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Clinton News-Record, 1985-2-27, Page 3Mews and featares CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, I985—Page Police officers' involvement is not as easy as it looks As more and more people come forth with the problem of family violence, police officers like Sergeant Jerry Hilgendorff, face an increasingly difficult job. Sergeant Hilgendorff, of the Goderich Police Department, is involved with the Survival Through Friendship Sgroup located in Goderich. His role is to explain what an police officer's involvement is with family violence cases. (Anne Narejko photo) Goal of group is to help families in times of crisis A request for financial support for the Survival Through Friendship House in Goderich was sent back to Huron County's social services committee for more infor- mation. Two representatives of the group, Rev. Gordon Simmons of Clinton and George Zolob of Goderich, asked for financial aid at county council's February session. The group operates a network of 24 safee,. homes across the county for battered women and their children. They are asking the county to donate $7.50 per night for each person staying in a safe home. Coun- ty councillors, however, want an estimate on the total annual cost before giving the matter consideration. 1' Simmons told council the goal of the - group is to help 'women and children in times of crisis. The safe homes are scat- tered across the county from "Huron Park all the way up to Fordwich and Gorrie." The exact locations are known only to one person. The group plans to open a hostel in Goderich where victims of family violence can go for fellowhsip, conversation, crafts and family -life skills. In the case of an emergency, the hostel would be used for temporary shelter but is basically design- ed for day use only. Group director June Taylor said the idea of the volunteer safe homes is a pilot pro- ject modelled after a program in Manitoba. She said safe homes are prac- tical.in rural areas where distances make it hard for victims to get help from a cen- tral area. The safe homes have been running since July and in the last six months of 1984, 63 women and 90 children have required the. shelter provided in safe homes. 'Social services administrator John MacKinnon'said more public awareness of family violence has made this type of ser- vice necessary. "People are corning out of the woodwork," he said. Bayfield reeve Dave Johnston asked.the social services committee to again look at the question after he wondered what con- trol the county would have in this group. He suggested an employee of social, ser- vices sit on the group's board of directors. Helps to talk about it • from page Friendship and its network of safe houses throughout the county. While women are readily seeking out help, assistance for men has been limited .and inany men will not voluntarily seek help, unless they are urged to by lawyers and judges. , Ms. Thomson hopes that the self-help group for men will help to change that, "It is our hope that as the public becomes more aware and less tolerant of family violence, more men will seek out help before police intervention occurs." Dr. Reberg said he is confident that the men's self-help group could develop into an on-going community service. He would like to see men who have, been in the program orm the nucleus of a group that would "Spin off into the community and continue on their own, with minimal contact with the Centre." With this goal in mind, the pilot project has encouraged men to exchange telephone numbers, to talk among themselves, to form a network of ongoing communication and ' support between themselves. The proposed program would run for 40 weeks and would be structured as an open group format, allowing new members to join at different times. The in-depth program would also include extensive follow-up sessions, including written evaluations and telephone contact with the wives, to ensure their safety and the success of the program. By Anne Narejko vival. In the near future, the organization GODERICH - "It's not that the assaults will establish a transition house in Goderich. are on an increase, but the number of in- It will act as the main office with 25 safe cidents reported are increasing." homes funnelling from A. When Sergeant Jerry Hilgendorff, of the Only two people on the executive know Goderich Police Department, agreed to help where the safe homes in Huron County are the Survival Through Friendship Organize- located. When the police have women (and tion in their work with family violence, he children) who wish to be taken from their had no idea how time consuming and com- homes for safety reasons, they contact one plea it would be. of the two people. That person takes the "I never realized what I was getting into. woman to a safe home located in a different It has really expanded and taken off," he area of the county so the husband will have said. less chance of locating his wife. Survival Through Friendship was formed "Not too long ago 18 of the homes were fill - about one year ago to help abused women in ed, and as soon as they were emptied, 12 Program clients would come on a voluntary basis, . through referrals or by court . mandate. The format of the pilot project developed in three phases. The most crucial first phase Iooked at individual incidents that led the men to violence. The second phase attempted to reduce violence by alternate behaviors and the third phase focused on the development of. personal skills and energies in positive, less destructive, patterns. Dr. Reberg said that the program, "will rely heavily on community support," for both staffing and accommodation for meetings. While it is yet impossible to determine the demand for the program, Dr. Reberg suggested, "The demand will rise as the program picks up steam. The demand will far outweigh the availability." Huron Centre Director Don Keillor noted that program staffing and location have not been solidly determined, but he also stressed the need of community support. This, he explained, would give the program a strong sense of permanency and noted, "this is a longtime goal that's important." Final details and funding are the only two areas that are preventing the program from moving ahead at this time. Co-ordinators are confident that the project will be well underway within a few months time. Huron County. The group doesn't offer counselling, but provides information regar- ding the alternatives that are available and where to go for legal help. Sergeant Hilgendorff's involvement in the group is mainly as a lecturer but he also sits on committees. "During the lectures I explain what the police end of it is. The old adage is to go in the house and speak to the people, if they don't throw you out first. Until recently it was up to the person being abused to lay the charges, but now the police lay the charges." When it was left to those being assaulted to initiate action and lay charges; the cases either got lost in the courts or, as Sergeant Hilgendorff explained, "the husband sud- denly becomes an angel and the charges are dropped." "It was frustrating for police officers because we'd be called back to the same ad- dress.three to six months later andyou know that it's a domestic. Even though we are in small towns, policemen can't say 'I've known so and so for years.' The situation can be very dangerous; you walk into the middle of the fight and tempers flare. As far as I'm concerned, there's no way you go into a domestic situation until you have some back-up." By having the po ee officers lay the charges, the • frustrate n of having them withdrawn has been eliminated. Now, only the police can withdraw the charges. London psychologist and executive direc- ami o i ic, Peter Jaffe, is a firm believer in the system of charges being laid by police. At a family violence conference held in Ottawa recent- ly, he said. studies have proven that the chances of a husband repeating his act of violence is cut in half when police lay the charges. He also said research shows the average victim is beaten 35 times before seeking ,' help, therefore, the police could help her take the first step. After charges are laid, lawyers become involved. Assault cases are now being handled in criminal court instead of family court, but Sergeant Hilgendorff feels that some lawyers still are not treating the cases as seriously as they should. "Some people see , a domestic as a dif- ferent type of assault...they think it isn't really an assault, but an assault is an assault. Some lawyers also treat it lightly and can swing it back into family court. But there have been some people sent to jail." People involved in family violence cannot be classed in age groups. According to Sergeant Hilgendorff, physical abuse can start at the girlfriend -boyfriend stage anti spread to marriage orlcommon law relation- ships. It could also start at any of these stages. He also said that there have been cases in Ontario where 70 -year-olds have been involved in family violence. Just as each of the people .involved are unique, so are the circumstances. "No domestic can be treated the same because they all have different cir- cumstances, but a lot of the time it involves alcohol," explained Sergeant Hilgendorff. The majority of calls concerning family violence are phoned into the police depart- ment by the wife or occasionally by a neighbor. The person who reports the prime is asked to leave their name, bot Sergeant Hilgendorff said, if at all possible, the name will not be divulged. "There are cases out there where the hus- band is the victim, but it is very rare that he will call," Sergeant Hilgendorff said. Help and support for abused women is be- ing provided by Friendship Through Sur - Have Your Rings Cleaned and Checked at no charge to you! 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The propos- ed house will only be used to house victims in emergency situations, specifically when safe houses are full or when the weather conditions don't allow safe travelling: When someone is staying at the transition house, security measures will be taken. The transition house will be primarily us- ed as a gathering place for women. For the past 18 months the parish hall at St. George's Anglican Church in Goderich has been used as a transition house. Now the programs have outgrown the facilities available at the church. "E°f4 a 4,0 to Ann Adams on the opening of `Reflections by Design'. We'll miss you and Pat - but wish you every success in the future. 61e44w, Ask about our SPECIAL DISCOUNTS for students and senior citizens. the StIDID "the friendly shop that cares' CORNER OF GIBBINGS AND RATTENBURY STREETS, CLINTON PHONE FOR APPOINTMENT 48J-7CJ1 OPEN, Monday -Friday end Saturday 1111 4 p.rn • plus Tuesday and Thursday ovon Inas. Weed control Weed control and soil erosion costs about $17 million in Huion County alone, says Nor- man Alexander. A well-known conservationist, Mr. Alex- ander told the annual meeting of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority the new weed act does not control some of the problem weeds. • Mr. Alexander said his figures show that Women have been meeting there regular- ly and are involved in programs that offer support and build self-esteem. The women learn crafts, cooking, health care and are in- volved in a variety of other educational and social programs. A children's nursery ser- vice is also provided. Their new location will be used as a meeting place, and will offer laundry facilities and information where to get help. Workers will not be encouraging women to separate from their husbands, but will offer advice where to seek help and explain all available alternatives. Through police aid, like that offered by Sergeant Hilgendorff, Survival Through Friendship is gaining greater exposure and support. Local police forces are also becoming more involved with family violence. Yet, even though the police role in family violence is changing, officers do not have any special training. And although many of- ficers say they're not social workers, some situations demand that need. "We are telling the five departments (Clinton, Seaforth, Exeter, Wingham and Goderich) to treat domestic situations the same as in the past. Where there is an assault, the police lay the charges, when there's no assault we become a social worker. We advise the woman of her alter- natives to leave the house or where to get legal help. The next step will be to inform them of the transition house. • 'The police role isn't as easy as it ap- .pears. I always have to find the lighter side of the situation. I'd break if I didn't," said Sergeant Hilgendorff. is costly about $7.3 million was spent last year in her- bicides. being applied to control weeds in Huron County. - "They're not working well," he said. Mr. Alexander has said many times that $10 million worth of Huron County soil is go- ing into Lake Huron. He said students, the farmers of tomor- row, have to be educated about weeds and soil erosion today. RF,FI,EC'I'I0:1S I)V d sign ,..formerly the "LORI-LYN" Beauty Lounge Please call 482-7711 or drop in to 72 Albert Street. We have designed a new reflection for our shopne. Why not have one of our experienced hairstylists design a new REFLECTIONS for you! PAT BYLSMA MARLENE YE() BONNIE STRONG ANN ADAMS Now's The Tune To Order TROPNIES �rJ i Come see MacLean Sports For your awards... "HOCKED CURLING SKATING 'BROOMBALL BOWLING SHOP EARL Yfor greatest selection. 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