Sioux Empire United Way - Agency Success Stories

Easing the Fear
Agency: Children’s Inn Program: Crisis Shelter Service: The crisis shelter provides immediate shelter for children and women who need safety from child abuse/neglect or domestic violence. Crisis Intervention offers immediate help through the crisis hotline, partnerships with police, partnerships with emergency room trauma teams, and partnerships with doctors’ offices, crisis daycare, court advocacy, emergency drop-in counseling sessions, and follow-up contacts with victims. Need: One in four women will be affected by domestic violence in their lifetime. In 2007 over 1100 women and children stayed in the Children’s Inn shelter. Additionally, 2922 crisis phone calls were responded to, 978 drop-in counseling sessions were held, and 6975 follow-up phone calls were made. Impact: Children’s Inn provides women and children a safe haven from domestic violence. Through outreach programs, they also educate others on what domestic violence is and what to do about it. Their programming works to enable victims to end the cycle of abuse and to receive the assistance they need to live healthy and productive lives.	Many of us can’t imagine fearing for our lives on a daily basis. But for Lisa, fear is a feeling she understands all too well. “Life and death, that’s what the Children’s Inn means to this community,” said Lisa, a victim of domestic violence. “This place keeps women and children alive.” One in four women will be affected by domestic violence in their lifetime. Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate. Individuals of all ages, races, and income levels are affected. Abuse is a choice of the perpetrator. Women do not ask for or cause the abuse. To the abuser, violence is a source of power and control. Over 4,000 women die annually from domestic violence and with the numbers so high; it’s shocking there are three times as many shelters for animals as there are for women. Luckily, the Children’s Inn was one of the first domestic abuse shelters in the US. They have been serving our community since 1977. “This is a very, very important place,” said Lisa, “You always have the support you need, no judgments.” Support has been a crucial part of Lisa’s life since she first came to Children’s Inn 17 years ago. The support and counseling she has received has changed her life and the lives of others. Thanks to Sioux Empire United Way, Children’s Inn can continue serving women and children in the Sioux Empire. Nearly 400 women and over 800 children were provided safe shelter in 2007. Helping women like Lisa feel safe, “Children’s Inn has made my journey through my life worthwhile.”
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