Meet Jennifer Rauhouse of Peer Solutions in Central Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Rauhouse.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I founded Peer Solutions in 1996 with the vision of a world where everyone is safe, and treated equitably with respect (SER). This is a world free from harm to self, others, animals and the planet.

I have spent 54 years through practice and research obsessing about how to prevent child and animal abuse, domestic, gun, relationship and sexual violence and much more BEFORE it begins. After the fact, as many of us know, is just a little too late.

I was born and raised in Rapid City, South Dakota. I was not shocked to learn that in 2001, Rapid City was named the rape capitol of the world. I have heard it call Rapist City and Racist City for years. I grew up privileged and experienced all of the above harms as did many of my classmates and we were the white kids on the other side of town. But, this is not and has not been about me. Please keep in mind the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations 1.5 to 2.5 hours from Rapid City and they still are currently the worst places in the country for children being sexually abused. It is as horrid as the mind could imagine. Research confirms, what I knew then, that oppression, silence/denial, and normalized harm are the reasons why. I remember learning way out of high school that South Dakota has one of the bloodiest histories in the world. It is a fact. For starters I suggest you watch “Bury my heart at Wounded Knee” and “Rape on the Reservation”.

In 1981, I attended the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and interned my first year at a day treatment facility for “hard core juvenile recidivists”. These kids represented gangsters out of Chicago that needed to be in Minneapolis for safety and middle school aged girls that were charged with prostitution. The lack of empathy for these youth was profound. I instantly became even more aware of my privilege. Have fun experiencing all of the above in poverty and as human that identifies as person of color. My next move was to get to these kids sooner, so I worked at an amazing youth diversion program in St. Paul, Minnesota where we got to the kids the second they hit the court system. But to me, it was still too late, so I started working with a Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program. But then again, it was still too late. I concluded that if I empowered these young people, who have been harmed, with educational skills they would be able to take charge of their lives. I graduated from UofM in 1985, worked with Rasmussen Business Colleges and did just that, but then realized again, too late. I felt I needed to be in the classroom daily so I moved to Arizona, worked at a rape crises center, received a Post Bach degree with teacher certification and taught three years in alternative schools starting and running clubs WITH youth that I am still in contact with, to address and prevent these harms with permanent sustainable solutions.

My bag was not teaching world history, although it is more now, it is primary prevention. Primary prevention is simply preventing something before it begins and is of course the most effective, least costly cure to what ails. So I founded Peer Solutions in 1996.

Peer Solutions offers a Trauma Informed Primary Prevention (TIPP) model designed to redirect resources spent on crisis intervention to investing in cultivating healthy families, schools, and communities.

Peer Solutions serves 9 sites weekly in Central and South Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona. We have 15 sites on our waiting list. During the 2016/2017 school year, Peer Solutions served 13,397 youth and 1,223 adults supported by 94 school, community, business, and funding partners.

Personally I am more committed today than ever. Why?

We permanently prevent the root causes of harm to self, others, animals, and the planet BEFORE they begin.

We permanently foster the health and well-being of families, schools, governments, and communities locally and globally

We create safe spaces while empowering young people to survive and thrive in the midst of the multitudes of challenges they are facing.

We cultivate Safety, Equity, and Respect (SER) as norms on an individual, relationship, community, and societal levels to prevent the root causes of harm, Oppression, Silence/Denial, and Normalized Harm (OSN) with peer led and developed evidence based strategies.

Imagine a world where all children are safe and treated equitably with respect.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I would assume the biggest struggle of any non-profit is funding and that has been our biggest struggle. For 20+ years Peer Solutions was 100% grant funded. I am married to effective programming and never wanted to spend my time fundraising on an individual level. Sadly, priorities in Arizona changed and funding decreased for positive youth development programming. We know child abuse costs the nation 25 billion a year and that rape is the most expensive crime of all yet we continue to invest in Band-Aid’s and optics. For the past 7 years Arizona has been in the bottom five states for the overall wellbeing of children and we continue to have some of the highest rates in the nation of kids thinking about and planning their own suicides. Even worse, the LGBTQ+ community and individuals with disabilities are up to 6x more likely to be victimized than the general population.

We need to reprogram funders to invest in pre-womb strategies meaning pre birth-to-five, pre preschool, pre head start. If we do it right, our young people can be the generation of real change. Twenty years ago, they could not define what a rape culture is. Today, they can write a book. No Mas. Completely over it.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Peer Solutions – what should we know?
Peer Solutions has a 22 year history of serving families, schools, and communities in Central and South Phoenix, and Tempe. Youth that participated in programming two decades ago are now excellent parents, lifetime volunteers, and leaders in their communities. What we do works because–unlike other programs–activities are:

1) Adapted by and for the communities we serve. This establishes ownership, sustainability, and relevance.

2) Youth led and developed. (No decision about us without us.)

3) Inter-generational, year round, and open to all identities and abilities.

4) Designed with evidence-based, permanent strategies to prevent the harms that keep young people from being safe and successful in school and life BEFORE THEY BEGIN.

We cultivate SER to end OSN through G2BG. The Guts to be Good.

The Guts To Be Good! G2BG is at the heart of all we do! Five things everyone, everywhere, every day can do to make the world a better place!

1- The Guts to Be Respectful

2- The Guts to Be Honest

3- The Guts to Speak-Up

4- The Guts to Be Courteous

5- The Guts to Lend a Hand

30 PARTICIPANTS OVER A 20 YEAR SPAN WERE INTERVIEWED. THE FOLLOWING THEMES EMERGED. PEER SOLUTIONS:

Creates safe places

Cultivates lifetime volunteerism

Provides leadership opportunities

Helps youth navigate tough times

Builds empathy & healthy relationships

Improves self-esteem & school performance

2016/2017 Evaluation Highlights

92% of participants report demonstrating safety, equity, and respect as norms every day

100% of Peer Solutions’ seniors graduate high school

82% of participants report being more committed to community service since joining

88% of participants report being more honest since joining,

91% of participants report being more respectful of self and others since joining

96% of participants report improvement in grades since joining.

91% of participants report speaking up more for themselves and others since joining,

100% of family agreed their student believed they could make the world a better place as compared to 62% before joining.

“Peer Solutions has helped me understand how to think more of others and help others around my home, especially my disabled grandparents.” 12-16

Many students refer to Peer Solutions as their family, because for many of them, this is the first time they feel part of a community that is safe, loving, nurturing, and accepting. It is common to hear the best aspect of our program is that it allows the participants to be part of a family, express their individuality, and help make the world a better place. Through building and maintaining authentic and safe spaces with youth and adults, participants believe they have the power to better themselves, their communities, and even their future families.

“HOW HAS PEER SOLUTIONS HELPED YOUR FAMILY?”

I’ve better learned how to communicate with them.

My dad actually said that he was proud of me!

My mom says that she loves you guys and you guys taught me how to respect more.

My grandmother is more understanding of me.

It has helped me because my family cares and loves others even more.

It’s legitimately made us all better people and we’re much more aware of what to do.

Activities include: *Weekly lunch meetings and after-school and summer peer training and workshops, *Monthly coalition meetings and campus-wide outreach campaigns, *Quarterly service projects and Mesa Nights – Peer led programming for youth and families addressing Traumatic Brain Injury *Ongoing Bi-annual Days at the Capitol, annual events, and local/national workshops. Peer Solutions’ 8 “I’ve watched youth coming through the Peer Solutions program grow into articulate, confident and passionate young adults. This organization is at the forefront of ensuring that young people feel safe, secure, and brave enough to set their own boundaries and respect others. It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend the continuation and funding of this superb organization.” Athena Salman State Representative, Legislative District 26 Tempe, Mesa, Phoenix, Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
As mentioned previously, the most effective efforts are developed by and for the communities we serve. Huge props to Tempe High School and every single student and staff member in 1997 until today. Two initial students Megyn Neff and Tonia Smith are now Board Members. The City of Tempe, including Tempe Community Council and Tempe School Districts care deeply about their students, staff, families, and community partners. We expanded to Creighton Elementary School District and Phoenix Union High School District and they are also committed to the same vision.

Honorary Board Members Barry Crimmins, Billy Bob Thornton, Juan Mendez, Nate Nathan, and Neko Case are at the heart of all we do. They are authentically committed to cultivating a world where everyone is safe, and treated equitably with respect. Yes, this is a world free from sexual violence and all bad things. Without my husband and best friend Jon Rauhouse, none of this would be possible.

We also have 96 school, business, community, government, and community partners that support our youth.

The Arizona Legislature has been absolutely amazing. Research also confirms that in order to end these harms we need policy level strategies. To me this means individual capable of making some of the most impactful decisions on the planet.

I grew up in politics and swore I would never every get our kids involved but if they do not become the next policy makers and take over the world, we are just done. So here is another case for never say never.

We know marginalized communities are not represented equally. Without inclusion, and the ending of oppression, we are all toast regardless of identity. So, when Krysten Sinema was in the AZ House, we started annual days at the capitol. Eleven years later she is now in the US House and just voted the most bi-partisan. WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. We now host biannual, nonpartisan, Days at the Capitol and have equal representation from all parties. We are hosting a Shadow a Legislator day on March 13, 2018 where students get to one-on-one with a legislator to see how we do it. Founded by Representative Andrade and hosted by Representative Andrade and Senators Mendez and Brophy-McGee. Arizona has authentic and kind legislators that deeply care about the health and wellbeing of our kids. This is a nonpartisan issue where can all come together!

Our business partners are equally important. They support us in a wide variety of ways and I want everyone else to support them because they also care deeply about promoting “our” vision.

Art Resource Center Tempe

CIBO

Comerica Theatre/Live Nation

Domino’s

Duck and Decanter

Green Vegetarian

Nami

Nate Nathan and The Mac Daddy-O’s

Noble Beast

Starbucks

Support My Club

Tarbell’s

So many more!

 

Pricing:

• IF YOU PAY ARIZONA TAXES, you can now donate up to $400 as an individual and $800 as a couple to peer solutions and receive a dollar-for-dollar Arizona Charitable Organization Tax Credit.

Contact Info:

• Address: PO Box 24148, Phoenix, az 85074-4148
• Website: www.PeerSolutions.org
• Phone: 6022250942
• Email: Jennifer@peersolutions.org

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.