DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

DOMESTICVIOLENCE http://www.tncp.net/Portals/21/istock%20photos/domestic_violence.jpg

RCW 9A • Domestic Violence includes but is not limited to any of the following crimes when committed by one family or household member against another: assault, reckless endangerment, coercion, burglary, criminal trespass, malicious mischief, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, stalking, violation of the Restraining Order, restraining the person or excluding the person from a residence, violation of a Protection Order, violation of a No Contact Order, rape, or interfering with the reporting of domestic violence.

Who Are The Victims? http://viewnews.com.au/bm/bm.pix/domestic-violence.s800x800.jpg http://www.radicalparenting.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/girl-domestic-violence11.jpg http://www.wethewomen.org/entry/domestic-violence-in-korea/ http://clearcutmedia.tv/shop/images/Female_violence.jpg http:/www.smashingapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/amnesty-international-domestic-violence.jpg/ http://www.mydochub.com/images/rihanna-chris-brown-domestic-violence.jpg

TYPES OF ABUSE: • PHYSICAL ABUSE • SEXUAL ABUSE • EMOTIONAL ABUSE • PSYCHOLOGICA BATTERING • DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY OR PETS

How Do Clients Qualify For Services? Anyone Who Has Been A Victim Of Domestic Violence Qualifies.

Community Resources Domestic Violence Support and Crisis Intervention Services • Womencare Shelter 24 Hour Domestic Violence Helpline • (360) 734-3438 • http://www.womencareshelter.org/herstory.html • Whatcom Crisis Services, Domestic Violence Program • (360) 715-1563 • http://www.em.whatcomcounty.org/superior/resources/crisis.jsp • WA State Domestic Violence Hotline • 1-800-562-6025 • http://www.wscadv.org/ • National Domestic Violence Hotline • 1-800-799-7233 • http://www.ndvh.org/

Specialized Victim Services • CASAS 24 Hour Help Line (Crime and Sexual Assault Assistance and Support Services) • Western Washington University Students • (360) 384-2285 • http://www.wwu.edu/chw/preventionandwellness/vp_casas.shtml • Lummi Victims of Crime 24 Hour Help Line • Lummi Nation members, Lummi reservation residents, Native Americans in Whatcom County • (360) 384-2285 • http://www.lummi-nsn.org/Court_law_PS/VOC/VOC_body.htm

Confidential Domestic Violence Shelters • Womencare Shelter • (360) 734-3438 • Ne-AlisTokw • Native Americans • (360) 384-2285

Non-Emergency and Transitional Housing • Dorothy Place • Women and children • (360) 734-5121 x370 • Lydia Place • Women and children • (360) 671-7663 • YMCA • Women • (360) 734-4820 • Agape Christian Women’s House • (360) 733-3796

Certified Batterers Treatment Programs • Chambers & Wells Counseling, Inc. • (360) 733-6388 • http://therapistunlimited.com/rehabs/US/WA/Bellingham/Chambers+and+Wells+Counseling/ • Sehome Behavioral Health • (360) 671-0869 • Whatcom Crisis Services, A.C.T. • (360) 671-5714

Adolescent/Teen Services • Northwest Youth Services • (360) 734-9862 • http://www.nwys.org/programs/

Other Family and Child Services • Brigid Collins House • (360) 734-4616 • http://www.brigidcollins.org/index.php?expand=40 • Catholic Community Services • (360) 676-2164 • http://www.ccsww.org/site/PageServer • Department of Child and Family Services • (360) 676-6110 • http://www.lni.wa.gov/ • Whatcom Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic • (360) 676-2220 • http://www.whatcomcounseling.org/

LEGAL SERVICES • Courthouse Facilitator • (360) 738-2459 • Domestic Violence and Anti-Harassment Petitions • (360) 676-6803 • Whatcom County District Court • (360) 676-6770 • Whatcom County Superior Court • (360) 676-6708 • Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office • (360) 676-6784 • Whatcom County Public Defender’s Office • (360) 676-6670 • Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office • (360) 676-6650

Laws & Policies That Affect Services • RCW 7.69.030 • Law Enforcement • RCW 10.31.100 & Washington State’s Domestic • Violence Protection Act

Legal Options • No-contact Order • Order for Protection • Restraining Order • Anti-harassment Order • Legal Options for the Lummi Nation

Are There Any Services That ARE NOT PROVIDED? • There’s been a demand for more outreach programs: Outreach gives non-profit and public organizations the knowledge and resources they need to visualize their cause and tell their story. • No pet services (Safe Houses that allow animals) • More support groups, because right now there is only one or two a week and there’s about one in a city so it’s only available in one part of town usually. There should be many more and they should meet more frequently. • More programs that will enhance a victims self worth, self-esteem and independence after they are safe. • The state should provide more funding for full-time advocates, training of legal advocates and acquisition of legal services for domestic agencies. • Legal advocated should obtain more training in family law, court procedures and legal advocacy. • Domestic violence agencies should coordinate with law enforcement departments to understand each other’s point of view and procedures in working with domestic violence. • Domestic violence agencies should continue training law enforcement and court personnel in domestic violence issues. • Domestic violence agencies should obtain more pro bono service, guardian ad litem.

How Are Services Funded? • A citywide investment channels about $15 million annually in federal funds to various programs that deal with criminal justice and victim services programs. This funding helps victims and survivors find safety, holds offenders accountable, builds community support to end abuse and violence, and ensures that all citizens have access to critical services. This involves collaborating with numerous private and public agencies to provide many services and programs, convening elected leaders and community partners to work together, and seeking public and private funding to enhance programs and services.

How Are Services Funded? Cont… JustGive.org is a donation website: Your financial support helps. • Every donation you provide is appreciated. Every amount counts towards supporting Women’s Shelter, domestic violence prevention and education, other domestic violence programs, along with outreach projects. As a 501(c)3 fully registered non-profit organization, your donation will be tax deductible.Lists of volunteer opportunities are also available. Along with a specific wish list of donation items for our shelter. Shelter's requests for services have increased 40% since 2008. Unfortunately our individual donations are down by 29%. You can donate online or you may send donations through the mail directly to the administrative office of your choice. If you'd like to donate tangible items, all programs accept them during business hours at the organization. Our donors are a vital part or our organization. • the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program gives $13 million to house many needy individuals, including victims of domestic violence. • Survivors support such as Dominick Dunne, Tireless Crime Victim Advocate, Beverly Sills, National Center's founder and first board member and many other citizens who support and/or are survivor’s of domestic violence who have put out grants, built or started organizations, or annually raise money for the cause.

References Creative Communications Group. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.domesticviolence.org/ Medline Plus. (n. d.). Domestic violence. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/domesticviolence.html National Domestic Violence Hotline. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://www.ndvh.org/ Rennison, C. & Welchans, S. (2000). Behavior tactics used by perpetrators. Victims of Intimate Partner Violence, 11. Schechter, S. (2005). Obstacles to leaving the abusive relationship. Domestic Violence: Module 3, 17-26. Washington State Community, Trade and Economic Development. (1996). Domestic violence legal advocacy program evaluation. Olympia, WA. Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic Violence. (1999, October). Domestic dating & violence: An information and resource handbook. (HV 6626 D64 1999)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE