Get To Know Us
New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers, Inc. has changed and grown significantly in mission and services provided since its grassroots beginnings in 1978.
About New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers, Inc.
In the fall and winter of 1977, a group of people from the La Crosse community who shared an interest in developing a Women’s Center met several times under the auspices of the YWCA. Many organizations in La Crosse, including church groups, women’s groups, the police department, and both hospitals, sent representatives to the meetings to voice their concerns and offer professional input about the need for a center for women. Feedback from those meetings helped determine what was being done in the community and what more needed to be done. The YWCA also stressed that it was very important to involve men in the discussions in developing a Women’s Center.
Originally, discussion at the meetings was very broad with a variety of ideas of what the Women’s Center should look like, what the needs were, and what could be accomplished. A grassroots group was made up of individuals who wanted to accomplish a variety of projects. That was one of the first forums in the La Crosse area concerning women’s issues. Brainstorming sessions were held on many different issues; ultimately, the collaborative decision was made to focus on one topic that absolutely begged for attention – the issues and problems that confronted battered women. The cumulative outcome of all those meetings was a vision for a Women’s Center to be a shelter that would provide services for abused women and their children. The new center was named New Horizons and began operating in 1978.
At present, New Horizons operates two community-based outreach centers, one in La Crosse County and the other in Trempealeau County. New Horizons operates the only emergency shelter serving victims of abuse within a 65-mile radius of the City of La Crosse.
What began as an organization that only served women and their children, New Horizons has evolved to serve all victims of domestic and sexual violence, sex and labor trafficking, teen dating violence, child abuse, and stalking, regardless of gender identity or expression. The services New Horizons provides to victims of abuse have expanded as the needs of victims have changed.
New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers support victims of abuse and create a safe community for all through education, advocacy, empowerment, and collaboration.
New Horizons currently provides the following services and supports:
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New Horizons operates both multi-line phone and text lines that victims of abuse can contact 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days per year. The crisis line exists within the emergency shelter and is staffed by crisis advocates who are trained in the dynamics of abuse, safety planning, crisis intervention, and community resources. Crisis advocates utilize the Certified Language Line to assist victims whose primary language is not English.
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The emergency shelter is a communal living environment and consists of five bedrooms with the capacity to serve up to 20 victims. The shelter is a secure building with security cameras located outside on the perimeter of the building and a secured entry. The shelter is family-friendly, with a fenced-in backyard and playground, as well as children's and teen rooms in the lower level. The shelter has an accessible deck and ramp, one accessible bedroom, and one accessible bathroom on the main level. All gender identities and expressions are welcome in the shelter. Last, the shelter is pet-friendly.
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Our outreach advocates in La Crosse and Trempealeau Counties provide services in person at our outreach offices, in the community at partner agencies or other organizations, virtually, and via phone.
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Trempealeau County has a high demographic of Latina/o/x folks (9.25%, US Census 2020). We have a bilingual advocate who speaks Spanish and English. The advocate works primarily with Spanish-speaking victims of sexual assault and sex trafficking.
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Outreach and crisis advocates are trained to provide safety planning services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Safety plans are fluid, guided by the victims and culturally sensitive. If there are children involved, the safety plan includes them, as well.
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Outreach advocates assist victims with navigating the crime victim compensation application, SAFE Fund, and Safe at Home. They also assist with filing temporary restraining orders and injunctions (domestic abuse, harassment, and child abuse). Advocates accompany victims to court hearings, meetings with attorneys, and when filing a police report.
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This program is the newest to New Horizons, having been created in 2022. The program, DV SAFE (survivor-affordable-flexible-empowering) Housing, provides up to 12 months of rent and utility assistance, safety planning, individual counseling and support, referrals, and systems advocacy.
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This program provides support to families, youth and children who have experienced abuse. This person is also our agency’s designated McKinney-Vento staff person, responsible for ensuring that school-aged children are connected to school. This program operates within the emergency shelter and in our La Crosse and Trempeleau County outreach offices.
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Support groups are offered throughout the year and address topics such as power and control, the cycle of abuse, how abuse impacts children, self-care, consent and much more. Childcare is provided at no cost to those who participate in our support group.
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Not to be mistaken with professional therapy, individual counseling is simply an advocate providing a listening ear for victims and offering validation and options.
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We utilize many community partners and programs to make referrals for clients. While we are the experts in domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, we recognize that other professionals in our communities can better assist with things like housing navigation, economic support, employment, parenting skills and independent living resources. If a client requests, we will attend other meetings with them.
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New Horizons facilitates awareness events in April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We join other community-based awareness activities such as MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women), Mental Health Awareness, PRIDE and Child Abuse Prevention Awareness. In addition to awareness events, we are often requested to speak on topics related to domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking at nonprofit organizations, government entities, businesses, civic clubs, colleges and schools.
At Our Core.
OUR VISION
Ending Abuse; Saving Lives
OUR MISSION
We support victims of abuse and create a safe community for all through education, advocacy, empowerment, and collaboration.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
New Horizons opposes all forms of dominance over others. We believe abusers must be held accountable for their actions and that systems must be responsible to the victim.
OUR VALUES
Equitable
Teamwork (collaboration)
Proactive
Invested (staff, community, clients)
Growth
Our People.
OPERATIONS TEAM
Executive Director: Ann Kappauf
Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives: Heidi Svee
Director of Victim Services: Jen Scaccio
Administrative Assistant: Hayley Klein
Facilities Manager: Luke Wenzel
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair: Kayla Mathson, Director – Independence Public Library
Vice Chair:
Secretary: Destiny Ziel, Social Worker – The Parenting Place
Current members:
Brook Pataska, Sergeant – City of La Crosse Police Department
Jon Zinniel, Community Schools Coordinator – La Crosse School District
Cameron Weber, Relationship Banker – CCF Bank
