Domestic violence in northeast Indiana is an on-going issue. Victim advocates say the best way to get a batterer to stop his behavior is to arrest him and then see that he gets into an intensive batterers' program that addresses the power and control issues that lead to abuse.
Photo illustration by Dean A. Orewiler

Originally published November 18, 2001 in The News-Sun, The Evening Star & Herald-Republican

It still hides behind closed doors but, slowly, ever so slowly, domestic violence in northeast Indiana is being shoved out of its closet of secrecy.

In the past 18 months reports of domestic violence have gone up, domestic violence victim advocates in Steuben, DeKalb, LaGrange and Noble counties say. But, at the same time, the advocates believe that's because public awareness is up.

"We've been involved with advocacy in DeKalb County for over 20 years, providing outreach and shelter services to victims of domestic violence," says Terri Noone, Shelter/Outreach Manager at the YWCA, Fort Wayne.

"And, it seems like there is a heightened community awareness about domestic violence. I know we've had more referrals in the past 1 1/2 years from all our local agencies because the more aware and educated people are about this topic, the more referrals do go up - more victims are willing to come forward when there's this kind of awareness."

As a result of the increased referrals, YWCA officials have scheduled a public meeting Dec. 4 in Auburn to discuss the issue. At that meeting - which is open to anyone interested in attending - advocates will brainstorm ideas that could help the different DeKalb social service agencies work together.

So far, DeKalb County still doesn't have a local "safe house" or shelter for abused women - a future plan might be to establish a shelter in the county, if that's what this brainstorming session suggests,
Noone says.

"Hopefully this meeting will be the beginning to help make decisions specific to DeKalb County," Noone says. "Each county is different and each group needs to work with its own community to identify that community's greatest needs, whatever they might be. That way we can enhance each other's services and draw from each other's awareness."

Neighboring Steuben County established a domestic violence task force two
years ago and invited representatives from law enforcement, prosecution, probation and courts, social services, health care, mental health, clergy, education and the workplace to participate.

In a gargantuan effort that's been recognized nationally - and is now being used as a role model in other communities - the group established written protocols that each community agency agreed to follow.

The model collaborates the roles that each agency plays in combating domestic violence.

"What we did is agree that through collaboration we are partners in this issue, and that we are respectful of certain common priorities," says Gail Waymire, executive director of Steuben's Community Anti-Violence Alliance (CAVA). "Those priorities are safety first, then justice and accountability."

As a result of this protocol, the good news is that the level of awareness of domestic violence in the county has increased dramatically, Waymire says.

One recent positive development in Steuben County has been the establishment of a three-person prosecuting team that will work on all domestic violence cases. Steuben Prosecutor Thomas Wilson is on that team.

"This is an exciting development," Waymire says. "It shows just how serious this issue is, and how serious our prosecutor is about the issue."

When the task force was born, Steuben County had no locally-based organization working directly with domestic violence victims. A major accomplishment in the short period was CAVA's opening. The agency is non-profit and supported by grants, the United Way, the Women's Fund of the Steuben County Community Foundation, local churches and individuals.

"We offer such things as one-on-one empowerment counseling, crisis intervention, a weekly women's peer support group, and information and referrals to other social services," Waymire says. "Legal advocacy is a big piece of what we do because it's becoming more and more important to help survivors understand how the legal system works."

CAVA also is involved in numerous prevention education programs, including community awareness and professional training.

The county still doesn't have its own shelter. "But," Waymire says, "we definitely need one. I have 56 active cases today - four new cases came in yesterday. I could fill up a 10- or 20-bed shelter tonight."

Officials at LaGrange County's shelter, Safe Haven, are keenly aware of the need for overnight housing. Safe Haven relies on volunteer help at the shelter, which means it can't be an overnight facility unless volunteers are there.

"We have no 24-hour staff, so our shelter is somewhat limited as to who we can shelter, when," says Marilyn Chandler, executive director. "We do have a crisis line for people in imminent danger and a telephone network that works well, and we are available 24 hours a day.

"We have about 15 volunteers and we can always use more."

Like the others, LaGrange County is experiencing more referrals by the victims themselves.

"More victims are hearing about the help they can get through their own networks rather than just through the prosecutors' offices," Chandler says. "But this is just the tip of the iceberg. I am always amazed that I can go out into the community and still have people say 'What's Safe Haven?' or to have them tell me they're not willing to accept that the problem of domestic violence exists in a community like this.

"We are providing services to some of the minorities now - both cultural and religious, which is a huge breakthrough because some of those communities are quite closed.

"Plus, more women are attending (self-help) groups, and for longer periods of time."

LaGrange has "a wonderful relationship" with the prosecutor's office and law enforcement, Chandler adds: "They just 'get it.' I've had real intense cases where the victims are vindicated instead of victimized all over again."

Like Chandler, Wendy Strouse of Noble House in Noble County still encounters people who weren't aware that Noble House exists.

Noble House opened in 1993. The shelter accepts women and their children from all over northeast Indiana. It has room for 28 beds. The agency also operates a transition house.

Noble County domestic violence advocates established a countywide task force similar to Steuben County's last year. Law enforcement is involved in the group and is working closely with the task force in Ligonier, Albion, Rome City and Kendallville. The task force is still looking for representatives from the schools.

"Awareness of domestic violence issues in this county has gone way up, and more people are willing to call sooner and more," Strouse says. "Our referrals have doubled in the last two years, and many of the calls are coming directly from the victims.

"A neat thing about our program is you don't need to come to the shelter to get help. We have an outreach program that works with women who might need help with a protective order or who want a friend with them in court, many things. We also have safety cards we've made up with important information on them - they're small enough to hide in a shoe.

"One thing about the law enforcement in our county is that they are very pro-arrest. Domestic violence is an accountability issue. If you don't arrest the batterer it's taken as a smack on the hand and not a true punishment - and then they'll just do it again, even if it's a different victim.

"Another thing we could all work on is dealing with batterers with strong batterers' programs. Around here the mental health agencies offer anger management, and this is not an anger problem. Domestic violence is about power and control.

"It takes intensive work to address that issue. Domestic violence doesn't just go away."

Copyright Kendallville Publishing Company