Crisis Line
1-800-270-1620 or 641-673-5499

	Empowering Our Community
Volume I, Issue 4		October 2001

[ Finding Your Voice | Civil Protective Orders | Food Needed in Our Shelter |
Services Available in Keokuk County | Psychological Bruises |
Newsletter on Website, E-mail Address Changed | Correction |
Mark Calendar Now for Vintage Charity Ball ]

Finding Your Voice

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The theme at William Penn University is Finding Your Voice: Speaking Out Against Violence and Oppression. In partnership with WPU, we held several events in September due to the availability of the Silent Witness display. In mid-September the display was available in our foyer. During the last week of September (Sept 24-27) the Silent Witness display and the Clothesline Project were on display at WPU from 12-3. A self-defense program was provided on Sept 24 at the Student Union. Dawn Stephens was a guest speaker on Sept 25 and Dr. Christine Rogers facilitated a University Forum that evening. A men’s only discussion about violence was held on Sept 26 and was co-facilitated by Dr. Michael Collins and student Luke Gray. It is encouraging to have men committed to ending violence. A White Ribbon Campaign poster was available for men to sign as well. The White Ribbon campaign is for men who are dedicated to ending violence against women. A safe community is the result of everyone doing their part. We greatly appreciate the support shown by William Penn University to our efforts. If you know someone who is a survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault, encourage them to call our 24-hour crisis line at 673-5499. In the meantime, listen, offer non-judgmental support, and don’t give advice.
	Top: Victoria Laird, an orginal board member of CIS views the Silent Witness display. Ms. Laird designed our dove logo. Middle: Mr. Don Steinke views the Clothesline Project. Bottom: Students AJ Novak and James Houston read the stories of the Silent Witness Display.

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Civil Protective Orders

Many women come to our office seeking the court’s assistance with a protective order. Protective orders were included under Iowa Code Chapter 236 in July 1991. The protective order gives victims of abuse one more option for safety. In order to qualify, two criteria must be met: 1) the relationship must meet code requirements, and 2) abuse or threats of abuse must have occurred. According to the Iowa Code, the relationship must fit one of seven categories the most common of which are: married, separated or divorced, living together or had within one year, or have a child together. Currently, dating relationships do not qualify for protective orders (this will be put before our legislature again this session). According to the Iowa Code, the person seeking the order must describe or show that she/he has been physically or sexually abused, that a dangerous weapon has been displayed or used against them, or they have been threatened and know that the threat could be carried out. The process of filing a protective order begins with completeing the necessary forms, which usually takes at least one hour. Advocates from CIS are available each weekday to assist in this process. Completed forms are then filed with the Clerk of Court for consideration by a judge. Fortunately, there are no longer any court costs for this service. Those who file are given the judge’s decision (generally that day). A copy of the decision must be picked up at the courthouse. Papers are then served on the defendant. The order goes into effect as soon as the offending party receives notice of the protective order. A hearing is set within 5-15 days to hear testimony from both parties and to determine if the order should stay in effect for one full year. It is not necessary to see an attorney for a civil protective order, however, it may be advisable depending upon the situation. Those who need a protective order can fill out the forms and receive advocacy for the entire process through CIS. While protective orders may not always guarantee compliance and safety, they are one more resource which involves the legal system and law enforcement in an effort to keep people safer.

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Food Needed in Our Shelter

Thank you, Oskaloosans, for the generosity you have always shown CIS. We are fortunate to have your help in many ways that benefit the women and children with whom we work. With 24 beds full at the shelter and five people sleeping on cots so that they would not be turned away, we now have another need. We know that many of you may be able to help. We need food to stock our community cupboard at the shelter. Because of financial limitations, we are able to offer food only when it has been donated. While residents are ultimately responsible for their own food, many come to us initially with nothing to eat, and it can take a few weeks for them to get established. If they are not working, it can take two weeks or more to get a job and first paycheck. Those who come on the weekend find it especially difficult as community food resources are not available. We are asking for your help in providing meat and perishable as well as nonperishable food items. We would especially like food that appeals to children and food that makes quick, simple meals. If you or someone you know would like to help, please bring your tax-deductible food donations to CIS, 500 High Avenue West between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. We appreciate your help as it will lessen our dependency on our local food cupboards.

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Services Available in Keokuk County

Our work in Keokuk County has started slowly but surely. We have a full-time staff person who started October 1 and will work in both Keokuk and Mahaska Counties. In addition, we have a part-time Rural Outreach Coordinator/AmeriCorps member who will work in both counties providing outreach to victims of abuse.

Both staff members will provide individual counseling and support groups for adults and children, medical and criminal justice advocacy, information and referrals, and community education on the issues of abuse. In addition, shelter is an option though it is in Oskaloosa.

During October our advocates will begin developing collaborative relationships with other area human service agencies in the area such as law enforcement, the hospital, housing assistance programs, and other resources.

The Keokuk County Health Center has generously donated office space so that we have a quiet and confidential location to meet with people. At first, our office hours will be on Thursday from 8:00 a.m.— 12:00 p.m. for walk-in appointments though counselors are available 24-hours. As the demand grows, our office hours will expand. Initially, our work will focus upon getting the word out that our free and confidential services are available to the community and are only a phone call away. Please inform people of our new service area, as a friend is often the one providing a referral to CIS.

We now have two volunteers in Keokuk County who will be helping our staff distribute materials throughout the county and respond to crisis calls after hours.

We still need more volunteers and we will hold training in Keokuk County as soon as we have four people who are interested. Speaking of volunteerism, we need representation from Keokuk County on our Board of Directors as well. If you are interested in serving the community through our program, please call our office at 673-0336.

If you are not able to give time, perhaps you are a member of a group and could invite us to speak. Community awareness is the key to ending violence and oppression in our communities.

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Psychological Bruises

When we talk about domestic abuse many people often consider only the physical aspects of abuse. Physical abuse is of major concern and often gets more attention because it is more visible and can be deadly. However, emotional abuse (only one of many other forms of abuse) can be more devastating when considering long-term negative effects. Emotional abuse, or psychological abuse, includes any act that is intended to undermine another person’s emotional well-being. Examples of emotional abuse in a relationship include teasing, invalidating feelings, using guilt, blaming another for everything, jealousy, withholding affection, giving mixed messages, silent treatment, threatening, and stalking. These tactics are often used after a relationship has ended as well. We have worked with many women and men who have endured years of emotional abuse in their relationships. The effect this has had on each one of them is very different, but devastating and heartbreaking, to say the least. It can take people years to recover from the effects of emotional abuse. Issues may include trust, identity, security, self-confidence, and self-esteem, just to name a few. They have been abused by someone who they love and who they believed would love them. Instead of being loved, their sense of self and their ability to trust were violated by someone who did not love or respect them.

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Newsletter on Website, E-mail Address Changed

We are continuing to improve our services to the community. Our newsletter is now available on our web-site and we are able to e-mail links to subscribers. If you would prefer to receive your newsletter on line, please contact Dawn. It will help us to save on postage! This is the fourth issue of our newsletter in its first year of production. We began the newsletter with the hope that it
would keep us more in touch with the community. Our intent is to keep you updated on events and issues. We have heard many positive comments. If you have any suggestions for improving the newsletter, please feel free to contact us.

Also, our e-mail address has changed recently to crisisintervention@mahaska.org. Again, thanks to Musco for giving us and the other agencies in the building wireless Internet access! Musco employees worked on this for four months!

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Correction

In our last newsletter, it was incorrectly stated that “95% of women are the victims of domestic violence” (Page 1). We meant to say that 95% of the victims of domestic violence are women. We apologize for the mistake. Thank you to those who brought this to our attention!

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