San Miguel Resource Center (SMRC)

In 2023, San Miguel Resource Center (SMRC) served 168 survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in San Miguel and west montrose counties; 75% were San Miguel county residents, 12% were west montrose county residents, and 13% worked in San Miguel county but lived in montrose, ouray or dolores county; 85% were female; 8% were youth, and 33% were latine. 95% of our clients indicated that after working with us that they have access to more community resources they might need and 92% of our clients indicated that after working with us that they know more ways to plan for their safety.during the 23-24 school year, smrc staff provided violence prevention programming to 729 youth (184 classes and workshops) and 39 parents in the telluride school district. 91% of students demonstrated a better understanding of healthy relationships.we conducted 33 outreach presentations reaching 569 community members. Our presentation audience ranged from new staff at the peaks resort in mountain village, to parishioners at the assembly of god in nucla, to staff at telluride fire and ems. 99% of presentation participants agreed that the presentation increased their knowledge of smrc's services, helped them feel more comfortable referring someone to smrc, and that they know how to contact smrc. We hosted two 40-hour volunteer victim advocate trainings, one in telluride and one in mountain village. 20 community members participated and 98% of participants indicated that the training content will help them educate and support fellow community members. We bolstered our services by providing our clients with financial assistance to lessen the barriers of their victimization and to help increase their stability while healing from their trauma. Our client's greatest financial need is in paying for attorneys for the divorce and custody process and paying for housing and moving costs. Financial barriers are a significant obstacle for a survivor to leave an abusive relationship especially given the cost of housing in our service area. In 2023, we provided 116 survivors with $165,000 in funding for emergency safehousing, long term housing, therapy, transportation, moving costs, legal representation, and basic needs. Smrc is the only organization in our community addressing interpersonal violence. We are supporting the well-being and safety of our community members who are impacted by detrimental trauma and crime while at the same time aiming to prevent future trauma and crime by increasing pro-social and safe behaviors in our school age youth. We are proud to be both preventing and responding to trauma in our community.