Today, there are a wide range of services available to victims of violence, such as battered women’s shelters, rape crisis centers, and counseling centers. However, these services tend to vary depending on your location. For this community study, I chose to research the services available in my hometown of Hutchinson, Kansas. While it is a good sized community, it certainly does not have the abundance of resources you would find available in large cities like Wichita, so I wondered how well equipped Hutchinson is to provide aid for women in these situations. In Hutchinson, the primary source of services for victims of violence can be found through the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center, which serves six different counties in Kansas.
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“Continuous coverage” is provided by a shelter manager and five other staff members, whose goals for anyone who seeks shelter here are “empowerment and leading a violence free life.” They achieve these goals through giving the women the opportunity to focus on finding housing, employment, childcare, or any other services they need to get back on their feet. Due to its size, the shelter is able to accommodate a few dozen women and children, with the average occupancy being three to four families at the same time. Residents are required to cook, clean, and do their own laundry, as well as abide by a ten o’clock curfew and a few other rules put in place for everyone’s safety …show more content…
When a call is received, trained staff members at the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center are able to provide support for the victims throughout the entire process. This includes medical exams, court appearances, and everything in between. For those who do not speak English, there is even a bilingual advocate to help them navigate their way through the process above, as well as any immigration related issues they might have. During their normal business hours, 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, advocates are also available to assist with filing protection orders against abuse or stalking
“Continuous coverage” is provided by a shelter manager and five other staff members, whose goals for anyone who seeks shelter here are “empowerment and leading a violence free life.” They achieve these goals through giving the women the opportunity to focus on finding housing, employment, childcare, or any other services they need to get back on their feet. Due to its size, the shelter is able to accommodate a few dozen women and children, with the average occupancy being three to four families at the same time. Residents are required to cook, clean, and do their own laundry, as well as abide by a ten o’clock curfew and a few other rules put in place for everyone’s safety …show more content…
When a call is received, trained staff members at the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center are able to provide support for the victims throughout the entire process. This includes medical exams, court appearances, and everything in between. For those who do not speak English, there is even a bilingual advocate to help them navigate their way through the process above, as well as any immigration related issues they might have. During their normal business hours, 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, advocates are also available to assist with filing protection orders against abuse or stalking