Program areas at CORA
Supportive housing and emergency shelter:CORA offers supportive housing and subsidies to those left homeless due to domestic violence as well as emergency shelter for those fleeing violence. In addition, during the pandemic housing and emergency shelter staff have assisted clients with understanding financial support available to them through COVID relief funding (e.g., child tax credit payments, economic stimulus.) Our aim is to help individuals and families become self-sufficient by finding permanent housing and increasing income. During 2022, 251 clients received supportive housing and or emergency shelter services.
Legal services:CORA works collaboratively with the San Mateo County District Attorneys Office to ensure survivors of domestic violence understand their rights as a victim-witness and have access to the criminal system. Services provided include legal advocacy and representation. CORAs legal department attorneys and staff offer free and confidential assistance with restraining orders and related family law issues (e.g., divorce, custody/visitation, establishment of paternity, child/spousal support); provide court accompaniment, advocacy and representation; and make referrals to resources where appropriate. Additionally, in providing services during a pandemic, CORA attorneys have helped clients who were confused about how they could receive the monthly COVID child tax credit payments or whose abusers had wrongfully taken their economic stimulus checks. During 2022, 111 clients were provided legal representation and/or advocacy. Legal information line - CORAs legal information line accepts messages relating to legal aspects of domestic violence situations. CORA attorneys return calls within two days, dispensing legal advice, information and referrals on legal issues, including restraining orders, child custody, divorce and immigration. During 2022, 2,108 requests for service were answered on the legal information line.
Family support services:Mental health services - CORA offers therapeutic counseling services. Counseling and support groups are led by trained, trauma-informed specialists. Services are available in English and Spanish and are open to survivors and their children. To maintain access to services and social distancing, services have been provided virtually through a telehealth format. During 2022, 624 San Mateo County residents received mental health services through CORA. Community Education - CORA provides education on domestic violence, including understanding relationship abuse, warning signs of abuse, power and control, tech abuse, and how to help someone who may be in a violent relationship. We also offer tailored workshops on topics such as healthy relationships for youth and preventing teen dating violence. Trained intimate partner abuse educators are available to provide workshops for any group in San Mateo County. During 2022, CORA educated 1,546 community members about intimate partner abuse.Prevention CORA launched a two-year pilot project called To Do At Home TDAH which is a primary prevention program that brings a multimodality curriculum into the home, offering child development, effective parenting, and healthy relationship education in fun, interactive ways. The program is designed to interrupt abusive parenting and relationship violence and instill new standards for parenting and providing resources encouraging healthy relationships. The program will serve 150 families over the course of its twelve months.