Domestic violence is defined as an act of violence or abuse against a person living in one's household, especially a member of one's immediate family.
The Children and Family Center of Northwest Missouri provides support and information on rights and options to all victims of domestic and sexual violence regardless of age, race, gender and or sexual orientation.
Muriel Zimmerman, executive director, said the Children and Family Center provides services to victims in Atchison, Holt, Gentry, Worth and Nodaway County. Services offered include advocacy and support, a 24-hour toll-free crisis hotline, court advocacy, shelter, crisis management, case management, support groups, counseling and parent and community education.
"Everyone deserves a healthy relationship –– safe from violence and fear," Zimmerman said. "Protect yourself and your loved ones from an abusive situation by learning the warning signs."
Zimmerman said some of the warning signs include:
• constantly being put down
• controlling or dominant behavior
• extreme jealousy or insecurity
• an explosive temper
• isolating you from family and friends
• possessiveness
• financial control
• telling you what to do
• preventing you from doing what you want to do
The Children and Family Center opened a shelter in November 2002. They moved into a new facility at 1220 E. Second St., which they are completely renovating, on July 1, 2009.
According to the Children and Family Center report from January 2008 to December 2008, 208 new clients and 290 repeat clients were served last year. (This included 365 females, 75 children and 47 male clients.) Other services the center provides:
• 48 individuals utilized Crisis Intervention Services
• 761 Case Management
• 537 individuals utilized court advocacy services
• 34 individuals were sheltered for 334 bed nights
• 129 individuals attended support groups
• 703 calls were received on the 24-hour crisis hotline
• Together these numbers represent a total of 2, 512 direct services.
Currently, the Children and Family Center includes a full-time victim advocate and a part-time court advocate, weekend support worker/advocate, volunteer coordinator, "on call staff," executive director and administrative assistant.
Volunteers are recruited and trained to assist with caring for the crisis line or volunteering to stay at the center during the daytime, evening and/or overnight when there are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault are present.
Support groups offered through the center include Women In Need of Gaining Support (WINGS), which meets from 12 to 1:30 p.m. and again from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Stop Abuse For Everyone (SAFE) is a support group for men who are victims of domestic violence and or sexual assault, which meets from noon to 1:30 p.m. and again from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. every Monday.
