24-hour Crisis Hotline  The hotline provides vital information and support to victims who are in, or attempting to safely escape from domestic violence in Polk County, Oregon.  It provides a trained, supportive person to listen and give information that can assist victims who don’t know where to turn.  The hotline is also a resource to community partners in Polk County, Oregon including law enforcement agencies who are working with clients who are victims. 

24-hour Confidential Shelter The Sable House shelter facility is a place where women and children can reside safely after fleeing from domestic violence.  During their stay in shelter, women and children attend support groups to help them work through trauma associated with domestic violence and/or sexual violence.  They also receive advocacy and case management services to assist them in planning for safety and independence once they can safely leave shelter. 

Support Groups  Support groups for women and children help victims to work through trauma associated with domestic violence and/or sexual assault, and to empower them by offering information to assist them to increase their safety.  Sable House support groups are for residents of the shelter facility as well as non-residents and are conducted in both English and Spanish.

24-hour, In-Person Sexual Assault Response  An immediate, in-person response for sexual assault victims waiting at the hospital for medical treatment, or further law enforcement interview.  The advocate’s presence there can be very comforting to the victim and it provides support to victims by offering information about the evidence gathering and legal processes, and by giving referrals to appropriate agencies for additional assistance if needed. 

Sable House sexual assault response service is a vital part of our communities Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) because advocates can provide victims with information and support so that law enforcement and hospital personnel can focus on what they need to accomplish.  This can reduce the overall amount of time the process takes.  Victims indicate that the presence of Sable House advocates is very comforting and reassuring to them.

Information and Referral Information about and referrals to other providers in the community based on the individual needs of each family. 

Community Outreach and Education Extensive outreach and educational services designed to educate the public and service providers in the community about issues of domestic and sexual violence.  We conduct presentations in the schools, to service providers, to service clubs and faith organizations, and others.

Advocacy and Case Management Legal and social service system advocacy is provided to ensure that victims are able to access all of the services that they are entitled to, and to provide support to the victim during the process.  Case management services assist victims by educating them about which community resources might be options for them, and then by working with victims to identify, set and achieve their goals.  This service is meant to empower victims to help themselves.

Safety Planning This process helps clients identify options for leaving that will increase safety. Safety plans are completed both on the phone and in-person and can be completed with adults and children.    

Transportation Transportation is arranged for families residing in shelter who need it. 

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence is a pattern of behavior used by one intimate partner toward another in order to maintain power and control over them. The violence can take many forms including verbal, physical, sexual, psychological, economic, etc. 

Domestic Violence Facts

• 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.

• In 2001, 20% of violent crime against women was intimate partner violence, compared to 3% of violent crime against men.

• In 2001, 85% of victims of domestic violence were women.

• Between 1997 and 2003, 46% of female homicide victims and 4% of male homicide victims were killed by intimate partners.

• Child abuse occurs in up to 70% of families that experience domestic violence.

• More than 75% of female homicide victims are murdered by their husbands or intimate partners.

• The estimated cost of intimate partner violence in Oregon exceeds $50 million each year.

How does Domestic Violence affect children?
Children are emotionally affected by witnessing violent behavior in the home, and they are at higher risk of physical harm than children living in non-violent homes. Some of the adverse affects of witnessing violence can include sleeplessness, poor concentration levels, emotional and mental health issues, anger and depression.  Children as young as 2 years old show symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder after having been exposed to domestic violence.

Children in homes where domestic violence is perpetrated are physically abused by the violent parent 1,500 times more often than children who are not living in violent homes.  In fact, the occurence of domestic violence in a child’s home is the single greatest risk factor in predicting child abuse.  And, in Oregon, domestic violence incidents where children are present are felony crimes.

Why does she stay? 
There are many reasons contributing to why women stay but the  most common factor is FEAR.

Women who leave their abusers are 75% more likely to be killed than those who stay and children whose mothers leave the abuser are more likely to be killed than those whose mothers stay.

Below are just a few of the fears women face when deciding to leave.

• Fear of death
• Fear of being stalked
• Fear that he will abuse the children afterward
• Fear of losing custody of the children
• Fear for pets that are left behind
• Fear of not being able to financially support the family
• Fear that she won’t be supported by family and/or friends because she has left before
• Fear of losing a job because of poor attendance due to transportation or time off for court
• Fear of not being believed

How can you help a victim?
Statistics show that on average it takes 7-9 times to leave permanently.  You can help her by not judging her if she goes back after several attempts to leave.  She needs to know that you will be supportive when she decides it’s safe to leave permanently, not when you think she should. 

If anyone you know is being abused, please refer them to Sable House.  Our staff will give them extensive information about what options are available to them.

How can you help end Domestic Violence?

• By modeling non-violent behaviors
• By not tolerating violence as a society 
• By supporting domestic violence victim service programs financially
• By becoming advocates for victims
• By educating yourself about domestic violence
• By reporting abuse when you see it or know about it

SEXUAL ASSAULT
Sexual Assault is any type of sexual contact with someone who cannot or does not give informed consent. A sexual act is not consensual if it is perpetrated on a person who is unable to give consent or on someone who is able to give consent but does not want the sexual contact.  Sexual assault can include the use of physical force, manipulation, coercion, threat of harm, or intimidation.

Some FactsAbout Sexual Assault

• 1 out of 6 adult women in Oregon has been the victim of rape in her lifetime.  That amounts to about 230,000 women total.

• 70% of sexual assaults against teenage and college-age women are committed by an acquaintance or date.

• Of the rapes and sexual assaults reported in the 2002 National Crime Victimization Survey, 87% of the victims were women and 13% were men.

• More than 80% of sexual assault victims know the attacker but only 10% of them report the crime.

Myth: She asked for it. Women often provoke rape by their own behavior: wearing low-cut clothing, going out alone, staying out late, etc.
Fact: No one asks to be sexually assaulted. People have the right to be safe from sexual violence. The offender, not the survivor, is the only cause of this crime.

Myth: It can’t happen to me.
Fact: People from every population are sexually assaulted: people of all ethnic backgrounds, men and women, children and elderly, rich and poor, married and single.

Myth: Sometimes victims are at least partly responsible for sexual assault.
Fact: Nothing that a victim does or does not do gives someone the right to commit sexual assault. People have the right to be free from sexual violence.

Myth: Women can avoid situations that lead to rape.
Fact: Most women are assaulted in environments they consider safe and by people they trust.