Show i I il 1 i fj t tN fit 7 i i y f 0 r oti H h 1 l i l Iii i 1 i 1 f f fj I JI Il N j f Y i 1 q I i-Af i Ct I tf I 1 r J I s If W J i 1 I I i is int r p I 1 j I J I I I se f I 5 I Ue 1 i e ed I I 14 nt J ji P S 'S me e er tp I r v i c I i l ti jr d I See II r rd a d a 1 ra r tt t I 2 r f jJ tl f Ii dy n Physical and emotional spouse abuse is a sad reality in America today and isolated as the Uintah Basin is the problem is continuing to grow The problem has been recognized d for some time in the Basin and four years ago agoa a federal grant was award award- awarded awarded ed to initiate a Safe House for battered spouses According to Cheryl Kiever director of the program funding was obtained four years ago from the federal govern govern- government government ment when representatives from Vernal and Price combined their efforts to todeal todeal deal with the problem Cheryl said when federal funding ran out the State assumed the financial responsibility for the Safe House and the project remains a vital link linkin linkin in the treatment of abused spouses Cheryl a Social Services employee said a survey was conducted in the Uintah Basin to determine the extent of the problem She said input from police doctors and social workers indicated that quite a number of women were suffering physical and emotional abuse from the men in their lives Cheryl said even with the facts the problems of admitting the situations existed Kiever said people had the tendency to say Who would be beating their wives She said many people did not want to believe the problem existed However the pro pro- blem problem did exist and con con- continues to exist but four years ago a facility was established Originally the Safe House contracted for facilities with witha a motel Support people were hired to stay with these women the majority of the case load until the crisis was over Approximately six months after the program began they finally found a ahouse ahouse house and andset set up house house- housekeeping keeping However this was not the solution to the problem Most of the time the women dont don't know which way they are going said Cheryl It is a real time of survival The Safe House provides counsel counsel- counseling ing for the women and their children She said they attempt to help the abused spouse over the initial impact of the situation and the then try to help them sort out their lives from that point Most of these women have two and three children said Cheryl She said the Safe House a facility designed to serve the entire Uintah Basin asin has housed nine women and their children during the past two months She said those seeking help may stay only overnight or for as long as three weeks And while the problem continues Cheryl said it is not isolated to anyone any one group We see a lot of time longtime residents said Cheryl She said many of the problems seem to be brought about because of the changes in the society in the Basin in the past few years With the growth life has changed and new pressures now exist Cheryl also said alcohol is usually involved and the use of weapons is also increasing Lately the violence seems to be more vio lent said Cheryl She said they are seeing seeing more use of guns and knives She again stressed that the women are not from anyone any one segment of society nor are they from any particular economic class It is an overall mixture said Cheryl She said the house is designed to individuals of all ages and emphasized it is only a residence The Safe House is not an institution said Cheryl It is meant to be bea bea a residence We try to to make it as real an atmosphere as possible She said the house i in- in eludes chides a mental health unit for those who need those services Cheryl said the house is working beautifully and they have received the full support of the police and sheriff departments in the three county area The house is designed to top p g 1 Soccer was big In Inthe inthe the Roosevelt area as there Were players par par- participating participating on 18 teams The action is now over but the memories will con con- continue continue for a long longtime longtime time protect and stabilize the family said Cheryl An- An Another An other of the programs offered at the house one which Cheryl said is vital is that of support groups I She said saida a great many of the women in the community are isolated for whatever reasons and they dont don't have the sup sup- support port of friends The sup sup- support port groups can provide this friendship and gives the woman somewhere to turn They also offer self defense courses Cheryl stressed that the situation is usually much harder on the woman involved than the men The male usually ha has some system of survIVal said Cheryl Presently the program only has the capabilities to help the spouse lse Kiever said the majority of these are women but added they have had hada a few men However she said they hope in the future to be beable beable able to help the abusing spouse Hopefully we can change to treat the men and teach the women to tomake tomake make a more fruitful family said Cheryl She said presently there is not nota a great deal of help available for males who are abusing their spouses and they do need help The men hurt said Cheryl and they dont don't know how to deal with it all They find they are losing their family their jobs and everything around them that ever meant anything You feel for the man too Kiever emphasized that more needs to be done than getting the abused spouse out of the home She explained that the problem doesn't end with the one situation She said the abusing husband may later do the same things to other women Cheryl said that most of these women dont don't want to leave their husbands but they just cant can't take it anymore The women still love their husbands but they want the treatment to stop said Kiever There are no easy solutions because each case is dealing with different individuals and pressures Cheryl said one of the big things to avoiding the problem is strong com com- communications communications People need to learn how to communicate communicate cate said Cheryl She explained that people need to be aware that this type of situation can happen and to learn more take give in their mar mar- marriage She said the Safe House is in a very strong position and will continue to deal with the problems She also said they will be providing group counsel counsel- counseling counseling ing and hope to provide more a activity counseling We help put their families back together said Cheryl if that need be |