Rural Domestic Violence Grant

According to Carol Chambers, “Relationship and domestic violence are far less likely to be reported in small communities where everyone knows everyone else. People who grow up in an environment where there is domestic violence often do not stop to consider that violence in a relationship is neither normal nor healthy. As a result, that pattern of behavior may then be passed on from generation to generation.”

The 18th Judicial District is dedicated to addressing the issue of domestic violence in our rural areas. In 2007, we applied for and received a federal grant from the Office on Violence Against Women entitled, “The Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Child Victimization Enforcement Program.”  We saw a need for creating more public awareness and education about the issue of domestic violence, as well as the need for greater access to direct services for victims living in our rural communities. As a result, we partnered with The Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center and Project Safeguard (http://psafeguard.qwestoffice.net) to provide counseling, legal advocacy, and information about domestic violence to rural areas in the 18th Judicial District.

Some of the activities and services provided with this grant include:

• Sponsoring an essay contest for juniors and seniors in rural high schools, which required them to researchdomestic violence/abuse and its impact on those involved, their families, and their communities. We want to continue encouraging students to learn more about domestic violence and the ways it may be influencing their lives. Stay tuned for information about our next contest!
• Training for law enforcement in Elbert and Lincoln Counties.
• Providing digital cameras for some of our rural law enforcement agencies.
• Outreach to many different individuals and community agencies in Elbert and Lincoln Counties.

The Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center has also been able to provide more counseling and legal advocacy services to victims of domestic violence through their new satellite office in Kiowa.  Project Safeguard has also been able to provide additional civil legal advocacy services.

To find out how we might be able to work together, please contact Kimberly Wheeler by email at kwheeler@da18.state.co.us.  As the Rural Domestic Violence Specialist, I hope to improve public awareness and knowledge about domestic violence and encourage victims to access those services that will help to keep them safe. I hope to reach out to, educate, and give voice to rural youth and teens about these issues, specifically teen dating/relationship violence. I believe young people play a critical role in helping to break the cycle of violence. I am always looking for ways to work with supportive individuals, groups, agencies, or organizations interested in addressing these issues within our rural communities.

 
This project is supported by Grant No. 2007-WR-AX-0021 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

Kimberly Wheeler

E-Mail the D.A.

DA18@da18.state.co.us