A community’s call to action for greater coordination, collaboration, and cooperation to co-locate in one place all available services for victims of violent crime.

My “vision” is to have a safe, convenient location under one roof for women and children who are victims of family violence and sexual assault to go for all the various types of help they need, from counselors, law enforcement and attorneys to ministers and anyone else as required. 

In addition to helping those who have been abused, I see the need and importance of expanding services to try to STOP abuse before it happens.  There are many ways to collaborate with the community through extensive outreach and awareness, including establishing programs at the schools.  Children are influenced in so many ways outside of the home–from friends, the neighborhood, television, the internet, music, the movies–everything they see around them.  One interesting program in particular is called “Coaching Boys into Men.” 

I would also like to implement the Stranger/Danger program at local stores, where a parent is made aware that a “stranger” is going to approach their child, and the parent and authorities can watch to see if the child knows not to talk or go with a stranger.  Abused women often confide in their hairdressers, and hairdressers are more apt to notice bruises on a woman’s head or around her neck.  There is a program through salons called “Cut It Out” that addresses abuse of women and children.  

As another example for community partnership, there are a number of cosmetics sold by independent members (such as Mary Kay and Merle Norman).  By teaming up with some of these ladies, showing abused women how to use makeup or giving them a “makeover” could help boost their self-esteem and put a smile back on their faces.  By partnering with local educational entities such as Ivy Tech and IUPU, some basic skills classes could be offered to help the women get a job and begin the process of becoming self-sufficient and moving on with their lives towards a brighter future.  I also hope to form a community-wide partnership with our churches.

In addition to our current program, we will expand services to include more comprehensive individual and group counseling, more children’s services, specialized legal advocacy, life skills education, vocational counseling, dating violence awareness, and more.  Programs for community outreach and education focusing on child abuse prevention will include partnerships with the schools, churches, and youth organizations to create awareness about issues such as safe internet use, safe dating for teens, and stranger/danger encounters.

Another service would be that instead of being put in a large hospital Emergency Room with fluorescent lights and strangers moving about, sexual assault victims would have a private, comfortable room, pleasantly decorated, where specially trained nurses could perform exams when needed. 

A Task Force is being formed to investigate the possibility of a one-stop facility in Kosciusko County.   We live in a very caring community, and I am confident the public as a whole will take “ownership” and show their support.  The Task Force will be a community collaboration involving social service agencies, youth organizations, schools, churches, law enforcement, corporate entities, community leaders and individuals—all of whom wish to form a partnership to attack this problem.  If you are interested in serving on the task force, please contact me.

Becky Moreno
574-372-9539
 

Domestic Violence is everyone’s business, and we can all be advocates to help bring this widespread social problem to the attention of citizens from all walks of life.  Imagine a place where no one excuses abusive behavior and everyone is committed to being part of the solution.  The Task Force will be pledging its focus and energy towards educating the Kosciusko Community about the dangers of family and partner violence. 

The circumstances that lead someone to seek the services of this type of facility are often frightening and stressful, and finding help should not compound the problem.  Women oftentimes have to go to numerous places to get the benefits and services they need.  Having to go to multiple agencies is very dangerous for the women, and transportation can be a problem to and from all these locations. 
 

Criminal victimization of an individual is a traumatic experience that can affect women and children for a lifetime.  Effective counseling and case management are very important so victims can regain their confidence and dignity as soon as possible.  With proper counseling and support, their hope for the future is rekindled, and they can again take control of their lives.

Citizens need to understand that violence and abuse of any kind against women and children are unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our community.    We want to prevent domestic violence through the protection and empowerment of the victim, to rehabilitate family members, and to educate the public about domestic violence and its consequences.  Abuse and violence are learned behaviors.  Abuse and violence are chosen behaviors.  We must expose domestic violence through the media, schools, and area organizations to bolster community awareness.