From: MJLaBurt - Thanks


Ending the Cycle of Abuse in Indian Country:
Part 4 - Getting to know who can help: CVA

By Alyssa Kelly

http://webmail.aol.com/27618/aol/en-us/Suite.aspx

(In this final part of this series, the different facets of abuse in
Indian Country are explored with resources for combating them all.)

Tribal Crime Victim Advocates Susie Coughren, Evelyn Hernandez, and
Tessie Curley pose in front of the CVA’s “Stop Violence in Indian Country”
banner. Not in photo is CVA’s administrative assistant Marlene Heath. (Alyssa
Kelly photo)
The Crime Victim Advocate (CVA) is the reservation's tribal domestic
violence response team located in Pablo. It began in 1996 thanks to a federal
grant that aimed to curb the problem with violence against women. The program
works with all victims but the majority being domestic abuse victims (non-tribal
included). They help an estimated 160 victims per year and offer help to victims
with the process of protective orders (including gay and lesbian couples), peer
counseling, support groups, help with leaving violent partners (safety plans),
help with prosecution process against abusers, victims' witness advantage, and
of course, there is always a member of the staff on call 24 hours a day. Outside
of helping with victims they also do several activities with the community in
order to promote their program by offering training on abuse, outreach and media
campaigning, pursue grants and funding for the program, abuse education for the
youth at Two Eagle River School, and they also hold monthly meetings that are
open to the public in regards to their future plans and events known as CVRs.
Tessie Curly and Evelyn Hernandez are local crime victim advocates
for the Flathead reservation and began their knowledge on abuse victims long
before their careers with the CVA. "I think what really helps us is our own past
history and experience because we were both victims of domestic abuse at one
point in our lives," says Tessie. Aside from their own past with abuse, the
women have both been in the field of helping victims prior to the CVA. Tessie
has worked with the Safe Harbor, while Evelyn worked with the women's shelter at
the YWCA in Missoula. Because of the experience the women have both personally
and professionally, it helps their victims on all levels. "We understand it and
we know how it feels. We don't ever turn anyone away from our help because we
understand that it takes a lot of courage to step forth and make the decision to
get out of an abusive relationship. At times we even cry with our women and get
angry right along with them," explains Tessie.
"We're never judgmental," adds Evelyn.
Being a part of the CVA on the Flathead reservation gives an open
network to other reservations and resources as well. "We do work with the
Blackfeet reservations' shelter quite often. Just because everyone knows where
the shelter is located in Browning and at times they send their women to us just
to get them off of their reservation and away from their abuser. At times we'll
also do the same, send victims from our shelter to theirs in order of protecting
them," says Tessie. The CVA has worked with shelters all across reservations in
Montana, South Dakota, and even Canada. They are able to send victims wherever
they need to go in order to be protected from their abuser. "When women are
ready, we have the resources to meet their different needs and circumstances,"
says Evelyn.
"The only difference between our CVA program and surrounding
shelters and programs is the cultural knowledge. We're Native women so we can
relate with the Native women that we work with. We don't only help Natives, but
for the Native women that are victims it could be more comfortable for them to
work with us," says Tessie.
Aside from the cultural benefits of the CVA program, the advocates
are very in touch with their clients. "Trust is gained through consistency and
dependability. We offer support regardless if they choose to go back, we're
there. We're pretty open with our women and our relationships with them become
close. A lot of times the relationships can last a life time," says Evelyn.
"The main goals when helping the victims and their children is to
make sure they are safe. Once they are safe, our next goal is to educate the
victims. A lot of times women stay in an abusive relationship because they are
afraid of change. There are all kinds of obstacles that keep women in abuse. I
want women to always make sure there is a safety plan," says Evelyn.
The CVA has strong goals that involve being well known throughout
the community and helping the public become more aware of domestic abuse. "We're
really trying to be more visible in the community and gain trust with other
programs as well as departments," says Evelyn.
For the future the CVA plans on planting a tree in honor of victims
that will have a message. They have also made cardboard statues they call
silhouettes, which are in the shape of Native women wearing purple dresses
(purple is the color for domestic violence). They are also wearing paper hearts
with messages on domestic violence. The silhouettes are made in honorable
representation of Native women that have been killed from abuse and have made an
impact when presented to the public. "It was a very hard process when gathering
information on the statistics for the silhouettes. When there are domestic
situations, the abuser or offender is classified under race, but the victims
aren't," says Evelyn. Each month the CVA tries to think of new activities to be
involved in and promote their program.
The following is the CVA mission statement:
To involve victims and the local communities in a restorative
process that diminishes the devastating impact of domestic violence, child
abuse, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
The program is dedicated to facilitating cultural change in
order to create violence-free communities.
For a final message to the public they offer the following: "We're
always recruiting volunteers and we even offer the training. Don't ignore abuse,
it's everybody's business because it effects men, women, children, gays, and
lesbians."
The CVA also offers support groups upon request. If you need to
attend a support group meeting feel free to contact Evelyn Hernandez at (406)
675-2700 ext. 1179.
For more information on the CVA or if you need help, you can contact
their program through the toll free number: 1 (877) 231-5172, the CVA office:
675-2700 ext.1180, or evenings at: 675-4700.

Char-Koosta is published weekly on Thursday. This site and its contents
are Copyright 2006, Char-Koosta News


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