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August 2014 Newsletter
VAWA 20th Anniversary

     September 13, 2014 commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). VAWA provides funding towards many services for victims, investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women and to hold offenders accountable. VAWA funds directly affect the Omaha community.

 

     The Domestic Violence Council is the grant administrator for VAWA STOP funds. STOP stands for Services, Training, Officers and Prosecuters. We partner on this grant with subgrantees including the Omaha Police Department, the Douglas County Attorney's Office, Justice For Our Neighbors, Ponca Tribe, the Probation office and the Women's Center for Advancement. We work to enhance the current efforts of the coordinated response team with all of our partners. The VAWA grant enhances consistent action by law enforcement, prosecution and probation to hold offenders accountable while victim services help victims stay safer. 
 

    Since the creation of VAWA fewer people are experiencing domestic violence. Between 1993 and 2010, there was a 67% decline in the rate of intimate partner violence. Additionally, more victims are reporting domestic and sexual violence to police resulting in more arrests. State laws have been revised to take violence against women act more seriously, including making stalking a crime. (www.whitehouse.gov)

 

    The Violence Against Women Act celebrates 20 years and the DVC is proud to be part of the fight to end domestic violence. We believe that everyone who reaches out for help should find it. VAWA and the support of our community partners gets all of us closer to ending domestic violence in our community. 

Golf Outing a Great Success!

     The DVC Golf Outing was held on Monday, August 18th at Champions Run Golf Course and was a great success. We had amazing weather and 21 teams of golfers came out to support the Domestic Violence Council on the course. Title Sponsor, Lozier, and Presenting Sponsor, Data Media Solutions, allowed us to give our golfers a great experience. 


 

Tara Muir, Mary Narzisi and Justin Rolfes of Markel Automotive


     The day started off with a golf clinic with Mary Narzisi of the Big Break and Symetra Golf Tour. Golfers were able to spend a sunny day out on the course playing side games, trying to get a hole in one sponsored by Markel Automotive Group, and hoping to not lose their ball in the rough. The DVC raised $15,000 at this year's outing. These funds will go directly to ending domestic violence in Douglas County. A huge thank you to all our supporters and we hope to see you all out on the green next year!  

 

     This year's winner of the First Flight was Fresh Concepts, Dave Ekdahl, Aaron McKeever and Jeff Freeman and the Second Flight winner was Lozier, Dave Fox, Molly Bucy, Jeff Zadina, and Matt Simon.
Sharing Success:
Methodist Hospital


     It was more than 10 years ago when Heidi Wilke was sexually assaulted in a dark, secluded area of Omaha. Rather than hide from the crime that took so much from her soul, she decided to do something for other survivors of sexual assault in the Omaha community.

 

     Through her efforts, the SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner)/SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) was established at Methodist Hospital. Sexual assault survivors can seek treatment at the emergency department at Methodist Hospital or Methodist Women's Hospital and receive a caring examination, in a safe environment, done by a medical provider who is specially trained in the area of sexual assault.

 

     The only program of its kind in Omaha, the care team at Methodist works cooperatively with law enforcement, Women's Center for Advancement, Heartland Family Services and other community agencies to provide services that go beyond the initial exam.

 

     SANE/SART nurses are on call 24/7 and work jointly with our partnering advocates when a survivor arrives either privately or accompanied by law enforcement. Each survivor that enters the doors receives one on one care and examination. Careful evidence collection occurs and resources needed from local agencies are discussed. Each survivor leaves feeling cared for, but also prepared, for the days and months that follow their assault.

 

     Because many survivors of sexual assault are also victims of domestic violence, this Fall Methodist will be expanding its services to care for those impacted by domestic violence. The program expansion was due in large part by a generous $25,000 donation from All About Omaha - a community group dedicated to enhancement of programs in the Metro.

 

     SANE/SART staff received additional training in the areas of domestic violence examinations, recognition of warning signs, questioning and support of those victims. They will facilitate referrals to community agencies and obtain forensic documentation and specimen collection.

 

     From its inception, the Methodist SANE/SART program has played an integral role in the treatment and support of sexual assault survivors in the community and stands ready to do the same for victims of domestic violence. 
Letter from the 
Executive Director

     Thank you to the many supporters who have generously invested in ending violence against women in our community.  While national data shows a decrease in domestic violence and violent crime in general, we know that in 2013 Douglas County 911 still received over 14,000 calls that were related to intimate partner violence.  There were over 4,000 investigations and roughly 2,000 arrests.   

     Much hard work continues to be done to decrease the incidence of domestic violence even further.  The National Sexual Violence Survey (http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs/) shows 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men still experience severe physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner at some time in their life.  This same survey shows that 50-70% experienced that violence before the age 25.  We have awareness posters with community resources listed.  Call or email us and we'll get some to you!

 
  


Tara L. Muir, JD
Executive Director
In This Issue
Quick Links
Community Resources
Domestic Violence Council | 402.210.2195 | dvc@dvcomaha.org | http://www.dvcomaha.org
1941 S 42nd St, Ste 510
Omaha, NE 68105




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