Support survivors escaping domestic violence

Dear friends,

This has been a year of great change for Raphael House of Portland. We’ve forged exciting community partnerships, launched five programs last spring, and now welcome new leadership to our organization. 

I am incredibly honored to introduce myself as our new Executive Director. My career spans nearly 30 years working alongside survivors of domestic violence, and I have spent the past decade at Raphael House helping to shape and grow our organization as Director of Programs and Services. As I step into this role, I am more excited than ever to help create lasting change for the families we serve and continue building a safer community for everyone.

I am grateful that our longtime Executive Director Teri Lorenzen will bring her experience, expertise as a CPA, and historical knowledge of Raphael House as our Finance Director. After 16 years of service to our agency, she has had an indelible impact. Teri is leaving a legacy of great leadership, having challenged the status quo to help Raphael House become the inclusive, survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and financially stable organization we are today.

Teri, our dedicated staff, and our Board members have been planning for this transition for more than two years. We know that this change is coming at the right time for our agency, and that Raphael House has never been in a stronger place. I am honored to lead us into this next chapter. And with the leadership and strength of our team, the exciting growth of our programs, and the inspiring support of our community, the future of our organization is extremely bright.

Thank you wholeheartedly for sharing our commitment to empowering survivors and their families! I look forward to all we will achieve together.

In gratitude,

Emmy Ritter, LCSW

Executive Director

• Together we are making lasting change! (PDF)
  

Thanks to your support last year, we've accomplished so much and served more than 4,500 community members and survivors!

We also launched FIVE innovative new programs, including:

• Partering with Portland Public Schools to offer confidential advocacy in two high schools (a first in the country)

• Launching Oregon's first survivor-led, peer support-based Domestic Violence Recovery Mentor program

• Addressing and reducing sex trafficking through prevention, through a new collaboration with community partners

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, which has special significance at Raphael House.  We've worked tirelessly for 12+ years to teach youth and adults about healthy relationships and consent. 

Last year we reached 3,600 youth and 1,064 adults through 330 free Prevention Education workshops, and plan to reach even more in 2019. This month alone you'll find our Prevention Education team facilitating trainings in multiple schools, leading the Family Violence Coordinating Council training with a special session on teen dating violence, and working with community partners to offer healthy relationships workshops for LGBTQIA2S+ youth.

We know that 1 in 3 teens will experience relationship abuse, and that preventing violence before it takes root is one of the best ways to create lasting change, which is why our programming expands beyond shelter. Our vision is that this work lays a foundation for preventing future violence, creating a healthier, safer, and more equitable community for everyone. 

Thank you for your support!