2009 Annual Report (PDF) - Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services

25 Years of Healing Families and Changing Lives
hISToRy of chRISTINE ANN domESTIc ABUSE SERVIcES
2009 marked the 25 th anniversary of Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, 25 years of healing families and changing lives.
Over the years our services have evolved to meet the diverse needs of families experiencing abuse. Below is a history of that evolution:
SEPTEmBER 1984 – Regional Domestic Abuse Services (RDAS)
opened a 13 bed shelter located at Park View Health Center and offices at the
Neenah/Menasha YMCA.
1987 – Children’s Program was added to serve children coming
into shelter and children in the community who were growing up with
family violence.
1988 – Part-time Volunteer Coordinator was hired to recruit, train, and
schedule volunteers to assist staff members in every phase of operation.
1989 – Offender Intervention Program implemented as a result of
Wisconsin passing the Mandated Arrest Law.
1991 – Shelter was moved from Park View Health Care to a larger facility
on Algoma Blvd. The shelter was renamed the Christine Ann Center, in
memory of Christine Ann Clark, who lost her fight against domestic violence
when she was murdered by her husband.
1992 – Rural Outreach Program started in Berlin to better serve the needs
of Green Lake County families.
1995 – Prevention Specialist hired to address family violence issues and
develop curriculums for the K-12 school systems in Winnebago and Green
Lake Counties.
1995 – Agency purchased the property next to the Christine Ann Center,
which became an addition to the shelter to improve and maintain services to
families affected by domestic violence.
1996 – Completed a successful $1.3 million capital campaign to include the
addition of an office area, group rooms, a board room, as well as indoor play
area in the shelter’s lower level. Also added a handicap accessible bedroom to
the first floor of the shelter and an additional 10 beds.
1997 – The addition to the shelter was completed and an open house was
held in May to showcase the new quarters.
1998 – A special Domestic Abuse Investigative Unit for Winnebago County
was initiated with two officers dedicated to investigating domestic abuse
incidents. This was a first for the State of Wisconsin.
T H E N A N D N O W
ThEN: Shelter that could house 13 women and children and
served 51 women and children in shelter and 8
women and 1 child with advocacy services.
NoW: Shelter with 35 beds that in 2009 served 258 women
and children in shelter and 757 women and 275
children and teens with advocacy services.
ThEN: Domestic abuse was viewed as a “women’s issue.”
NoW: Community recognizing abuse as a societal issue.
1999 – As a result of grant funding, the agency was able to dedicate a staff
person to providing legal advocacy to victims and to keeping the needs of
victims at the forefront of the legal system.
2000 – Choices & Consequences Program was developed to serve women
who were arrested for domestic violence.
2001 – The Board of Directors voted to change the name of the agency to
Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, Inc., combining the overall Agency
name with the name of the Shelter.
2001 – Recognizing the rise in teen dating violence, the agency developed a
program for teens in abusive dating relationships and hired a Teen Advocate.
Again, another first for the State of Wisconsin.
2003 – Christine Ann in collaboration with ADVOCAP received a Federal
grant to launch Project P.O.W.E.R. (Providing Opportunities for Women’s
Employment and Retention). The program was created to meet the unique
need of domestic abuse victims in securing and maintaining employment.
The program continues today through private support.
2006 – To meet the increasing need for boys who are showing signs of
abusive behaviors, a pilot program was developed for aggressive teen boys.
2008 – The agency took the lead in forming a Teen Coordinated
Community Response Team to address the growing and complex needs of
teen dating violence and to bring all those in the community together to
address the issue. This team is currently the only one in the State of Wisconsin.
SEPTEmBER 2009 – Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services
commemorated its 25 th anniversary with an open house at its shelter. Friends
and family members of Christine Ann Clark’s were in attendance and shared
their memories.
Today, Christine Ann Domestic Abuse
Services continues to enhance its programs
and services to meet the increasingly
complex needs of individuals and families
experiencing domestic violence and abuse,
and to help guide and support clients in
their journey from victim to survivor.
ThEN: When police were called to a domestic violence
incident abusers were told to “cool off.”
NoW: The mandatory arrest law holds abusers accountable.
ThEN: Only women speaking out on the issue.
NoW: Men are taking a role in addressing violence
against women.
ThEN: Community supported agency.
NoW: Community supported agency.