Clarification: Standpoint serves more than 6,000 people each year. An earlier version of the story used provided data, which noted it served 511 individuals in the last fiscal year. That total reflects only the first quarter of that year. (1:08 p.m. CST, April 12, 2022)

As Women's History Month takes shape, some Minnesota groups are getting added support to assist survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

The state has seen pioneering work in the field before, and the new funding helps others carve out their own approaches. In the early 1980s, the Duluth area began to receive global recognition for a comprehensive approach to responding to domestic violence.

The lasting effects of the model still are debated, and it is not the only effort seeking to address gaps.

Thi Synavone, director of organizational and staff development for the nonprofit Standpoint, which focuses on providing free legal guidance by phone to survivors across the state, said there often are barriers in this area.

"A lot of time, seeking legal advice costs money," Synavone explained. "As victims of domestic violence, financial resources is one of the main reasons that people aren't able to leave their abusers."

And while legal-aid groups exist, there is an intake process to go through. Standpoint is getting an additional $20,000 dollars to carry out this work under a new grant from the Mardag Foundation, an affiliate of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.

Standpoint pointed out during the pandemic, it has seen demand for services rise. In the first quarter of the last fiscal year, it served 511 survivors. For the first quarter this year, the number rose to 828. Synavone acknowledged some of it might be due to other programs being stretched thin.

She added they are ready to assist, including emerging programs under Standpoint such as housing assistance.

"Housing assistance for survivors has also been an area that victims have identified as being a huge reason why they're not able to leave their abuser," Synavone emphasized.

Another grant is going to Anna Marie's Alliance, which operates in the St. Cloud area.

Charles Hempeck, executive director of the Alliance, said in recent years, they have focused more on a trauma-informed approach.

"We continue to try to understand people's past trauma and how that might impact what their needs might be, as well as other things that are going on currently," Hempeck stressed. "Because some women have sex trafficking in their background."

As for the Duluth model, it includes a coordinated community response, while addressing the role misogyny plays in domestic-violence cases. While still widely used, some researchers question whether it is the best approach.

Sexual violence remains a significant concern in Ohio, and specialized teams, such as Sexual Assault Response Teams and Coordinated Community Response Teams, are designed to provide critical support to survivors. Now, a new study aims to assess the effectiveness of these teams and identify gaps in service.

Nicole Kass Colvin, director of coordinated community responses with the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence said this research is essential.

"We are really hoping to get some information on what teams exist and what we can do to make our teams really effective across the state of Ohio. It takes all of us to end sexual violence," she explained.

While the teams aim to provide holistic support, there is limited Ohio-specific data on their effectiveness. The survey tied to this research seeks to gather information about how these teams are structured and where they could improve. Some question whether this approach alone can address all the challenges faced by survivors without more resources.

Anna Ressler, assistant professor at Miami University is leading the research, and explained that while the teams are known to be valuable, the details of how they operate effectively are still unclear.

"There's a lot of research that shows that these teams are necessary. But we don't know what constitutes an effective team," she said.

The study's results are expected to inform improvements in services for survivors across Ohio. Those involved in these response teams, or those interested in starting one, are encouraged to participate in the survey, contributing to this important research and Ohio's ongoing efforts to address sexual violence.

In Ohio, the effects of domestic violence continue to devastate families.

The Ohio Domestic Violence Network released its ninth annual fatality report, which revealed 114 people, including 15 children, lost their lives to domestic violence in the past year, including incidents where victims were shot, strangled or beaten, often while trying to leave their abuser.

Lisa DeGeeter, senior director of policy and prevention for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, said many victims were seeking help.

"We continue to see victims, particularly parents, reach out for help to protect themselves and their children and not receive what is needed to save their lives," DeGeeter explained. "The victims were leaving, they were reporting, filing charges, requesting protection orders but it wasn't enough to stop the violence."

Despite protective measures, 72% of cases involved victims who had prior interaction with the justice system. Critics argued current resources and interventions are insufficient to prevent violence escalation, fueling debates about Ohio's legal framework for protecting survivors.

Advocates said Ohio's younger population is also deeply affected. The report showed 79 children lost a parent to domestic violence, with at least 33 children present during the fatal incidents.

Maria York, policy director for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, highlighted the profound effects on children who not only lose their caregiver but also a sense of security and normalcy.

"We don't want this to be the new normal," York urged. "After COVID, we had 131 fatalities, it seems like this is the new normal of just having these triple-digit homicides with domestic violence."

The report showed domestic violence fatalities have not returned to pre-pandemic levels and more than two-thirds of the cases involve firearms. York called on law enforcement, policymakers and community leaders to collaborate to address the issue.

Groups are warning an Idaho city's decision to declare itself a non-sanctuary city could have far-reaching implications.

The repercussions are still being felt from the decision by the city of Eagle, near Boise, in July.

Sanctuary cities limit their cooperation with the federal government on immigration laws. The Eagle resolution said the city will not provide services for people who are undocumented. It could be especially harmful for vulnerable community members, such as those who have experienced domestic violence or sexual abuse.

Sarah Sheehan, a clinician with the Women's and Children's Alliance in Boise, said the resolution could prevent people from getting support.

"It can create a lot of fear of seeking help from community services in non-sanctuary cities," Sheehan explained.

The Eagle city council passed the resolution on a consent agenda without public comment. It said the goal of the resolution is "maintaining the safety, well-being, and resources of its residents." Critics are urging the council to rescind it.

Some states have banned the ability for cities to declare themselves sanctuary cities, such as Florida, but a declaration of non-sanctuary status is rare. In February, Mesa County, Colorado declared itself a non-sanctuary county.

Nisha Newton, social change communications associate for the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, said harms from the resolution could spread beyond Eagle.

"I'm just worried that this decision is going to embolden other discriminatory practices or empower other discriminatory policies throughout the state that we won't necessarily be able to catch up with as service providers and advocates," Newton noted.

Newton added people need to stand up for each other and the resolution is the wrong tactic if the goal really is to keep people safe.

"It requires all of us to build safer communities," Newton emphasized. "Our safety and our wellness doesn't come off the backs of other people being oppressed and other people being denied services."