RUTH ELLIS CENTER INC
77 VICTOR STREET, HIGHLAND PARK, MI 48203 www.ruthelliscenter.com

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE RUTH ELLIS CENTER (REC) WAS FORMED IN 1999 WITH THE MISSION TO "PROVIDE SHORT AND LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL SAFE SPACE AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR RUNAWAY, HOMELESS, AND AT-RISK LESBIAN, GAY, BI-ATTRACTIONAL, TRANSGENDER, AND QUESTIONING YOUTH." THE CORE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO BUILD POSITIVE FUTURES WITH LGBTQ YOUNG PEOPLE EXPERIENCING BARRIERS TO HOUSING, HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO AT RISK YOUTH

THE RUTH ELLIS CENTER (REC) IS A CONNECTIONS SYSTEM PARTNER AND SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY WITH A MISSION TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES WITH LGBTQ+ YOUNG PEOPLE TO BUILD THEIR VISION OF A POSITIVE FUTURE. REC ENVISIONS A WORLD WHERE LGBTQ+ YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SAFE AND SUPPORTED NO MATTER WHERE THEY GO. TO FURTHER THE MISSION AND VISION, REC OFFERS A RANGE OF PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT THE YOUNG PEOPLE THEY SERVE GROUNDED IN THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES OF WORK: TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, HARM REDUCTION, AND POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 2020: EXPAND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICESO HIRE ADDITIONAL CLINICIANSO ADD SPACE RUTH ELLIS INSTITUTE CERTIFICATION (SOGIE) FUND AND OPEN CENTER FOR LESBIAN AND QUEER WOMEN AND GIRLS (CLQ) PROGRAMSACCOMPLISHMENTS:O CELEBRATED 20 YEARS OF SERVICEO SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EFFORTS, INCLUDING EVENTS SUCH AS THE 2ND ANNUAL CATFIGHT FOR THE CROWN AND VOICESO RUTH ELLIS INSTITUTE TRAINED TRAINERS AND FACILITATED "UNDERSTANDING POWER AND OPPRESSION: UNDOING RACISM AT UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK" FOR THE ENTIRE INCOMING GRADUATE CLASSO CARF ACCREDITATION O APPROVAL AND FORMATION OF THE CENTER FOR LESBIAN AND QUEER WOMEN AND GIRLS (CLQ)O PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT APPROVALO FACILITY EXPANSION, REC ACQUIRED TWO NEW BUILDINGS TO SUPPORT AGENCY GROWTH AND EXPANSION, ONE OF WHICH WAS DONATED BY A REC SUPPORTERSERVICES:HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER (HWC):IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM (HFHS), THE HWC PROVIDES A RANGE OF PRIMARY AND MEDICAL CARE TO LGBTQ+ YOUNG PEOPLE WHICH INCLUDE: QUICK CARE VISITS FOR GENERAL MEDICAL CONCERNS MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA, WEIGHT, DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE VISION AND HEARING SCREENING SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING BIRTH CONTROL AND STI TESTING AND TREATMENT HIV PREVENTION, TESTING AND GUIDANCE TRANSITION CARE FOR TRANSGENDER CLIENTSFOR FY120, THE HWC MEDICAL TEAM SERVED 365 YOUTH UNDER 21 YEARS OLD AND 496 YOUTH AGES 22-30 YEARS OLD. ALSO, WITHIN HWC, REC OFFERS THE FOLLOWING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM:LGBTQ+ YOUNG PEOPLE FACING FAMILY REJECTION ARE AT INCREASED RISK OF NEGATIVE HEALTH, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE FAMILY ACCEPTANCE PROJECT RESEARCH. TO ADDRESS THIS INCREASED RISK, REC WORKS WITH FAMILIES (SOME CPS AND FOSTER CARE) USING TARGETED EDUCATION TO INCREASE CAREGIVER KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR CHILD'S DIVERSE SOGIE. CULTURALLY GROUNDED SERVICES ENGAGE FAMILIES IN IDENTIFYING WAYS TO INCREASE WELLBEING, PERMANENCY, AND SUPPORT WHILE DECREASING RISK. INTERVENTIONS THROUGH SKILL BUILDING, COACHING, AND PARENT SUPPORT AIM TO INCREASE POSITIVE INTERACTIONS, FAMILY SUPPORT AND ACCEPTANCE FOR LGBTQ+ CHILDREN AND YOUTH. FOR FY20, FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES SERVED 29 YOUTH AND FAMILIES. UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, FAMILIES REPORT IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS DOMAINS. JUVENILE JUSTICE (JJ) SERVICES: 17 YOUTH SERVEDIN PARTNERSHIP WITH WAYNE COUNTY CMOS, REC SERVES LGBTQ+ YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN RESIDENTIAL SPACES. DIRECT SERVICES INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY THERAPY, AS WELL AS ANCILLARY THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT RELATED TO A LGBTQ+ IDENTITY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PRIMARY TREATING THERAPIST. IN ADDITION TO DIRECT CARE, THE JJ SPECIALIST AND THE INSTITUTE WORKS WITH PROVIDERS, JURISTS, ATTORNEYS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON PROMOTING EFFECTIVE POLICIES AND PROVIDING EDUCATION ON AFFIRMING/BEST PRACTICE FOR LGBTQ+ JJ YOUTH, WHICH INCLUDED A PRESENTATION IN GRAND RAPIDS FOR THE MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION ON ADOLESCENT SEXUAL HEALTH (MOASH). ANOTHER NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENT INCLUDES CLIENT ADVOCACY WHICH LED TO THE FIRST YOUNG PERSON IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN TO RECEIVE GENDER AFFIRMING HORMONE THERAPY WHILE PLACED IN A SECURE RESIDENTIAL FACILITY.OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: REC CONTINUES TO OFFER OUTPATIENT THERAPY FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH AND FAMILIES (CMH AND NON-CMH CLIENTS). FOR FY19, 42 YOUTH WERE SERVED WITHIN THIS PROGRAM AND ANOTHER 30 YOUTH ARE SERVED BY THE HFHS THERAPIST ANNUALLY. INSTITUTE:IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE REC VISION, THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE WAS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE A WORLD WHERE LGBTQ+ YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SAFE AND SUPPORTED IN ALL SYSTEMS OF CARE AND WHERE EVER THEY GO. WORK CENTERS AROUND LGBTQ+ EXPERIENCES TO REFORM SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EVALUATION. FOR FY20, THE INSTITUTE PROVIDED 343 HOURS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINED 1945 PARTICIPANTS ON SOGIE RELATED TOPICS. RUTH'S HOUSE: 15 YOUTH SERVED NOTE: THIS PROGRAM WAS CLOSED SEPTEMBER 1, 2020.THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM SERVICES LGBTQ+ YOUTH AGES 1217 IN THE FOSTER CARE OR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS BY PROVIDING TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES IN A HOME-LIKE SETTING THAT MEETS THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE YOUTH WHILE IN CARE. CURRENTLY, RUTH'S HOUSE MAY SERVE UP TO NINE YOUTH AT ANY GIVEN TIME. TO SUPPORT LGBTQ+ TEENS IN BECOMING SUCCESSFUL AND INDEPENDENT ADULTS, RUTH'S HOUSE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: CLINICAL CARE AND CARE COORDINATION THAT ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO THE YOUTH LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY AND BENEFITING FROM CONTACT WITH SUPPORTIVE ADULTS POSITIVE LGBTQ+ DEVELOPMENT TEACH AND INSTILL LIFE SKILLS AND POSITIVE COPING ASSIST WITH EDUCATION SUPPORT AND LINKAGE SECOND STORIES/OUTREACH: 500+ YOUTH SERVED ANNUALLYSECOND STORIES, A 5000 SQUARE FOOT SPACE PROVIDES LOW BARRIER ACCESS TO CRITICAL SAFETY NET AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT INCLUDE: FOOD AND PERSONAL CARE ITEMS; CASE-MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING SERVICES; SOCIAL AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES; WORKSHOPS AND GROUPS; PEER SUPPORT; INTERNET ACCESS; EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION SUPPORT; AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.DURING FY19, SECOND STORIES ALSO:O STREAMLINED SAFETY PROCESS FOR OUTREACH WORKERS AND PERSONS SERVEDO STRENGTHENED AND STREAMLINED TWO-YEAR PEER LEADER PROGRAMO CO-COMMUNITY PLANNED EVENTS O PARTICIPATED ON MORE LOCAL, STATE COMMITTEES RELATED TO LGBTQ+ HEALTHO IMPROVED SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAMO INCREASED COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

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