by Dave Alfvin
Alfvin: Thank you for contributing this information on state coalitions. How did you begin working in this field?
Gibart: I began as a college volunteer working for rape victims as an advocate in Chicago. The many people I met in the association made a big impression on me. It increased my interest to work in this field further. After my time in Chicago, I studied at the University of Wisconsin in Madison where I got my law degree. Then I began working as a lobbyist for the coalition and was able to successfully put forward some legislation. I’ve been here ever since.
Alfvin: How many attorneys work for Wisconsin’s coalition?
Gibart: We have a legal team of six attorneys and one advocate.
Alfvin: What are the core functions of state coalitions?
(Author’s note: All 50 states have coalitions against domestic abuse; see the listing at the end of this chapter.)
Gibart: Our core functions are:
1) Policy: this is where we work on the legislative process, helping benefit victim’s rights.
2) A voice for victims: when victims cry out and they are not heard, because we are the legal arm of the coalition, we become their voice.
3) Information to the public: coalitions have many types of outreach programs. These vary from state to state but most have outreach programs for children, the schools, and some events. The goal is to provide helpful information to the public.
4) Referrals are another one we do. We often serve as a hub for referring customers to the people who can help them right away.
Alfvin: So state coalitions keep an eye on the bigger picture.
Gibart: Yes, that’s true; however, we definitely get down to the local community, too.
Alfvin: What’s an example of something your coalition does to support the local community?
Gibart: We have a very successful program in which our coalition helps form what’s called a CCR, or Community Coordinated Response team. A local CCR is comprised of a number of citizen volunteers who are ready to contribute valuable skills and resources. The CCR’s makeup is a wide variety of people.
A CCR may include: 1) Someone representing law enforcement, 2) a local prosecutor, 3) a judge, 4) business leaders, 5) someone from the faith community, 6) housing providers, and 7) human services advocates. The team meets regularly and has a plan of action ready in the event someone has dire need of help. The team can move quickly and in a coordinated way.
Alfvin: Each person in the team is ready to respond, donating their area of expertise. That’s really encouraging.
Gibart: Yes, CCRs do an incredible job; we simply help them get started and organized.
Alfvin: Are there any other organizational things that the coalition supports things at the ground level.
Gibart: Yes, we help advocates throughout the state (advocates help victims navigate through the legal and personal process). My coalition helps form networks of advocates so they can communicate with each other. Because they work directly with victims, it’s important that we provide a vehicle to help them to learn from the experiences of other advocates, and for needed support. It can be a tough job. It’s a valuable type of support that can only be from advocate to advocate.
Alfvin: Do you receive emergency calls from domestic abuse victims?
Gibart: Yes, we refer calls to the correct people immediately. We’re glad to help, but if the person’s life is in danger, they should call 911. To find a local shelter and assistance, they should call the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). The person answering the hotline phone provides phone numbers of local agencies, staffed with people who offer assistance.
Alfvin: How is Wisconsin’s state coalition funded?
Gibart: We get federal funds and some state funds; we also receive donations from private individuals, grants and foundations. We also have periodic events that help raise public awareness and earn donations for the coalition.
Inside an Abuse Shelter and How Advocates Work with Victims
Michelle Meyer is executive director of Mutual Ground, a large domestic abuse shelter and crisis center in Aurora, Illinois. Before being named executive director, Meyer had broad experience as an intern at Mutual Ground, then five years’ experience as an “advocate of the court,” a person who helps victims navigate through the legal system and the personal challenges they face, from beginning to end. Meyer also discusses other issues common to Mutual Ground and other crisis centers.
Alfvin: Thank you for participating in this interview. Your information will be valuable to the readers of this book.
Meyer: You’re welcome. I’m really glad to do this.
Alfvin: First, I would like you to discuss your background. Tell us about your early experience in working with domestic violence.
Meyer: I started here at Mutual Ground about ten years ago in their domestic violence program doing advocacy with victims, just before I graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1999. After I graduated in 2000, I applied for a court advocacy position with Mutual Ground and was hired. As an advocate, I worked directly with victims of domestic violence in three different courthouses in the area. I helped abuse victims navigate their way through the criminal justice system by providing information on their rights, per the Illinois Domestic Violence Act. I also provided emotional support during criminal cases and helped victims with the protection process. In 2005, I was promoted to run the court advocacy program with a staff of five advocates. I was also doing direct service, also helping victims. After running the advocacy program, I was hired as Mutual Ground’s executive director in 2010.
Alfvin: So, as an advocate of the court, you actually didn’t work for the court.
Meyer: Correct, I definitely worked for Mutual Ground. The way it’s set up…Mutual Ground is not only a domestic violence shelter, but a comprehensive agency in the services we make available. We have counseling services, sexual assault counseling services, children’s services, a school awareness program and a prevention program that goes also into the schools. We also have a transitional housing program that helps victims transition out of a shelter. We have a hospital advocacy program where we have dialog with hospital emergency rooms, where either domestic violence or sexual assault may first be discovered. And of course, we have our court advocacy program -- when victims call us needing help or order protection (in conjunction with the police) we can begin to work with them.
A victim may call us and say, “I’m going to court very soon to testify against my abuser; what do I do?” We get calls from women who say they need protection from a domestic partner. We give these victims all the information they need from the Illinois Domestic Violence Act and answer any other questions they may have. A Mutual Ground court advocate will then meet the victim at the courthouse, and even provide transportation to the court if necessary. We stay with the victim through the entire court process, help with the paperwork for order protection and whatever administrative tasks that need to be done. We’ll also step up in front of a judge, standing by the victim’s side. In a sense, we’re silent partners, but we do a lot of work behind the scenes to make the process less intimidating to the victim.
So we represent victims, but we’re not attorneys. However, we provide much-needed emotional support, plus we make sure the victim understands all the things they’re asking for. We explain everything.
Alfvin: You don’t want victims making mistakes as they go through the judicial system, which could slow things up.
Meyer: Absolutely. We’re with the victims from the beginning to the end.
Alfvin: There are different plans of action depending on how the abuse is reported, correct?
Meyer: Yes. For instance, in Illinois there’s no criminal case if police have not been called and no charges are filed by the victim. But the other scenario is if the victim does call the police and a police report is made. Local police can decide on the spot to arrest and/or charge the abuser. But whether the abuser is arrested or not, the police report
is sent to the state’s attorney’s office. If the state agrees there’s enough evidence, they file charges. The victim can also file charges on their own through the state’s attorney’s office. Once charges are filed, the case goes through the criminal process and the victim can receive order protection from the court.
Alfvin: Are the practices by your agency and the Illinois abuse statutes somewhat “standard” throughout the country?
Meyer: Probably not. Victims of abuse need to speak with a local agency representative in their home state to determine their best plan of action, based on their state’s process of handling abuse cases. I’m confident they‘ll receive excellent advice from any accredited organization.
(The toll free phone numbers for state crisis lines are listed in the back of this book. People answering crisis lines are able to direct callers to more specific locations, or to representatives, police, etc.)
Alfvin: Do most states have advocates?
Meyer: Yes, most states do, to my knowledge. There are domestic violence agencies in each state, and there are coalitions in nearly every state, including coalitions against sexual assault.
Alfvin: Is there a goal in mind, when an abuse victim no longer can live with their abuser? Does an agency ever get involved in setting up the divorce process?
Meyer: That’s a good question. The answer is that this type of help will vary from agency to agency. Some agencies have attorneys on staff, but our agency doesn’t. We cannot represent people in divorce court. However, we do refer certain cases to lawyers who may represent someone for free or for a limited fee. It’s the attorneys that get involved with parental custody issues and things like that.
Alfvin: Does your agency ever have direct contact with abusers?
Meyer: No, but some agencies do, and they have programs and classes for abusers who wish to volunteer and participate. The only time we see an abuser is in the courthouse.
Alfvin: Is counseling available as soon as a victim contacts Mutual Ground?
Meyer: Yes, we have a 24-hour domestic violence and sexual assault hotline, so anyone can call here 24/7. We also have people who just walk in. They could be walking through our door right after an incident, or they may have family members dropping them off here.
Alfvin: Does your job sometimes weigh heavily upon you emotionally?
Meyer: Yes, it absolutely can. It can be really tough, and there’s a high level of burnout among the workers, staff and the domestic abuse field in general. But we have an incredible staff of 47 here at Mutual Ground, and I’m constantly in awe of what they can do under stress.
Alfvin: How is your crisis center structured?
Meyer: We have an administrative department which (besides myself) includes the finance director, human resources director, an administrative assistant, a part-time grant writer, a volunteer coordinator, clinical director, info net database specialist who enters all our statistics. We have a person who takes care of our grounds. Then we have 15 people who help run the shelter.
We also have a coordinator of our youth program, and she has four staff people. We also have one childcare coordinator who helps with children while their parents attend meetings, etc. at the center. We have a prevention coordinator with a small staff. Our sexual assault program includes six licensed clinical therapists and a court advocate who works specifically with sexual assault cases.
Alfvin: Are the 15 staff people who run your shelter well trained?
Meyer: The center’s staff is very well trained. When anyone is hired by Mutual Ground, they participate in our intern program, which trains them in all the major programs and duties they could face while on staff here. Everyone here is flexible.
The center’s staff is trained for phone calls, walk-ins, for initial counseling, intervention, shelter issues, working with groups and many different things. Because we’re a 24-hour agency, the center’s staff has three shifts.
Alfvin: With sexual assault, is this considered a completely different level of abuse?
Meyer: Yes. With a sexual assault crisis, we’re required to refer these cases to our sexual assault program where the victim is contacted directly by a clinical therapist.
Alfvin: Do you have any psychiatrists on your staff?
Meyer: No, but our clinical director is an LCPC (licensed clinical professional counselor).
Alfvin: Do you have any MSWs (Master's in Social Work degree) working on your staff?
Meyer: Yes, our youth advocate coordinator has an MSW and we have a couple MSWs on our domestic violence staff. We also have an MSW in the prevention program and one in the sexual assault program.
Alfvin: Everyone’s needs are different, aren’t they?
Meyer: No doubt about it. My staff does whatever they need to do. The other day, one of my advocates drove an abuse victim to the local Walmart so she could pick up her medication. They do what they need to do.
Alfvin: The victim needs to be able to think clearly and not have the worries of the world clouding their minds…
Meyer: Correct, even a trip to Walmart can help…in this case, the medication was important. Even if they can’t afford their medication, we may help with that.
Alfvin: How does your organization survive financially?
Meyer: That’s another good question. We’re about 61 percent funded by the federal and state governments, we write grants for the United Way, and receive funds from the 708 mental health boards of Kane and Kendall Counties. We also have part-time grant writing for private foundations and businesses. Finally, our development director goes out and gets sponsorships for our two major fundraisers that we conduct each year.
We also have smaller fundraisers that other people do for us. We do semi-annual appeals, a lot of awareness events, annual appeals, one in the summer and one during the holidays to get private donations.
Alfvin: So private donations comprise about 20 percent of your operating budget? It must be tough. Every year you have to go out…
Meyer: Yes. Every year, we need to go tell our story to anyone who will listen to us, about how important this is. Many people don’t know what we do, so we go into the communities so they know how big of a problem this is. We have a Facebook page and “Constant Contact.” Facebook is great because we can post something like, “We have a need for African-American hair products”; invariably, someone will drop by with African-America hair products!
Alfvin: Have churches been responsive in helping Mutual Ground?
Meyer: Oh, yes, churches are wonderful. We get donations directly from churches, or they often might raise money on our behalf. Churches also conduct donation drives for essential household items like diapers, toilet paper and other necessities; then they donate these items to our shelter. We recently got a commitment from a local church for quarterly deliveries of Pampers and toiletry products. Remember, we run a large “household” here (laughs). These kinds of items come directly out of our operating budget, so local donations are really appreciated. We also need hand soap, dishwashing liquid, and laundry detergent -- all those basic things.
Alfvin: What activities are you involved with right now?
Meyer: Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) is coming up, so we have many activities scheduled soon. I have been in contact with the police chief of North Aurora regarding our vigil on October 3rd. The media almost always covers the event. We’re also planning our “Walk For Hope,” which is on the 20th of the month. Volunteers help decorate our shelter completely in ribbons, so when people go by, they can see the ribbons and be reminded what October is all about. We also have banners with statistics to increase public awareness. We’re also honoring the domestic homicide victims in the area. We have several we try to honor as much as possible.
Alfvin: Are walking events your most successful fundraisers?
Meyer: Definitely, our most recent walking event raised about $70,000 for the shelter. This year the goal is $75,000. But, several organizations also have charity walks, so in a sense, we comp
ete with other worthy causes. It can get a little “saturated” sometimes.
Alfvin: Bicycle races can be excellent fundraisers…
Meyer: That’s interesting because we just talked about this with one of the directors. So we’re thinking it may be a possibility.
Alfvin: What are the biggest obstacles that keep women from reporting abusive partners?
Meyer: Fear of what their family may say and how they’ll react are heavy factors bearing down on why some abuse doesn’t get reported. Some victims may be ashamed to let their abuse be known because of their church or faith community. Other victims may fear being regarded as “not normal” because of trouble in their family. And finally, there are victims that just don’t know what to do or where to go. But the real questions are: why does that abuser keep abusing and why is he not being held accountable? I get fired up on this issue.
Alfvin: The medical community has clearly established that most violent behavior is not the result of a mental illness or something pathological, but an actual choice made by the abuser.
Meyer: Absolutely! It’s all about power and control - this is one of the central messages in our awareness campaign.
Michelle Meyer’s Words of Encouragement to Women
My advice to victims who believes they may be in an abusive relationship is to find the domestic violence agency near your home and get informed about what your options are. Domestic violence organizations are dedicated to individuals whom, by no fault of their own, have found themselves in abusive family situations and need help finding their way to safety and happiness.
Agencies are hyper sensitive to the needs of the victims. If you need to make the call, you will not be disappointed.
Everyone deserves to feel safe. Not only do advocates in domestic violence agencies give you important information about tools and resources available, but they provide personal safety and work on a “safety plan of action,” regardless of where you are in your life journey.