TESSA outlines services, confidentiality protections and expansion into Douglas County

Ann, a presenter with TESSA, told the City Council during the June 9 work session that the nonprofit provides confidential services to adults and children affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking and is expanding operations into Douglas County.

“Everything that we do provide is confidential,” Ann said, describing a statutory confidentiality protection that she said requires advocates across the organization — including finance staff — to complete a 40-hour confidential victim advocate training. “That gives individuals that are coming in for service the ability to know that what they tell us is safe and secure with us.”

The presentation outlined TESSA’s core programs and recent activity. In 2024, TESSA reported serving about 17,000 people in El Paso and Teller counties, answering nearly 11,000 crisis calls and providing almost 7,000 nights of shelter. The agency said 981 clients received free mental-health services, 833 received legal services, 383 children were directly supported and 107 families were placed into stable housing.

TESSA described a Housing First approach that combines short-term rental and utility assistance with case management. Ann said housing and legal services depend heavily on grant funding, including VOCA and HUD dollars. “Programs like legal and housing do ebb and flow because those are funded directly from VOCA,” she said, adding that a recent HUD award will increase housing dollars available to TESSA.

The agency also described legal services that help survivors pursue temporary protection orders and, where appropriate, provide attorney support for permanent protection-order hearings. Ann said the program includes an attorney who provides legal oversight and that the organization supports pro se litigants when clients are ready to proceed.

Ann described a recent state legislative change: a house bill that removed victim advocates from mandated‑reporter status. “In this past month, there was a house bill that passed that did remove victim advocates from having to be mandated reporters,” she said, and added TESSA is reviewing the change and its effects on agency practice. She said clinical staff still must report credible threats of suicide or homicidal ideation.

On expansion, Ann said TESSA responded to a Douglas County request for information and was contracted to operate a new safe-house there. County funding will pay for renovations; the agency expects the Douglas County site to add about 86 beds between the two locations and to extend services to an estimated additional 450,000 residents. Ann told council the new facility is expected to open in mid‑July to early August and initial staffing is in place. She emphasized the agency’s statement that Colorado Springs services and staffing will remain separate from the Douglas County operation.

Council members asked about service access and program capacity. Ann acknowledged limits driven by funding cycles and said some supports — especially housing and legal representation — depend on external grants. She encouraged referrals back to TESSA as funding availability can change month to month.

TESSA also described partnerships with UCHealth (including two advocates stationed at the Forensic Center of Excellence), the Fourth Judicial District, local law enforcement agencies, Pikes Peak United Way’s Continuum of Care and the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Ann said the group participates in a domestic-violence fatality review team supported by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.

The presentation closed with an offer to provide additional data on pro se legal assistance to Councilmember Rainey on request.