Heal the Healers 2024 Impact Report
At Joyful Heart, we are determined to give practitioners the support they require to adequately serve survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse.
Healers like victim advocates and sexual assault nurse examiners face a heightened risk of secondary trauma. Some studies have found that over ¾ of victim advocates suffer from the effects of secondary trauma, which can lead to intrusive thoughts, avoidant behavior, sleep disruptions, and emotional detachment.
With the generous support of a few key funders and philanthropic groups, our Heal the Healers Fund enabled 28 organizations and nearly 400 frontline workers to provide resources for their own wellbeing and sustained self-care. Grantees used funds for a wide range of healing modalities such as building a community garden to come together out of their offices, attending a indigenous-led culturally specific equine therapy, and funding monthly lunches for staff to connect with each other in community – and the results were astounding.
Areas of Grant Support
Training and/or program development on self-care practices such as training in trauma-informed yoga, breathwork, somatic therapy, etc.
Small capital items and equipment that specifically allow staff and volunteers to address their self care needs such as daylight lamps for staff or new furniture for a break room.
Staff activities to build and support connections between colleagues such as, trust building experiences, monthly pizza nights, or bagel Fridays.
2024 Heal the Healers by the Numbers
28
Grantees
We received over 300 applications and initially funded eight organizations. Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, we were able to fund an additional 20 organizations serving Indigenous communities.
381
individuals
Funding from the Heal the Healers grant empowers 381 individuals across 28 organizations. An untold number of survivors will benefit from advocates who are better able to take care of themselves and guard against vicarious trauma.
15
States
These grants benefit organizations spanning across 15 states. This wide geographic reach ensures that healing resources are available to diverse communities nationwide.
What Grantees Are Saying
“Heal the Healers has been an awesome program! We had the opportunity to just be; to be in space with one another, to enjoy good food together which nourished our bellies and our hearts, and to get to know ourselves and each other in a deeper way. ”
Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians
“These experiences have strengthened our team, boosted morale, and reinforced our commitment to sustainable self-care. They also serve as a clear reminder that when we prioritize staff wellbeing, we’re better equipped to show up fully and compassionately for the clients we serve.”
Women’s Center of Jacksonville
“It is impossible to work in DVSAS fields without being impacted by it, from our direct service advocates to our administrative staff. Through this project, TFC was able to equip our staff with tools to navigate vicarious trauma on a continual basis, helping them process their emotions and client interactions so they can achieve better work/life balance.”
The Friendship Center of Helena
2024 Heal the Healers Fund Grant Recipients
Friendship Center of Helena, Inc.
The Friendship Center of Helena, Inc., based in Helena, Montana, received funds for their staff to receive somatic therapy and participate in a “Nervous System First Aid” program. The Friendship Center is the community resource for addressing and preventing domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking through advocacy, education and outreach in Lewis and Clark, Broadwater and Jefferson Counties.
L.U.N.A. (Latinas Unidas por un Nuevo Amanecer), based in Des Moines, Iowa, received funds for their staff wellness program. L.U.N.A. is a statewide organization that helps Latina survivors of domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking build a future free of violence, focusing on immigrants who face barriers to accessing traditional services.
Pathfinder Center of Wiconi Wawokiya, Inc.
The Pathfinder Center of Wiconi Wawokiya, Inc., based in Fort Thompson, South Dakota, received funds to create a staff wellness breakroom. The Pathfinder Center provides services to adult and child survivors of sexual violence, human trafficking and domestic violence and is based on the Crow Creek Reservation in central South Dakota. Their name, Wiconi Wawokiya, is Lakota for “helping families.”
Raksha, Inc., based in Atlanta, Georgia, received funds to launch their staff’s “Well-being and Resilience” Program. Raksha is a culturally specific organization that provides healing, empowerment and justice for South Asian survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Transforming Generations, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, received funds to provide quarterly culturally specific food Fridays and monthly team building activities for staff. Transforming Generations is a culturally specific nonprofit organization that provides support services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in the Hmong community.
The Safe Sisters Circle, based in Washington, D.C., received funds to hold a staff wellness retreat. Their mission is to provide free, culturally-specific, holistic and trauma-based services to Black women survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault living in Washington D.C.’s Ward 7 and Ward 8.
Toulumne Me-Wuk Tribal Council
The Toulumne Me-Wuk Tribal Council, based in Toulumne, California, received funds to provide staff with access to an equine therapy program. The Toulumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians program provides emotional support through confidential communications for survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
Women’s Center of Jacksonville, Inc.
The Women’s Center of Jacksonville, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, received funds to revitalize their Serenity Garden (their on-site community garden for staff and survivors) as well as enhance their staff workplace culture program. The Women’s Center of Jacksonville provides wrap-around care for survivors of sexual assault through their team of victim advocates and sexual assault nurse examiners who are on call 24/7.
2024 Heal the Healers Indigenous Grant Recipients
After the 2024 HTH grant cycle concluded, an anonymous donor serving Native communities throughout the country, was so moved by the compelling stories and impactful healing projects of this program, they decided to generously fund 20 additional proposals that serve Indigenous communities. This donor’s partnership with Joyful Heart and commitment to Indigenous communities ensured that hundreds of frontline staff who support Indigenous communities were able to get the support and healing resources they needed.