Advocates can help in a variety of ways. Stepping Stones, Inc. provides community education and the following comprehensive support services:
24/7 Crisis + Support Line – Whether callers are in crisis or looking for information, trained advocates can be reached any time, day or night by calling 1-715-748-5140 or 1-866-343-5140. In the past 4 years, we have responded to over 1,322 hotline calls for information and assistance. Safety Planning – Survivors can collaborate with advocates and create an individualized plan to keep them and/or their children safe. Safety plans help survivors stay safe in a current relationship or help keep them safe after they leave an abusive situation. Statistically, leaving is the most dangerous time for a survivor. Individual Peer Counseling – Our staff offers nonjudgmental emotional support. We also help survivors create a plan to reach their self-identified goals. staff are not licensed counselors or mental health therapists. We provide financial assistance to individuals in need of mental health/substance use counseling. Support Groups –Stepping Stones provides an educational, supportive group for individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Financial Classes – Free financial classes are offered on topics such as creating a household budget or savings plan. Community Referrals – Referrals are offered for a wide variety of programs and agencies throughout Taylor County and surrounding areas (food pantries, counseling, clothing, employment agencies, housing, and more). We help clients obtain services from:
• Law enforcement
• Social service agencies
• Legal services
• Healthcare providers
Personal Advocacy – Advocates provide assistance in obtaining housing, employment, and benefits (searching, applying, etc.) Stepping Stones can provide emergency financial assistance to pay for security deposits, first month’s rent, and/or utilities to help victims/survivors move into a new, safe home after leaving an abusive situation. We also utilize community donations to help survivors furnish their new homes; we can also provide food, clothing, gas, and other basic needs items. We provide transportation services to help survivors meet these objectives.
* An appointment must be made to determine eligibility for emergency financial assistance. Legal Advocacy – Advocates can offer general information about civil and criminal court procedures and attend court hearings with clients. This includes family law issues (custody, visitation, support, divorce) and providing support to victims during a criminal case against the perpetrator (from accompanying victims during the initial report to law enforcement to the conclusion of the case). We also assist with filing and obtaining Restraining Orders. Medical Advocacy – Victims/survivors are supported while receiving medical care related to abuse/assault. Stepping Stones coordinates with survivors, hospitals, and law enforcement to offer transportation to sexual assault forensic exams (to obtain evidence after a sexual assault has taken place). In 2015, Wisconsin Act 351 granted victims of certain crimes the right to be accompanied by a victim advocate. These crimes include sexual assault, human trafficking, or child sexual abuse. Safe at Home Address Confidentiality program – Stepping Stones advocates are certified providers of the Safe at Home program. Safe at Home is a statewide address confidentiality program that provides victims of actual or threatened domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, and trafficking, or those who simply fear for their physical safety with a legal substitute address to be used for both public and private purposes. Enrollment in Safe at Home allows participants to use and receive mail at an assigned address in lieu of their actual address. Safe at Home then forwards mail from the assigned address to participants’ actual addresses free of charge. Awareness/Education – Stepping Stones staff work to educate survivors and community members on the dynamics of abuse and how we can offer support to those affected by violence. This includes training for professionals who work with victims/survivors of abuse, such as law enforcement/dispatch. Shelter Services – We provide immediate, temporary emergency shelter for victims in immediate danger (overnights, weekends, etc.). We also have the Emergency Housing program, which is available to current residents of Taylor County. The program provides short-term emergency housing (3+ months) for individuals and families to stay after leaving an abusive environment. Housing and basic needs are provided to survivors at no cost, which provides survivors with time to save up money and search for a new, safe home. This program is provided in partnership with a community agency, which provides the building exclusively for Stepping Stones clients. Note: Stepping Stones, Inc. no longer has a communal (shared) shelter. We now provide new, alternative shelter/housing options to keep individuals and families safe.
