Displaying items by tag: Wellspring

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Wellspring, the domestic violence and sexual assault services resource for Saratoga and Washington County residents, welcomes Talia Cass to the organization as the new communications director. Cass comes to Wellspring with more than 6 years of experience in communications and marketing. 

As communications director, Cass will be responsible for disseminating the Wellspring brand, educating the public on the complexities of relationship and sexual abuse and promoting the many crucial services the organization provides survivors. Additionally, she will champion Wellspring’s community engagement effort, which includes facilitating educational programs with Saratoga county school-aged youth and adults. 

Cass, a 2014 College of Saint Rose graduate, most recently served as an account strategist for Overit Media in Albany. Prior to Overit, she worked with multiple non-profit organizations including Discover Saratoga (also known as the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau) and Proctors. During her time as a director of marketing and communications for Discover Saratoga in 2017, Cass began volunteering with Wellspring as part of their community engagement committee. She is passionate about ending domestic violence and sexual assault in our community and advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights. 

Wellspring’s mission is to support survivors and engage the community to end relationship and sexual abuse. Each year, Wellspring’s crisis intervention and survivor services support more than 1,000 clients—providing safe housing to adults and children either fleeing or homeless because of domestic violence, as well as comprehensive support in the form of counseling, legal advocacy, and case management. Wellspring staff provides prevention and education programs to school-aged youth, as well as training and education programs for parents, faith-based congregations and professional organizations. 

 To learn more about Wellspring’s mission, services and programs, visit www.wellspringcares.org, call their office at 518-583-0280 or reach their hotline at 518-584-8188. 

Published in Business

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In the interest of keeping the community safe, including pets, Wellspring is hosting their annual Pooch Parade virtually this year, on Oct. 16, 17, and 18.

This annual event raises awareness and funds for Wellspring’s Safe Pet Partnership Program, which assists victims of domestic violence by providing safe, temporary placement of family pets through a network of volunteer pet “foster homes” while our clients transition to safe housing. 

Abusers often use the love victims have for their pets as a control tactic, or even directly abuse the pets. Sometimes, victims of domestic violence will stay in an abusive situation out of fear of what might happen to their pets if they leave them behind. 

This year, instead of gathering to parade around Congress Park we are inviting community members and their pooches to register online with Wellspring and then plan a walk around their neighborhood, park, home on October 16, 17, or 18. For more information about how this year’s event will work and to register please visit www.wellspringcares.org/pooch-parade. 

Wellspring sends a big thank you to this year’s presenting sponsor, Benson’s Pet Center and honorary sponsor Adirondack Veterinary Clinic for supporting Wellspring’s 2020 Virtual Pooch Parade.

All donations made by participants in the Pooch Parade during registration directly benefit Wellspring’s programs and services. Participants can also register by mailing a check, made out to Wellspring, to their address at 480 Broadway LL20 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. 

Published in Business

SARATOGA SPRINGS — As some individuals embraced Covid-19 stay-at-home restrictions placed over the community, tensions in families and couples living at home can worsen to create an un-safe environment as time goes on. 

Those dealing with domestic violence are under duress as many survivors are locked down with their abusers. Maggie Fronk is the executive director of Wellspring, a social service dedicated to support survivors and engage the community to end relationship and sexual abuse. As tension, stress and abuse situations escalate with the abuser and victim staying home 24/7, Fronk shared ways to create a safe home situation. 

“Everyone’s situation is different. I think everyone who is in that situation knows their circumstances best, but I’d really like them to know that they are not alone,” Front said. 

Parents who may discover rising tensions and diminishing patience are recommended to take a step back. Fronk said spreading love is important for parents who experience added stress from schooling their kids at home. Taking a break from the rules, and giving love to their children and themselves allows individuals to take a step back and breathe. 

“It’s important to know that this is a new normal…I think none of us can strive for the level of performance we had before. It’s important to maintain some routines and also to relax them if we need to,” Fronk said.

The want and need to know what’s happening out in the world can add stress. Fronk said setting times to disengage from phones and computers is important to take a step back.

“Just to do something in the moment. It may be starting a new routine, going for a walk outside, playing a family game or cooking something different. Like having dessert first at dinner,” Fronk said. “It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of this, so we have to build in those moment that refresh and renew us.”

Although life may be different when it comes to navigating an abusive situation during COVID-19, Wellspring still offers their services. Supportive services such as advocacy and case management, crisis intervention and financial empowerment are different areas Wellspring can help in. For individuals who are dealing with relationship abuse, Fronk recommended calling their hotline to chat with an advocate.

“Sometimes, all people need is some support. Our hotline is not just for crises, it’s for information if you want to explore what’s happening at home or to discover if a [situation] is domestic violence,” Fronk said. “I don’t believe a lot of people think to call unless there is physical abuse, but there are all kinds of power and control.”

Emotional control and social-isolation are some of ways an abuser might hold control over their victim. Survivors who had abusers in jail gain another level of fear and complications as those inmates were released in New York and other states. Even as stress levels rise, Fronk said calling in can alleviate stress and help an individual navigate their situation. 

However, Fronk pointed out that with children studying from home, calling in might not be easily available for parents. In response to this, Wellspring created a web-based chat line. The web-chat can be accessed at Wellspringcares.org, and allows individuals to “talk” to an advocate. The chat is available during the workday, but hours are also offered from 9 p.m. to midnight. Fronk said the chat line helps individuals who are not able to place phone
calls or communicate better through typing.

“That’s after when kids have gone to bed where you could just be on your computer and getting the support you need,” Fronk said. “With all of our services, you can find out what we can help you with.”

Self-isolation creates social-isolation, placing a pause on relationships outside the home environment. As those relationships grow distant, Fronk said individuals who know of someone in an abusive situation are welcomed to call in. Wellspring services are confidential and free of charge.

Knowing if and when to leave an abusive relationship changes based on each situation. However, Fronk recommended simply calling their hotline can help individuals.

“Many people don’t reach out for help because they don’t know everything that’s available. You don’t have to be thinking about leaving to call us. You can just want to explore what your options are so you have a plan A and a plan B,” Fronk said.

Wellspring also helps individuals with basic needs such as food and housing. Fronk said Wellspring offers rent subsidized housing for those dealing with abuse. Individuals can also get help dealing with courts to get safety, including gaining an order of protection. 

Most importantly, however, is that Wellspring allows individuals to explore their rights and options for assistance if it’s wanted.

“I want people to know that you’re not alone in this. There is help out there. I think people are afraid to call because they think it will start something where they will have to leave and they’re not ready to leave. We can just help you where you are to figure out how to get through this and know what supports there are. You don’t have to be in a crisis to call us,” Fronk said.

Wellspring hotline can be reached at 518-584-8188.

Published in News
Thursday, 25 April 2019 12:38

Maggie Fronk: A Passion for Big Challenges

"If you're not willing to risk failure, you can't accomplish big goals," says Maggie Fronk, executive director of Wellspring.

As executive director of Saratoga Springs-based Wellspring since 2002, Maggie Fronk is  dedicated to helping survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence and providing prevention and social change initiatives. 

Much of the agency's work is focused on its 24-hour hotline, which fields about 1,700 calls and results in about a 1,000 clients a year. Whatever the hour, Wellspring will house a victim, her children and her pets in a confidential location and provide an array of legal and financial assistance not only to primary victims but also to family members, friends, and employers of victims who are aware of abuse and need advice on how to help. 

Domestic violence is a leading cause of both homicides and homelessness in Saratoga County. State-wide, according to the state Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, 50 percent of all female victims of homicide are killed by an intimate partner.

Wellspring sponsors a number of programs for about 6,000 young people annually, including one in which coaches of male high school sports teams work with their athletes on healthy relationships. Wellspring also hosts a role-playing event called "In Her Shoes" to help participants understand a victim's point of view and "In Their Shoes" to lead a discussion on dating violence.

Calling herself as a "local gal", Fronk grew up in Latham, and moved to Clifton Park during her childhood. Growing up, Fronk was an only child, who participated in gymastics, and had a lot of interest in school. 

Even as a child, Fronk says she was keenly aware that "life's challenges can either be seen as roadblocks or opportunities to find one's own strengths, resilience and creativity." 

"Through the work I've done over the years, I've seen a common denominator: that every person and every family at times struggles with challenges, often heart-wrenching ones with no clear solutions. That awareness helps me to be less judgmental and to look for the strengths a person has." 

Aspiring to make her contribution to the world as a diplomat, Frank initially enrolled  Georgetown University after graduating from high school, then transferred to Union College when the need to deal with family issues brought her home. 

In her long career, which has included working with people with serious mental illness and HIV and AIDS, as well as those who are homeless, Fronk has consistently demonstrated a passion for taking on big challenges and achieving positive outcomes. 

"That requires the willingness to regularly risk failure and make mistakes," she says.  "If you're not willing to risk failure, you can't accomplish big goals." 

With two sons, Fronk says she hopes her legacy will be having helped "a few individuals in the next generation to feel passionate, happy, productive and proud of their accomplishments in career and life." 

"We all need to be conscious of our actions and thoughts so that we have respect and compassion for others, especially for those who are less advantaged or who may be struggling to be stable. We all must recognize that what may seem like bad decisions are often more understandable when we look at life not through the lens of our own experience, but through the lens of what the other person has encountered."
To young people, she offers this advice: "Think about what makes your heart sing, then figure out how to incorporate that into your life, either through work or through what you do outside of your job. Feed your soul regularly."

GraceDavis 

The SMARTACUS Creative Group is a student-driven creative agency dedicated to supporting the economic development of Upstate New York. Grace Davis is a junior in Jill Cowburn's journalism class at Saratoga Springs High School. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, performing in musicals, and activities with friends and family.
Published in Lifestyle
Thursday, 04 April 2019 13:38

Wellspring Awarded $25,000 Grant

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Each year, Northwestern Mutual selects 16 financial advisors nationwide to receive grants to benefit a nonprofit of their choice as part of the program. Local resident Sherry Finkel Murphy, a Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual in Albany, has been chosen as a 2019 Most Exceptional recipient of the award, receiving a $25,000 grant for Wellspring. Wellspring is dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and engaging the community to end relationship and sexual abuse. 

Finkel Murphy has been a volunteer and board member with Wellspring since 2015, serving in fund development and community engagement capacities. A specific area she has focused on is how domestic abuse can manifest in financially controlling behaviors, which has led her to educate her office on behavior indicators and how to provide Wellspring information to clients when appropriate. 

The organization will use the grant to continue to add staff and services, which extend to helping survivors navigate the criminal and civil legal system and connecting them with resources and support services. Funding may also go toward supporting a youth program to offer counseling, education and support groups for those that have experienced domestic violence, dating violence or sexual assault.

Published in Neighborhood Buzz

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