By Michael Howell
Last week an astonishing number of people representing various non-profit groups and public agencies showed up for a meeting designed to enhance communication and awareness among themselves. Often the people who fall into one safety net have needs that outstrip a particular agency or group’s focus and specialty and they would be better helped by a combination of services. By networking amongst themselves and improving communication amongst themselves, provision of the full range of services actually needed may be greatly enhanced.
Stacey Umhey, Director of Supporters of an Abuse Free Environment (SAFE), arranged the “roundup.” She was delighted at the response as the large meeting room at the Human Resources Council building filled to capacity.
Not only were six representatives from SAFE present to describe their different services, there were representatives from the Bitterroot Job Service, Vocational Rehab, the Office of Public Assistance, BEAR Outdoor Adventures, Literacy Volunteers Bitterroot, the Ravalli County Victim Advocate program, the Ravalli County Public Health Office, Montana Work Solutions, Ravalli Women’s Wellness, Emma’s House, Bitterroot Youth Homes, Summit Independent Living Center, Bitterroot Family Shelter, Human Resource Council, Riverfront Counseling, Ravalli County Extension Service, Shepherd’s House, the Bitterroot College, and Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital.
SAFE, itself, provides an array of services. It offers emergency shelter to families who are being victimized by domestic violence. Its outreach and advocacy program includes a 24-hour crisis hotline, available for survivors and other community members who wish to get more information about domestic violence and community resources, or for people who just want to talk about their situations. It offers confidential support for people who want to explore their relationships, develop safety plans and engage with others in similar situations. It sponsors a Kids Program providing a safe place for children to develop their self-esteem, build confidence, learn about healthy relationships, and begin the process of healing from the effects of domestic violence. It has a Transitional Housing Program created to provide survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking the opportunity to live in a violence-free community for up to two years while developing and working toward plans for safe, self-sufficient lives.
Already recognizing the need for better coordination with other services, SAFE formed the highly effective Ravalli County Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Guided by the work of seven committees, the Coalition works to end intimate partner and sexual violence in our community through collaborative intervention, prevention and primary prevention projects.
The aim of the “non-profit roundup,” however, was not to start another coalition, according to Umhey, but to form a much broader network of services addressing a wide array of social problems and interlacing the efforts. It would basically revive the efforts once mustered under the Healthy Family Network moniker.
One issue that surfaced repeatedly in the exchange of information at the meeting was the lack of affordable housing in the valley and the toll that even temporary homelessness can take on all the family members involved, resulting in emotional and physical distress that can lead to all sorts of other problems.
SAFE sponsors a 24 Hour Crisis Hotline (406) 363-4600. But Community Program Director Jamie Ogden can be reached at 363-2793 or by e-mail at safe@safeinthebitterroot.org. That would be one place to start if you need any kind of assistance or are interested in volunteer options. And as the efforts of the Non-profit Roundup take effect you may find the help you need no matter which of the above agencies or non-profits you contact first.
Ravalli County Non-Profit Roundup Participants
Name Organization e-mail
Jerry Zook Voc-Rehab jzook@mt.gov
Michael Howell Bitterroot Star michael@bitterrootstar.com
Rachael Shea SAFE rshea@safeinthebitterroot.org
Jamie Ogden SAFE jogden@safeinthebitterroot.org
Patty West Office of Public Assistance pwest@mt.gov
Victoria Green BEAR Outdoor Adventures bearmt.vista15@gmail.com
Dixie Stark Literacy Volunteers Bitterroot abc123@montana.gov
Deb Eckheart Ravalli County Victim Advocate doyourdreams@hotmail.com
Kerry McKillip Ravalli County Public Health kmckillip@rc.mt.gov
Jean Matthews Ravalli County Public Health jmatthews@rc.mt.gov
Susanne Meikle Montana Work Solutions susanne@montanaworksolutions.com
Heather Liebe Ravalli Women’s Wellness ravallihealth@gmail.com
Mary Lyn Women’s Wellness/SAFE marylynmontana@gmail.com
Kierstin Schmitt Emma’s House kierstin@emmashousecac.org
Anna Green Bitterroot Youth Homes agreen@youthhomesmt.org
Mary Millin Summit Independent Living mmillin@summitilc.org
Gary Locke Bitterroot Family Shelter garylocke@montana.com
Jim Morton Human Resource Council jpm@hrcxi.org
Mary Gehl Human Resource Council dogmommary@aol.com
Helene Musante Riverfront Counseling hmusante@wmmhc.org
Katelyn Anderson Ravalli County Extension katelyna@montana.edu
Kaylin Ray SAFE kvkray@gmail.com
Carolyn Larsen SAFE carolynsview@yahoo.com
Cheri Surtonu Shepherd’s House csuitonu@msn.com
Tina Shay SAFE tshay@safeinthebitterroot.org
Bonnie Inks Shepherd’s House bonnie@waterstrider.com
Maggie Driscoll Human Resource Council mag@hrcxi.org
Linda Valentine Human Resource Council val@hrcxi.org
Gary Palmer Bitterroot Job Service gpalmer@mt.gov
Vicki Steele Bitterroot Job Service vsteele@mt.gov
Beth McHugh Bitterroot College beth.mchugh@umontana.edu
Stacey Umhey SAFE sumhey@safeinthebitterroot.org