, needs, and whatever special problems they are encountering in shelter, at school, or in the larger community."

• Childcare and Before School Services: Middle Way House operates a licensed childcare program which serves pre-school and school-age children whose parents are participating in Middle Way's programs. The program is "supervised by a licensed teacher who performs individual assessments and designs learning programs for the children aimed at helping them meet the challenges of school, family, and social and community life."

• Youth Programs: Middle Way provides after-school programs for school-age children that provide homework help and tutoring, recreation, arts and service projects, as well as mentoring opportunities.

Legal advocacy [6]

The Legal Advocacy Program has two components:

• Client advocates: "Advocates meet with clients who need help understanding their options within the criminal and civil court systems, filing pro se actions, developing victim impact statements, and preparing to give testimony, and who prefer to have someone accompany them as they meet with attorneys and prosecutors and sit through court proceedings."

• Court monitors: "Monitors attend hearings and trials and take notes characterizing the atmosphere with regard to how it might encourage or hinder the meaningful participation of victims. Periodically, the program summarizes these reports, conducts research and publishes reports on issues related to domestic violence interventions and their disposition, and produces educational packets for justice-related personnel."

Community Outreach [7]

• Community Resource Center:

"The Resource Center is open by appointment to the public weekdays from 9AM until 6PM. The contents include over 500 titles on abuse, recovery, and related issues.... The Center responds to requests for information about abuse and recovery, and regularly mails out materials about Middle Way's services and other institutional responses to abuse. Requests for speakers also are handled through the Resource Center.

Annually, Middle Way provides approximately 50 public presentations and trainings. Middle Way speakers are skilled in giving presentations & trainings on sexual assault and domestic and dating violence and have provided presentations and trainings to church groups and service clubs, other social service providers, and law enforcement

To make an appointment to visit the Resource Center or to request a speaker for groups or organizations, individuals can call (812) 333-7404.

• Rape Prevention Program

"Another one of Middle Way's successful outreach programs is the Rape Prevention Program. This program is offered to area High Schools and youth oriented organizations and programs. Teams of three (two speakers and one advocate) tailor presentations to fit the time frames and meet and special needs of the audiences. Programs encourage participants to discuss attitudes about sexual assault victims and perpetrators, provide them with information about consequences and resources, and send them home with information packets to share with their parents and friends."

Volunteer opportunities and training [8]

Middle Way House provides a range of important volunteer opportunities. All of these volunteer programs require, at a minimum, 8 hours of domestic violence training:

• Crisis Line at the shelter

• On-Scene Advocates (O.S.A.)

• Children's Program at The Rise

• Tutoring at The Rise

• Rape Prevention Program at The Rise and in schools

• Legal Advocacy at the shelter

• Women's Program Support - at the shelter

• House Management at the shelter

• Life Skills Educators at the shelter

• Administrative Development at the shelter

• Site Management Support at The Rise

• Adult Education at The Rise

• Share Store at The Rise

• Jump Start Program at The Rise

• Daytime Security at The Rise

• Food Bank at The Rise

Economic Development [9]

"Middle Way's programs are designed to enhance the earning power of. . . women by (1) providing opportunities, directly or through referral, for upgrading the skills and knowledge of individuals in, or wishing to enter, the workforce (2) encouraging the development of microenterprises, through training and access to loans, for that portion of the population looking to own a small business (perhaps operate it from home) and (3) creating agency-owned businesses that pay a living wage and provide benefits and necessary supports.

At present, Middle Way owns and operates Confidential Documents Destruction which employs four women making the transition from dependency to self-sufficiency, and Middle Way Food Works."

History

In 1981, the Middle Way House narrowed its focus to concentrate solely on the victims of domestic abuse and rape. In 2002 they created the Middle Way Food Works to serve meals and snacks to children in daycare. Middle Way Food works changed their name to Food Works for Middle Way House in 2008.

Links

• Official website: http://www.bloomington.in.us/~mwhouse/aboutus.htm