Domestic Violence Prevention Awareness Month

The month of October is set aside to bring awareness regarding domestic violence.

The Silent Witness National Initiative is a not-for-profit organization which began in 1990 in Minnesota to represent the women who were victims of domestic violence homicides. They created 27 life-sized red wooden figures representing all the women who were killed in acts of domestic violence in Minnesota in 1990. They called them the Silent Witnesses.

The mission is to promote peace, healing, and responsibility in adult relationships in order to eliminate domestic violence murders in the United States by 2010. October is domestic violence prevention awareness month and 47-50 states participate in special October events and tour their Silent Witness exhibits.

The Women's Resource Center will be taking part in the Silent Witness Initiative in October. Posters will be displayed throughout Valley, Daniels, Sheridan, and Phillips counties as well as public service announcements. Please stop by the Women's Resource Center and pick up a purple ribbon to support a violence free community.

Police Officer Recognition

The Women's Resource Center has recognized Officer Dave Watson of the Glasgow Police Department for the Domestic Violence Prevention Officer Recognition Award for outstanding service to victims of domestic violence. This is an annual officer recognition award for domestic violence prevention awareness month in October.

***A 1994 survey of senior executives of Fortune 1,000 companies, found 66 percent of the respondents believed that a company's financial performance would benefit from addressing the issue of domestic violence among its employees. (Survey conducted by Roper Starch, 1994)

Pets Against Violence

Pets are part of the family in majority of American households. Approximately 75% of families with school-age children have at least one pet. (Safe Haven for Pets, 1997-Frank R. Ascione, Ph.D.) For many of these animals they are often treated like a member of the family, and when the family experiences violence, they often become targets. Maltreatment of pets by adults or children is recognized as an indicator of violence in the home. (Safe Haven for Pets, 1997-Frank R. Ascione,Ph.D.)

Many victims of domestic violence delay leaving an abusive situation out of fear for the safety of their pet. Often times, it is not feasible for a victim to take their pet (dog, cat, horse etc.) with them. An abuser will often times threaten and harm the family pet to gain power and control over their victim.

The Human Society of the United States has launched the "First Strike" Campaign, designed to increase public awareness of the connection between animal cruelty and human violence, and to encourage individuals to take animal cruelty seriously. They have developed partnerships with other animal shelters to ensure the safety of animals.

If anyone is interested in being a safe home provider for pets or would like more information please contact the Women's Resource Center at 228-8401.

The Women's Resource Center is providing pets with treats during the month of October. Stop by the Women's Resource Center at 114 5^th Street South (Across from True Value) with your pet and receive a treat to support "Pets Against Violence".

A Survivors Story

Earlier this year, after 13 years of marriage, I found myself on the doorstep of the Women's Resource Center in Glasgow. At first I wondered if I had made a mistake in going there, as I was very nervous about telling anyone my personal business. However, the fear I felt, the thrill of having escaped from my own home in one piece, the adrenaline that was still rushing through my system after the most recent fight with my husband, overpowered my nervousness and gave me the fortitude to walk in the door.

Was it going to be necessary to tell people, whom I'd never met in my life, that my husband had hit me...yet again? Would I be brave enough to tell these women that he'd held a gun to my head, or that he'd threatened to take my children away from me? I didn't want to tell. My face flushed because I was embarrassed, and ashamed, and guilty...and I was, in my own mind betraying the man I loved and hated.

The apprehension about going into the Center was the worst of it. I was greeted by caring people who made me feel at ease instantly. They gently walked me through the process of telling my story so they could better understand how to help me. They, at my request brought in a law enforcement officer who answered some of my questions and made me feel safe for the first time in a long time. Combined, they gave me hope that my life could change and that I didn't have to do it alone.

I utilized the many resources of the Center and received much-needed services from them, which included, but were not limited to the services of an advocate as I went to see a judge to obtain a restraining order against my husband. The Women's Resource Center provided me with a safe haven for the night, a 911 cell phone and a referral to a women's and children's shelter. Aside from the physical helps they provided, the staff at the Center were remarkable in their caring attitude, willingness to help, and selfless dedication to ensuring I did not feel as though I was out in the world all alone.

Many months have passed since I first went to the Center but every once in a while I'll get a phone call or an email message from one of them. They just want to make sure I'm okay. That, more than the services they provided or referred, makes me sure that the staff at the Center is dedicated to the cause of ending domestic violence and helping the victims of it.

---Author Anonymous

The Women's Resource Center understands the struggle this survivor and many other's face and appreciates her allowing us to share it.

SHINE Project

The Women's Resource Center hosted a Safe Sidewalk Zone on Saturday, September 15^th. This project was to encourage the utilization of art as a tool of expression to empower young people to promote respect and end youth violence.

Several youth throughout the day stopped by to sign their name and add artwork. The theme of the project was "It's not always easy to know what to do" The art supplies were provided by SHINE (Seeking Harmony in Neighborhoods Everyday). SHINE is a national nonprofit organization that empowers young people to promote respect for diversity and end youth violence.

The mural painting is hanging up in the window next to the Women's Resource Center. Stop by and take a look.

Useful Websites

www.ssa.gov/women Social Security Website for women to find basic information about retirement, survivors, disability, supplemental security income, and medicare benefits.

http://jsd.dli.state.mt.us/ Job service website. Lists available jobs in Montana.

www.travelmontana.state.mt.us/ Tourism development program through the Department of Commerce. Information of tourism related events.

www.citycares.org/national/ Suggestions for what people can do in the wake of the September 11^th attacks.

www.kidshealth.org How to talk to your kids about the news.

www.eeoc.gov Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

www.thewrc.org. The Women's Resource Center's website. Provides information of services and links to additional information

Albertson Cards

Thank you for those who have used their Albertson's Community Donation Cards. The money is used for youth activities at the Center. If you do not have an Albertsons card and would like one, please contact the Women's Resource Center at 228-8401.

***American women have more to fear from the men they know and once loved than from any stranger. (Jane Brody, New York Times)

Office Staff

Laura Lamb, the outreach assistant in Phillips county was involved in a serious horse accident. She is doing much better and is eager to resume her work in assisting victims in Phillips county. During the interim please call the Glasgow Office at 228-8401 for assistance.

SART

The Women's Resource Center is in the process of establishing a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). A SART consists of the coordination of medical professionals, advocates, law enforcement, and child/adult protective services that respond to a sexual assault with permission from the patient. The Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow is very excited to be part of this process and in November will send four nurses to the annual Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner training in Billings. In October, the Women's Resource Center will bring in a trainer from the Montana Forensic Labs to train team members.

Needed!!

The Women's Resource Center is in need of Gloves for a special project. These gloves can be old, mismatched, and any size. Please drop them off at the Center at 114 5^th Street South in Glasgow, (across from True Value) or call 228-8401.

Support Group

The Women's Resource Center offers a free confidential support group for adult female victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact the Women's Resource Center at 228-8401 for more information.

Remembrance Quilt

Vicki Braden-Nelson is in the process of making a remembrance quilt. The quilt will be made of squares with women's names on them who have survived or passed away from breast cancer. The quilt will be donated to the Women's Resource Center and displayed in various organizations in Glasgow. If you would like to purchase a square please contact the Women's Resource Center at 228-8401. Each square is $20.00, and a portion of the proceeds will go toward assisting people with a breast cancer related heath problem.

Upcoming Events

**Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence quarterly meeting will be in Great Falls on November 8^th and 9^th.

**The community health fair sponsored by Frances Mahon Deaconess will be on October 27^th from 7:00a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

**The Sheridan County Health fair will be on October 11^th from10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Plentywood.

*The Women's Resource Center is still in need of volunteers. Please call 228-8401 if you are interested in volunteering as a crisis line advocate, safe home provider, or one-on-one advocate.

Women's Resource Center

114 5^th Street South

Glasgow, MT 59230

Offices

Women's Resource Center

serving Valley, Daniels, Sheridan, and Phillips counties

114 5^th Street South Glasgow, MT 59230

Business Line-406-228-8401

Fax Line-406-228-8407

Crisis Line-406-228-8400 or 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or

1-800-877-9232

www.thewrc.org

email address: women@nemontel.net