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Show i 'X ... " CLARA ALLEN is a Vernal born resident who is a VISTA employee for the Vernal VISTA Task Force. Clara Allen formulates social work programs When Clara Turner Allen applied for a social workers position at the Vernal division of Social Services, she did not know that her application would be sent to Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). In July of 1979, Clara applied for social work through Sheryl Keiver, project manager of Social Services at that time. Sheryl sent the application to VISTA. In October 1979 Clara was accepted as a VISTA employee.. VISTA is a sibling to the Peace Corps organization. Clara was then sent to Salt Lake City to receive training in the VISTA format. for-mat. After completion of her orientation orien-tation program, Clara returned to Vernal. Clara began her levels with the program under the supervision of Sheryl. Basically, her job at first was paperwork. The program was in its infancy, therefore, Sheryl moved Clara .up as soon as she was efficient in office procedures. Clara began at this time to help where she could with the Battered Women Program. She began to work long hours with Karey Freestone in organizing a Safe House for battered women. Karey was working as a volunteer. Karey was later hired by the State of Utah to be the Safe House manager. Sheryl moved from Vernal and Marie Nelson became the next project manager Clara worked under. Marie Nelson soon left the position and the present project manager, Cathy Metz. retained the position Under Clara's supervisors, with the aid of her previous social service college education and her VISTA orientation. Clara created and orgarvied a Vernal based group called the Coalition to Aide Battered Women. She organized thus group in the fall of 1980. Clara stated. "When the program had its first meeting Aug. 25. there was just me It was just me for awhile Now we have eight members. I feel as if this is a healthy start." Due to Clara's present heavy social work schedule, the program has been turned over to Cuthv Metz. Out-reach, presentation, follow-up guidance, counciling with battered spouses, public education, funding and working in the Safe House is Clara's present vocational description. "My main job is public education out-reach and presentation nl -divided job titles compr0mJ;.; work hours makmg present,? '': schools, churches, civic er professional organization' programs inform the public tfu is a problem of battered spou. community and that the social '' have a solution to family vn0' Clara stated. "Our program inform the battered spouse tl i '' are not alone. Everyone has ? i " neighbor, cousin, uncle, aunt h or sister who is battered, and whT our help. ' Everyone knows ZH-who ZH-who has been battered. Our out1 program helps in publically people that there is a program tl them," Clara continued. i Beginning in May I9g0i n, Service system of Utah had k I domestic violence volunteers Vm ' funding is being cut. Salt Lake r 1 ! VISTA volunteers have alreadv t phased out. In May 1981 Clara's L be phased out of the VISTA prf.'" "You get burned out in this ioi; fast. It has a lot of emotional drap May I will be receiving my BS des! social work. I will be ready to T; jobs. But I feel as if the program is ! . important to the community. I akjr as if funding runs out, that with at ' natural resources we have here e.' support the Safe House," Clara a4 The Safe House is a 2 bedroom h-furnished h-furnished with bedding and beds people. At one time the Safe ft retained 18 people. Clara commE-" "It is not a rat infested type place i' sunny, spacious and secret." anonymous whereabouts of the horl' kept secret due to the nature of L cumstances which the battered sir. is offered shelter and for the cont: Y success of the shelter. Toiler emotional support, friendship a some cases clothing is offered. f. and half of the furniture were rect by donations. "Many times worceY have very small children. WeaV very bad need of infant weaiiV paral," Clara reported. As to her hobbies and interests, Ct-enjoys Ct-enjoys dabbling in writing. Hies and likes genealogy. She was bcr!-Vernal bcr!-Vernal March 7, 1948. Clara's pei-" are Bill a nd Gertrude Turner of Clara graduated from Uintah li School in 1966. She has attended years of college at the College of So. Utah, majoring in social wort Cedar City she enrolled in Brit-Young Brit-Young University. Clara will n-her n-her degree in social work frou'v State in May 1981. During her school years she competed is ; terpretative speech meets while; tending high school. Clara has osr. David. She is a member of tbe L Vernal 4th Ward. She is also a pri- ; teacher and active in the LDS Y-Special Y-Special Interest Group. Clara isai member of the Business ; Professional Women's Club. Clara has made preser.'.atix; :: ccraing her social work fcr the Ut: Elks, the Business and Pra'ssrz Women's Club. FHA. Kir.g; Community Church, Ladies Petri;. : Club. Young Mothers' School, n: : St. James Catholic Church. Anyone needing help or who like a presentation for their club. c or civic organization maycor.UCu' or Cathy Metz at 7S9-5S50 or S-r. |