CCFV funds approved

Crook County Family Violence and Sexual Assault Services executive director Sandy Stevens approached the Pine Haven Town Council last Tuesday night seeking their annual contract for services contribution for the 2020 fiscal year of $1200.

To show the council where that money goes, Stevens gave a rundown of the benefits provided and how many people availed themselves of these services during the last year. Of the 46 individuals who were helped, 19 were children and 22 were women, two of whom were strangled by their male companions as they were camping at Keyhole Park.

The agency owns a house for individuals escaping a violent domestic situation, and for those who need short term assistance in a motel room, the agency has provided 352 nights’ stay. They have received over 632 calls throughout the year and have rendered 528 crisis intervention services, eight orders of protection and four restraining orders against stalking.

To further progress the agency’s efforts, Stevens and husband Erik, who is a sergeant in the Crook County Sheriff’s Office, also travel to law enforcement training classes throughout the state several times a year, teaching the dynamics of and how to investigate domestic violence. The couple instructs people about this problem during Rally Wednesday every summer and Stevens also educates juries under the auspices of the prosecuting attorney if asked.

Stevens is adamant that only through education can the cycle be truly broken. “Erik and I have been doing this for 16 and 17 years and we’re now starting to see our clients’ children so we are seeing a generational effect of domestic violence,” she said.

Stevens strongly advocates the Freshman Impact Program: “Once a year, for one day the kids get to go through different stations and learn what happens if you make bad decisions.”

The stations consist of volunteer law enforcement officers conducting DUI stops and procedures, EMS demonstrating what happens when the ambulance is called, a jeopardy game teaching about teen dating violence, a discussion about suicide, etc. Each group usually consists of about 30 young people.

“It’s very powerful. One of the ways we are going to end domestic violence is to educate our kiddos in school,” she said.

Erik added that the program is always seeking volunteers to help with the event, saying that if anyone is interested in volunteering as a group leader for the Freshman Impact Program, call Undersheriff Todd Leinser through the Sheriff’s Office.