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	Empowering Our Community
Volume II, Issue 3		July 2002

[ Five Important Years in the Community | New Dating Violence Legislation | Mental Health Parity Bill Not Passed | Tourney Nets Green From the Greens | Women Supporting Women in Recovery Group | Who Would Have Known? | State Domestic Abuse and Sexual Abuse Funds Cut in Special Session | Checking Our Progress | CIS Services Increase Each Year ]

Five Important Years in the Community

This year CIS celebrates five years of service in the community. As we reflect upon where we began and where we are today, we are extremely proud of the accomplishments we have made on behalf of victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. We began our work with humble beginnings in a cramped one-room office with little more than desks, a telephone, and a typewriter. We had three staff, a small group of volunteers, and a view of the alley outside our only window. But we continued to grow with the help of a committed board of directors who had a vision for educating the community about abuse and ending oppression. After learning the needs of the people we served, we began a grant-writing process to secure funding for the daunting needs facing those who came to us for services. Today we have 11 staff (7 FTE), 15 volunteers, an outreach office, and a 24-bed emergency shelter available to a two county service area 24-hours every day. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to the people who deserve a better life. Since 1997, over 1,200 women, children, and men have received the help they needed. Because of coalition standards, all of our staff have to meet strict training requirements and to receive continuing education annually. But knowledge is only powerful if you pass it on. To that end, CIS has made a concerted effort to educate as many people as we can about the issues surrounding and aftermath of violence. To date, we have spoken to at least 160 groups in Mahaska and Keokuk counties. Knowing that abuse affects every aspect of one’s life, we have worked hand-in-hand with many peer agencies in our community such as Community Health, the Department of Human Services, Mahaska Hospital, New Directions, Oskaloosa Municipal Housing Agency, SIEDA, and more. Through the development of collaborative agreements, we are able to more adequately ensure that the multiple needs of victims are met. Currently, we have formalized, written networking agreements with 25 agencies in our service area. Some of our goals this year include conducting a needs assessment, developing a long-range plan, preparing to start a transitional housing program, increasing services to underserved populations in our area, and starting a book club.

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New Dating Violence Legislation

The court’s protection to victims of abuse has recently been extended under Chapter 236. Effective July 1, orders of protection can now be granted to unmarried persons in intimate relationships. The court will determine intimacy by the duration of the relationship, frequency of interaction, whether or not the relationship was terminated, and the nature of the relationship as it pertains to romantic or sexual involvement. Additionally, no contact orders can now be issued against sexual offenders—those who have been arrested for the crime of sexual abuse or those convicted of a sexual offense upon their release from jail or prison. In either case, if these offenders are a perceived threat, the concerned party can ask for and receive the court’s relief. There is no cost for filing for these new orders of protection.

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Mental Health Parity Bill Not Passed

As part of its mission, the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault lobbies for laws that are necessary for victims of abuse. Several attempts to bring parity on health benefits to victims were made this legislative session. Unfortunately, the most recent bill, SF2289, was not signed into law. This bill would have provided third-party payment or re-payment of mental health benefits for neurobiological disorders and substance abuse in conjunction with disorders in the same way that other conditions are covered by physical health insurance plans. This concept is called mental health parity. It has long been known that victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault often suffer trauma from the abuse they have endured. Many struggle with substance abuse (self-medication as a way of coping with the trauma) also. With inadequate mental health care, it is difficult, if not impossible, to return to one’s previous state of mental health. Survivors are not responsible for the abuse that has been directed toward them, and they deserve health care that will help them return to full and productive lives. The cost to business and society of not having adequate coverage is estimated at $23 billion dollars. Some of the costs are often hidden: days missed from work, inability to start/complete education, affects on children, medical problems related to ignoring emotional problems, loss of housing due to reduced ability to function–just to name a few. In other words, in the long-term, the cost of not providing adequate mental health care far exceeds the cost of addressing the mental health needs of trauma survivors. While no law passed this session, it is expected to resurface. This issue has been important to the current administration and has been featured in numerous addresses by both the Governor and Lt. Governor this year. When this bill returns, it will require a joint study by the insurance division and state auditor regarding costs (submission date: 01/30/05). It will also require a two-year study of the mental health delivery system (submission date: 11/1/04). As advocates for victims of abuse, we hope that this topic will continue to resurface to meet the on-going needs of people who suffer trauma. We also hope that you will lend your support to the mental health parity bill.

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Tourney Nets Green From the Greens

The 2002 CIS Charity Golf Tournament was a huge success thanks to our many area supporters. We had 39 golfers and 14 sponsoring businesses, which brought CIS a profit of $1,584 at the end of the tournament. The team of Dean Mattix, John Bowker, Tom Gillespie and Pat Burke won the first flight with a score of 60. We had a three-way tie for first place in the second flight and had to play a scorecard run-off. Shelly Howarth, Wade Howarth, Bethany O’Dwyer and John O’Dwyer won the second flight with a score of 64. Each team won $160 cash. The team of Mattix-Bowker-Gillespie-Burke donated their prize right back to CIS. We had two hole contests for Closest to the Pin on Second Shot. They were won by Chris Legvold and Shelly Howarth. Bethany O’Dwyer won the prize for Straighest Drive (she was only one-half inch off the line). She also won the Longest Drive for Women and Closest to the Pin for Women. Longest Drive for men went to Judd Lafrenz. Closest to the Pin for Men was won by Dennis Carriker. Pam Ridgeway won the Longest Putt for Women and Rod McCurdy won the Longest Putt for Men. Dates have already been set for the 2003 CIS Charity Golf Tournament. It is scheduled for Saturday, May 31, 2003, at Elmhurst Country Club. Also mark your calendars for the 2003 Vintage Charity Ball on March 8, 2003, at Elmhurst Country Club.

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Women Supporting Women in Recovery Group

A new group is being offered at New Directions Recovery, the out-patient chemical dependency treatment program with Mahaska Health Partnership. The Women’s Issues Group (WIG) is designed to meet the needs of women at every stage of the recovery process from treatment to relapse prevention. While there are experiences and principles common to both men and women in recovery, women can be affected differently at every stage of the addiction cycle. Women are often introduced to drugs to lose weight, to self-medicate due to abuse or family/relationship stress, or are manipulated into using by controlling partners. Once the addiction sets in, these issues have the potential to act as triggers for repeated relapse. Continued usage leaves women vulnerable to both abuse and labeling such as “bad mother.” These labels can further complicate their recovery process. WIG offers a place where women can talk openly about their addiction and issues that affect them in a safe, supportive, nonjudgmental atmosphere. The goals are to understand the addiction process, learn how women’s issues affect recovery, and find healthy ways to deal with the issues that seem to feed into the addiction. WIG is offered on Thursday mornings from 10:00-11:30 a.m. and is facilitated by Laurie Fein, therapist with New Directions, and Deb Kay, Director of New Directions Recovery. The group is open to all women in recovery following an evaluation and referral from New Directions Recovery. Please call 641-672-3259 for more information. CIS will provide transportation to the group and childcare during the group at no cost. By Laurie Fein, LISW, CADC, New Directions

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Who Would Have Known?

Who knew, my blurred eyes of yesterday would turn with intense vision to the future!
Who knew, my scars and broken jaw would heal to produce a voice that challenges society!
Who knew, the rape I survived and endured would give way to pride and happiness in my own strength!
Who knew, the drugs and booze I needed so badly would be given up so gladly for a child and a future!
Who knew, my doubts, guilt, and fear would give way to freedom, choices, and courage!
I knew, I knew that I am a woman of immense faith, strength, and tenacity. Because you see—I am a survivor.
Elnora

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State Domestic Abuse and Sexual Abuse Funds Cut in Special Session

Iowa has provided funding for domestic abuse and sexual assault programs for the past 12 years. These funds went to the Crime Victim Assistance Division (CVAD) of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office and were allocated to programs through a competitive grant process. This funding was cut during the second special session, and the impact on local programs will be severe. CIS had been awarded almost $43,000 in state funding this year to fund 100% of the Executive Director position, 70% of the Administrative Assistant position, and 30% of the Rural Outreach Coordinator position. Fortunately, Attorney General Tom Miller will be able to offset some of the cuts this year with the authorized use of the compensation fund. Next year, however, we have to face the loss completely unless the legislature reallocates funding for our programs. The cut will severely effect our ability to provide the services we currently offer. Turning Point, the shelter in Knoxville, is closing between July and September to try to prevent permanent closing later. The program in Atlantic, which serves four counties, has also closed three of their four outreach offices. Several other shelters throughout the state may close as well. We will be asking for your support in our efforts to reestablish our funding and we will keep you up to date on our progress.

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Checking Our Progress

All responsible agencies need a long-range plan which takes into account feedback from the community as well as those being served. To that end, we are in the process of completing a needs assessment survey regarding our services to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault. As a reader of this newsletter, your input is important to us. If you are willing to share your thoughts and comments, you may do so in one of two ways: 1) request a survey from our office, or 2) complete a survey on our website at www.cismc.org. Either way your responses will remain anonymous. In addition, we will be mailing the survey to other service agencies, civic groups, and churches in our service area and it will be available at the Southeast Iowa Fair and the Keokuk County Fair as well. The questionnaire contains thirteen brief questions. All responses will be beneficial to us as we assess the effectiveness of our services and identify future needs. By monitoring ourselves, we can always be certain that our services are both appropriate and comprehensive. By completing a questionnaire, you will help us grow in meaningful ways. We will highlight the results of the survey for our readers in a future issue.

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CIS Services Increase Each Year

**Data were not collected

Other FY02 information:

• Provided 23 presentations with over 1,443 people in attendance
• 26 volunteers contributed over 1465 hours
• Distributed over 1,000 brochures/materials
• Distributed thirty-five 911 cell phones
• Provided transportation for 183 people, increased from 63 last year (van donated by Clow)
• Provided professional training for medical personnel, law enforcement, clergy, mental health providers, and service providers for people with disabilities (over 110 professionals attended)

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