Family Crisis and Counseling OffersPrevention Education
Nov 08, 2011
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. October 21, 2011-
“While teaching a group of adult education students, I became aware, through questions being asked, that a young woman, “Marie” was in great need of services offered at Family Crisis and Counseling Center, Inc.,”said Sylvia Starr, Community Liaison, Marketing Director and Prevention Specialist for FCC.
The services Starr is referring to are provided through FCC’s Washington County Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Prevention program, which was initiated with the purpose of supporting youth and adults through education, awareness and community events to prevent them from experiencing the effects of addiction to alcohol, drugs and domestic violence.
FCC is a member of the Bartlesville Regional United Way, who is currently conducting their fundraising campaign. The Prevention program is only one of six programs the BRUW helps fund.
FCC provides many prevention classes in local school districts such as Bartlesville, Dewey and Nowata. Curricula used in these classes include Too Good for Drugs, Too Good for Violence, Safe Dates and Expect Respect. Each component is research based, with an emphasis on educating the students about the effects of drug, alcohol and domestic violence.
“The Prevention program is used to increase public awareness and education in the community by helping them recognize warning signs of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and substance abuse,” said Barbara Turner, Executive Director of FCC.
Starr’s goal during classes is to provide students with prevention education to help them avoid some of the painful experiences that come when dealing with domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual assault and drug and alcohol abuse.
Starr was able to help achieve these goals after learning that Marie’s ex-husband was using a protection order process to lie and gain custody of her two children, naming Marie as the abuser on the protection order to withhold visitations with her children.
Unfortunately, the Protective Order filed against Marie with false accusations put her in the category of abuser, not a victim, thus making it more difficult for her to receive services such as emergency housing, counseling and legal services. Luckily, Marie had evidence she was being victimized by her ex-husband and reached out to FCC for help.
Marie’s story represents the one in four Oklahoma women who are subject to domestic violence, which is where FCC steps in to provide assistance.
The mission and vision of FCC is multi-fold: FCC strives to restore the lives of those with substance abuse/dependency issues and their families to become healthy, productive members of the community.
Additionally, FCC strives to reduce and eliminate domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in family and similar relationships through intervention and prevention and by changing society’s attitudes and systems which permit and promote violence.
FCC currently works with an Operation Tri-County Triumph – NOW (OTT-NOW) program to provide people like Marie with attorneys to assist with legal issues in the protection order process.
Starr’s main goal for Marie was to provide her legal services but knew it was impossible to do as long as she was seen as the batterer. She was found to be the victim of the situation and after a long process, was able to receive legal assistance.
FCC offered protection order assistance to Marie free of charge, as they do to any client involved in counseling, safe shelter and support groups.
“I am thankful for being able to teach students about prevention,” said Starr. “As a team, the FCC staff members aided in preventing Marie’s batterer from emotional abuse and using the court system to further cause her pain.”
By the end of the week, Marie arrived at the FCC offices to thank FCC for their help. Her children had been returned to her, she was smiling because her children were safe from the “real” abuser, all because someone cared to listen.
For more information or to contact Family Crisis and Counseling Center, Inc. call 918-336-1188, or visit familycrisis.us.
The Bartlesville Regional United Way’s Annual Campaign is underway. To find out how you can contribute to Family Crisis and Counseling Center, Inc. or other member agencies, contact the BRUW office at 918-336-1044, 501 S. Johnston Ste. 550, Bartlesville, OK 74003 or visit www.bartlesvilleuw.org.
{Written by Megan Mueller. Originally featured in Examiner-Enterprise}
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