Cornerstone was founded in 1983 by a group of dedicated volunteers who recognized the need for domestic violence services in the Hennepin County suburbs. This was a time before significant public funding for domestic violence services and a time when this issue was rarely even discussed. Since these forward-thinking and caring volunteers started Cornerstone, we have expanded in size, scope and geographic footprint.
Cornerstone’s 40th anniversary this fall is a chance to honor those who made this growth possible: volunteers, donors, board members, staff and the community. It is also an opportunity to reflect back on the strength and accomplishments of our agency and those we serve. This month, we highlight our School-Based Services program.
The end of the 2022-2023 school year marks the 29th year of Cornerstone’s School-Based Services (SBS) program. Founded in 1994 at Richfield High School as a comprehensive school-based violence prevention service, SBS offers education and one-on-one youth advocacy support for many schools in Hennepin County.
Cornerstone’s SBS educational programming provided in schools delves into wide-ranging topics, including teen dating abuse, anger and healthy communication, sexting, gender stereotypes, and bullying and harassment.
On the advocacy side of SBS, students are offered free one-on-one support with Cornerstone Youth Advocates. These individual advocacy meetings can cover a variety of topics, including building healthy relationships, managing and expressing emotions, identifying abusive behaviors, and building support networks. It isn’t therapy, but Cornerstone’s youth advocates are able to support students’ basic mental health needs, be a supportive ear, and help them develop skills that empower them to thrive and rise above challenges in their lives. Learn more about Cornerstone’s SBS youth advocacy here.
In just 2022 alone, SBS had 310 educational presentations for nearly 8,079 attendees and 210 students connected with Cornerstone staff for individual advocacy. With SBS’s 29th school year coming to a close, the program’s impact over nearly three decades is simply profound.
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