Brenda McBride, Director of DSAOC presented to Rotary on Monday outlining that agency's programs and to advertise the upcoming Cake Auction. The agency has federal and state contracts to work within a 20 county North central Iowa service area providing emergency shelter for abused spouses through a large house (9 bedrooms with 20 beds) in Fort Dodge, three half-way houses in Fort Dodge, and use of hotel rooms in many communities as the need develops. Last year the agency served 114 consumers, 90 kids. The base program is:
- Provide respite in a safe environment for clients to consider future options;
- Provide education to clients for them to consider their options to returning to an abusive spouse;
- Unfortunately, a client will choose 7-9 times to return to their spouse before finally making the decision to locate elsewhere;
- Provide food, clothing, and other needs to clients;
- 'Provide child advocacy and education for youth caught up in a splitting of a home;
- Provide transportation;
- Provide alternative housing when the decision is made to leave an abusive spouse;
- Use safe houses and hotels under secrecy to help keep clients safe;
The agency's budget is composed of federal, state, and local fund raising. The cake auction to be held on April 13th at the ICCC East Campus provides a community night of fun and raises significant funds for the agency. In addition to the silent auction and cake auction this year a raffle will be held for four tickets to Disney World and a $500 cash prize. During the meeting Brenda introduced Mary Hayes and Monica Harmon of the agency's staff. Monica will soon be staffing a new Homicide/Other Violent Crimes Survivors Support Program in Waterloo. This program will work primarily with children helping them to adjust to a violent situation in their family.
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Kraig Barber passed around a copy of the latest Master Plan for Snell-Crawford Park. The latest version incorporates some of the suggestions by Rotarians of leaving the road into the interior of the Park. Kraig noted that within the near future the Fort Dodge Parks, Forestry, and Recreation Commission will be reviewing this issue. A picture is included for your knowledge.
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