The Center for Survivors and Revolution, our peer-education group took part in Sundaes in the Square this past weekend to benefit the Child Abuse Prevention Council. Revolution members provided face painting for children (and some adults) who came to Frankfurt Square to support this important cause.

The Child Advocate’s duties and responsibilities are:

1.  Create and conduct children’s programming for children served at the Center for Survivors.

• Assess crisis needs and provide advocacy/crisis counseling to child clients.
• Meet with children on a daily basis while the children are residing in shelter.
• Lead weekly educational/support groups for children at the Center and develop group curriculum for this purpose.

2.  Educate parents who reside in shelter about the connection between woman abuse and child abuse and how children may be affected by domestic violence.

3.  Provide educational presentations to community children regarding violence that affects children (bullying, etc.)

4.  Coordinate the Christmas giving program for agency clients.

5.  Attend staff meetings, provide monthly statistics and repond to other duties as assigned by the Children’s  Services Director.

The Bilingual Adult Advocate reports to the Adult Services Director.  Responsibilities and duties include:

1. Provide direct support and advocacy services, face-to-face and/or by phone to English and Spanish speaking domestic violence and/or sexual assault survivors in crisis situations.
2. Provide support and advocacy for the women and children utilizing the Center’s shelter program.  This will include daily contact, referrals, goal-setting, and direction on personal life issues such as hygiene, parenting, meal planning, etc..  This also includes providing food/supplies when needed.
3. Facilitate the Spanish-speaking women’s weekly support group.  May be domestic violence and/or sexual assault-oriented.
4. Assist the Center’s Legal Advocate in making daily contact with law enforcement referrals and document contacts.
5. Assist the Nebraska Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault coalition’s BIA Accredited Representative with collecting information for clients’ immigration applications
6. Assist the Center’s Legal Advocate in making daily contact with law enforcement referrals and document contacts.
7. Participate in the enhanced advocacy program as needed.  This will require being on-call some evenings during the week.
8. Complete your paperwork (Intakes, Face-to-Face, Telephone Contact Sheets, Monthly Activity Summaries, etc.) accurately and in a timely fashion.
9. Conduct outreach activities designed to increase awareness of the Center’s services in the Spanish-speaking communities within our service area, which may include evening and weekend activities.
10. Perform other duties as directed.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s Degree or 2 years experience in human service field preferred
2. Must be able to speak and write fluent English and Spanish.
3. Education or experience in domestic violence preferred.

The Center for Survivors serves the six county area of Boone, Butler, Colfax, Nance, Platte and Polk counties.

Center for Survivors
3103 13^th St.
P.O. Box 42
Columbus, NE 68602

Phone: 402-564-2155
Fax: 402-563-1719
E-mail: tammy.burden@centerforsurvivors.net

Sexual violence is a crime of epidemic proportions. It affects everyone. Sexual Assault does not discriminate. It knows no racial, economic, social, or age barriers. It exists in all neighborhoods, cities, and countries. According to a study conducted by the National Victim Center, 1.3 women in the United States are forcibly raped each minute. That translates to 78 an hour, 1,871 a day, or 683,000 a year. Of these assaults, at least 84% are committed by someone the survivor knows. At the Center for Survivors in 2009, approximately 19 adult, 53 adolescent, and 27 child sexual assault survivors received crisis intervention and support services. This number represents only those victims who came to us for assistance; the majority of sexual assaults go unreported.

We all have a responsibility to end sexual assault. Action may be as simple as donating money to assist victims or volunteering time at the Center for Survivors. This month sexual assault prevention advocates will be raising public awareness of sexual violence and letting survivors of sexual assault know that they are not alone and that help is available.

Several activities have been planned throughout April to raise awareness of sexual violence. Many local business employees have donated money to participate in Denim Days throughout the month and wear jeans to support survivors of sexual violence. A “Take Back the Night” vigil, which is open to the public, is scheduled for noon on Monday, April 12th at CCC. Revolution will be performing a dramatization, which may not be suitable for young children. Whether we’re aware of it or not, all of us know someone who has been the victim of sexual assault. Come join us support victims and the message of nonviolence.

For more information on Sexual Assault Awareness Month activities or if someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the Center for Survivors at 1-800-658-4482/(402) 564-2155. We provide free and confidential services 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Dates to Remember in April
Denim Days                          Clothesline Project
-Throughout the month      -Display at various locations

April 5th-9th                       April 7th
-Child Abuse Prevention     -Revolution Presentation for
Month; Pinwheel display     St. Mary’s Youth Group, Leigh
at the Center

April 8th                              April 12th
-”Day to End Sexual            -Sexual Assault Vigil at CCC
Violence”                            12:00pm in the cafeteria

April 20th                             April 22nd
-Revolution Presentation     -Annual Meeting
for Crime Victim’s Rights
Omaha 1:30pm-3:00pm

This year we are placing pinwheels in front of the Center, from April 5th to April 9th, as a visual depiction of the number of children the Center has provided services for in the last year. In 2009, we provided services to 504 children, ages 0-18.

This number includes children who were victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or were otherwise affected by domestic violence. This number also includes adolescents who were victims of dating violence, sexual assault, family violence, and Building Healthy Relationships group participants.

In addition to the Pinwheel display, the Clothesline Project will be displayed at the Columbus YMCA April 5th through the 9th. The Clothesline Project incorporates t-shirts created by children victims of domestic violence and child sexual abuse. For more information, please contact the Center for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Survivors.

Revolution is a grant funded group which strives to inform teens about the dangers of dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.  We also provide education on the characteristics of healthy relationships. If you are between the ages of 14 and 20 and are interested in becoming a member or if you are interested in us doing a performance for your civic group or school for FREE, call Abbie T. or Erin at the Center @ 402-564-2155.

Download our brochure or visit our Revolution page for more information.