Post by lace on Oct 15, 2006 21:43:29 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Community raises awareness about domestic violence [/glow] 
Idaho
By Trena Tegan
For The Times-News
RUPERT — For the safety of its residents, the location of the Mini-Cassia Shelter for Women and Children is not public knowledge, but executive director Pam Harris needed a place open to the public to conduct the business of the shelter, accept donations and hold classes.
The Minidoka County School District has agreed to lease a former portable classroom near Pershing Elementary School in Rupert for the business side of the shelter.
The building has room for meetings and training, office space and space for storage.
After more than a year of doing the shelter’s bookkeeping at her home and struggling to find meeting places for support groups and trainings, Harris says she was thrilled to have a place designated solely for the business of the shelter.
“We finally have a space to call our own,” she said.
She is in the process of changing the space from a “preschool look” to more of a “homey” atmosphere.
“There’s a lot of work to be done and we could use all the help we can get,” Harris said. She added that it would be a great service project for clubs, organizations or Eagle Scouts. Individual volunteers are welcome, as well.
Plans for the building include holding advocacy training, support group meetings and life skills training for victims. Contributions from Minidoka Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation, Patterson’s and several other individual donations have made a great impact on the shelter and its operations, Harris said. She hopes others will help with the needs of the new center.
“Domestic violence is not a family situation, it’s a community situation,” Harris said.
The center needs tables, old cell phones, chairs, a projection screen, laptop, desktop computers, a refrigerator, microwave, safe, locking file cabinets, a Web site and signs. Donations are tax-deductible
“Many of the grants we apply for require matching funds contributions from the community and individual donations count towards that,” Harris said.
She is also writing additional grant requests to fund improvements and furnishings, as well as additional help for the center and the shelter.
The center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Occasionally, it will be closed for Harris to attend trainings and meetings, but she can be reached at 436-0332.
Although the building is a great benefit to the shelter and its various programs, Harris is still looking to the future.
“What I would really like to see is a complete family justice center,” Harris said.
This would include help organizations, such as Health and Welfare, counseling services, employment services and other such organizations that can help victims of domestic violence to become self-sufficient and independent.
[glow=red,2,300]Signs of domestic abuse
Bruises and other signs of impact on the skin, with the excuse of “accidents”
Depression, crying
Frequent and sudden absences from work or social appointments
Frequent lateness
Frequent, harassing phone calls to the person while they are at work
Fear of the partner, references to the partner’s anger
Decreased productivity and attentiveness in work and activities
Isolation from friends and
family
Insufficient resources to live (money, credit cards, car)
For more information, call the Mini-Cassia Shelter for Women and Children. The 24-hour crisis line is 436-0332.[/glow]
www.magicvalley.com/articles/2006/10/15/news_localstate/news_local_state.7.txt
Idaho
By Trena Tegan
For The Times-News
RUPERT — For the safety of its residents, the location of the Mini-Cassia Shelter for Women and Children is not public knowledge, but executive director Pam Harris needed a place open to the public to conduct the business of the shelter, accept donations and hold classes.
The Minidoka County School District has agreed to lease a former portable classroom near Pershing Elementary School in Rupert for the business side of the shelter.
The building has room for meetings and training, office space and space for storage.
After more than a year of doing the shelter’s bookkeeping at her home and struggling to find meeting places for support groups and trainings, Harris says she was thrilled to have a place designated solely for the business of the shelter.
“We finally have a space to call our own,” she said.
She is in the process of changing the space from a “preschool look” to more of a “homey” atmosphere.
“There’s a lot of work to be done and we could use all the help we can get,” Harris said. She added that it would be a great service project for clubs, organizations or Eagle Scouts. Individual volunteers are welcome, as well.
Plans for the building include holding advocacy training, support group meetings and life skills training for victims. Contributions from Minidoka Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation, Patterson’s and several other individual donations have made a great impact on the shelter and its operations, Harris said. She hopes others will help with the needs of the new center.
“Domestic violence is not a family situation, it’s a community situation,” Harris said.
The center needs tables, old cell phones, chairs, a projection screen, laptop, desktop computers, a refrigerator, microwave, safe, locking file cabinets, a Web site and signs. Donations are tax-deductible
“Many of the grants we apply for require matching funds contributions from the community and individual donations count towards that,” Harris said.
She is also writing additional grant requests to fund improvements and furnishings, as well as additional help for the center and the shelter.
The center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Occasionally, it will be closed for Harris to attend trainings and meetings, but she can be reached at 436-0332.
Although the building is a great benefit to the shelter and its various programs, Harris is still looking to the future.
“What I would really like to see is a complete family justice center,” Harris said.
This would include help organizations, such as Health and Welfare, counseling services, employment services and other such organizations that can help victims of domestic violence to become self-sufficient and independent.
[glow=red,2,300]Signs of domestic abuse
Bruises and other signs of impact on the skin, with the excuse of “accidents”
Depression, crying
Frequent and sudden absences from work or social appointments
Frequent lateness
Frequent, harassing phone calls to the person while they are at work
Fear of the partner, references to the partner’s anger
Decreased productivity and attentiveness in work and activities
Isolation from friends and
family
Insufficient resources to live (money, credit cards, car)
For more information, call the Mini-Cassia Shelter for Women and Children. The 24-hour crisis line is 436-0332.[/glow]
www.magicvalley.com/articles/2006/10/15/news_localstate/news_local_state.7.txt