Many people don’t realize that the Beaman Home can help domestic violence victims even if they do not need or want to enter The Beaman Home’s emergency shelter program.
Outreach Coordinator April Slone provides individualized case management services and encouraging support to non-shelter victims. In addition to providing a shoulder to lean on, Slone provides assistance with filing protection orders, creating safety plans and community referrals.
She also provides life-skills training and assistance with food, personal care and household supplies as needed. She helps families set short- and long-term goals and holds them accountable for following through so they may re-establish their lives violence free.
Beaman Home’s Domestic Violence Education Program was started in July 2010 to offer educational opportunities for our community, and to help domestic violence victims who don’t need, or choose not, to enter the shelter. In less than two years, the DoVE Outreach Program has assisted 156 women and children with danger assessments, safety planning and self-sufficiency skills.
A major goal of the DoVE Program is education, not to just victims, but also to the community at large. Today, DoVE offers a wide variety of services.
Teen dating violence has risen among teenagers with one in three teens reporting abuse in a dating relationship. During the 2011-2012 school year, Slone worked with Warsaw Community Schools to educate nearly 200 middle school students about healthy relationships, appropriate cell phone use and Internet safety.
In addition, “Beyond Trauma” is a support group for women and men that have been victims of domestic violence. Post traumatic stress associated with the effects of domestic violence and coping skills are often important topics discussed in these group meetings.
The Beaman Home has found that many of the women in our local jail have been victims of or have experienced second-hand trauma associated with domestic violence. Each week, Slone provides educational group meetings to help female inmates set goals, discuss parenting issues and deal with past events in their lives.
Slone notes that often an abuser will physically abuse their victim where it cannot be seen. Hair may be pulled out and bruises on the head may go unseen. Beauticians have a unique opportunity to see signs of abuse that stays hidden from the general public.
“Cut It Out” training helps beauticians and salon owners recognize warning signs and provides skills to respond and discreetly refer their clients to available resources.
Protecting oneself at work can also be a hot topic among employers and employees alike.
Statistically, one in four women will experience violence in her lifetime. Beaman Home’s Workplace Violence Training helps employers provide support and encouragement rather than re-victimizing the employee. The program’s goal is to better prepare employers to handle a domestic violence situation if it were to occur.
The DoVE Outreach Program can provide essential educational tools in the fight against domestic violence.
To learn more or to schedule a group presentation or training, call April Slone at 574-267-3044.
For questions regarding this article, contact Tracie Hodson, executive director, at tracie@thebeamanhome.org or 574-372-3503.
