Crime Survivors, Inc.
Awareness. Prevention. Advocacy. Healing.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Founded in 2003 by Patricia Wenskunas, a survivor of attempted murder, Crime Survivors Inc. (CSI) strives to care for victims with empathy, respect, and support. Patricia's personal experience has allowed her to identify critical, underserviced segments of the recovery process. Her time spent in the hospital and the months and years following her ordeal have made her aware of often-overlooked necessities for crime victims. This unique perspective has allowed CSI to act as a tireless advocate for change within both the criminal justice system and victims' resource network—identifying gaps in services and resources not adequately offered to victims and their families. Through our Crime Survivors Resource Center (CSRC), CSI strives to ensure that our clients are represented and provided with the tools and resources needed to survive and thrive, no matter their circumstances.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Child Emergency Bags
These bags are distributed to CSRC’s law enforcement partnering agencies, which provide them to children within the first 24 hours of a crime. These bags are filled with comfort items, resources, self-care items, and activities, including a “What’s Happening in Court?” coloring/activity book; CSI Resource Guide Directory; stuffed animal; small blanket; tissue; toothpaste; toothbrush; cherry lip balm; card deck; crayons; stress ball; food & prescription certificate; survivor awareness pin; awareness bracelet; CSI Brochure with web content; and a Get Safe informational card.
Crime Survivors Resource Guides
Crime Survivor Resource Guides provide an easy method for first responders to ensure that victims know where to turn once law enforcement and other personnel have wrapped up their work in and around the scene of a crime. Many survivors have a long and painful road to healing and need a strong and committed group of supporters around them. The resource guides help survivors in seeking out support groups, resources, and referrals. 485,000 resource guides have been distributed to survivors so far.
Survivors Hope Fund/Direct Program Support
Survivors are provided with necessities including bus passes, lunch reimbursements, relocation assistance, beds, bedding, household items, diapers, hygiene items, food, and clothing—as these expenses are not covered by the state programs or assistance. CSRC also offers direct program support to assist survivors and their families in leading fulfilling, independent lives while contributing to the community. Direct support services help with daily living and working activities to encourage behaviors and attitudes towards community inclusion.
CSRC also offers direct program support to assist survivors and their families in leading fulfilling, self-directed lives while contributing to their community. Direct support services assist with daily living activities to encourage positive attitudes and behaviors towards community inclusion.
Holiday Survivors Programs
Holiday programs include our Easter Egg Hunt and Ham Basket Program; Halloween Harvest and Pumpkin Carving Night; Thanksgiving Meal Baskets; Bowling Nights; Survivors Gift Drive; Elf’s Holly Day; and Turkey Meal Boxes. These holiday programs are organized to allow survivors and their families to enjoy themselves around the holidays, surrounded by people conscious of their healing. Each program provides those facing financial challenges with food and resources such as gifts and gift cards.
Legal Support/Parole Hearings
CSRC provides legal support for clients by representing them and their loved ones in court or during parole hearings. This program also assists clients in paying for travel and legal assistance.
Advocacy
The Crime Survivors Resource Center (CSRC) provides comprehensive advocacy services for the needs, rights, and resources of crime victims and survivors, both locally and statewide. Founder and CEO Patricia Wenskunas is directly involved in each effort.
Case Management
CSRC offers case management, including tracking and follow-up with survivors throughout California. Our case managers provide guidance, resources, and referrals for each client to connect them with advocacy, legal support, self-defense, and mental health services.
Wrap-Around Services
Wrap-around services are provided to address the mental health needs of clients and their families. CSRC uses a professional team-based approach to help develop support plans and services. Every aspect of a client’s life is considered while providing services based on their needs, goals, and desires.
Therapy/Counseling
CSRC provides counseling services for clients and their families, including professional assistance in resolving personal, social, and psychological difficulties. Clients can have one-on-one sessions with counselors to create an environment where they can navigate and improve their attitudes, behavior, and sense of self. Clients can also utilize our professional therapy services to assist their healing process.
Peer Support Groups
Monthly support groups bring clients together to engage in a sense of community, share in their recovery, and connect with needed resources to thrive in the days ahead.
Where we work
Awards
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Victims and oppressed people
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
CSI's important mission attracts a dedicated team of volunteers every year.
Number of families helped this past Christmas
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Holiday Survivors Programs
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of referrals to resources offered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Crime Survivors Resource Guides
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Crime Survivor Resource Guides provide an easy method for first responders to ensure that victims know where to turn once law enforcement and other personnel have wrapped up their work in and around t
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
CSRC’s board-approved mission is to provide hope and healing to victims and survivors of crime through advocacy and support. From the critical window of time, after trauma occurs through the immediate challenges and successes of recovery, CSRC provides resources, information, and empowerment to insulate the most vulnerable clients from the lasting impact of crime. Our goal is to enable their mental, physical, emotional, and financial recovery by helping clients to receive the proper respect, support, and protection from law enforcement, the judicial system, and the community.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
CSRC serves as an advocate and resource for crime victims and their families. We facilitate communication and cooperation across various public services, governmental, and nonprofit organizations on their behalf.
Our programs and services include:
• Emergency Bags – providing clients with essential care items and immediate information on resources and referrals for hopeful healing.
• The Survivors Hope Fund – providing clients with necessities such as food, clothing, diapers, travel expenses, lodging, glasses, and other supplies as needed. The Survivors Hope Fund gives CSRC the flexibility to tailor our support to individual clients and their needs, allowing them the opportunity to return to normalcy and begin the healing process after a trauma occurs.
• Legal Support/Parole Hearing Support – ensuring that clients and their families can represent themselves in court during parole hearings. CSRC assists clients in paying for related travel and legal assistance.
• Resource Guides – providing an easy way for first responders to ensure that clients know where to seek support groups and other resources once law enforcement officials complete their work.
• Child Services and Resources – such as books providing fun, educational ways for adolescent victims to understand the crime investigation process and feel comfortable speaking to law enforcement and criminal justice officers.
• Self-Defense & Safety Classes – providing valuable self-defense training and empowerment for clients in the aftermath of their ordeal.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
CEO Patricia Wenskunas’ survivor experience and tireless advocacy efforts lay the foundation for CSRC’s work. CSRC is governed by an active, six-member Board of Directors which coordinates development and financing. We are also supported by a 67-member Council, which supports us in programs, services, and events and introduces us to community leaders, elected officials, and business owners for possible partnerships and collaborations. Additionally, CSRC consults with a 16-member Honorary Advisory Board for advice and support regarding our yearly goals and programs.
CSRC’s programs are supported by an extensive network consisting of thousands of volunteers, in addition to collaborative relationships with other local nonprofit organizations, victim advocates, law enforcement agencies, and the California Victim Compensation Program.
Throughout our 19 years of advocacy for crime victims and their families, CSRC continually endeavors to refine our program offerings to ensure our resources make the largest possible impact for the clients we support. Using Patricia’s understanding of immediate survivor needs and her detailed insight into the criminal justice system, CSRC identifies gaps in the services and resources available to clients. We accordingly target our programs to provide more comprehensive assistance services for our clients when they are most vulnerable.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In our 19 years of providing victim services, CSRC has distributed more than 495,000 CSI Resource Guides, 4,525 meal baskets, 9,750 child and adult victim emergency bags, and 35,000 holiday gifts for survivors and their families. CSRC has helped thousands of crime victims, distributed thousands of direct aid dollars, and contributed thousands of dollars toward survivor legal support. CSRC has also distributed more than 4,250 “Let’s Meet Officer/Deputy Rank” books, 8,250 “What’s Happening in Court” books, 1,825 Boxes of New Clothing, Shoes and Accessories, and 3,300 backpacks of school supplies to adolescent crime victims. These resources help child survivors understand police and judicial procedures, providing a sense of normalcy during an incredibly trying time.
CSRC has also partnered with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in the “Fair and Impartial Policing” (FAIR) program. In FAIR, CSRC conducted hundreds of training, briefings, and presentations to law enforcement communities and service groups to foster awareness, prevention, and survival. CSRC continues to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement and victims to bridge gaps, foster understanding, and promote responsible and effective policing. CSRC understands that client support does not stop with direct services for survivors. We continually search for partnership opportunities with law enforcement and community organizations to build a broad coalition of resources, spurring change at a personal and organizational level.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
-
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Crime Survivors, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 03/15/2024
Randy Burba
Chief, Chapman University Public Safety
Term: 2017 - 2024
Randy Burba
Chief Chapman University Public Safety
Beverly Johnson
Johnson & Bertram LLP
Patricia Wenskunas
Creative Coordinating
Terry Johnson
Detective, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Burton Brink
Retired, Sergeant, Los Angeles Sheriffs Department
Janet Wilson-Irving
Thomas Laing
Retired, Chief, Los Angeles Sheriffs Department
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data