Fairchild AFB offers counseling to domestic violence offenders

Name of program: Fairchild Family Advocacy Office.

What it does: The program counsels perpetrators of domestic violence for six months. According to program assistant Ruth Sunde, there are programs for both male and female offenders to individually meet for 90 minutes each week with counselors. When they have completed the program, offenders meet for weekly follow-ups with the counselors for another six months.

The office also counsels victims of domestic violence on an individual basis.

Who runs it: Fairchild Air Force Base

How to get help: Offenders can enroll themselves, they can be referred through the security forces blotter, which is much like a police report, or they can be referred to the program by a unit’s first sergeants who are in charge of the morale and welfare of the unit. The office can be reached at 247-2687.

Typical client: Sunde said domestic violence is not limited to any particular socioeconomic status, gender or race.

“It runs the whole gamut,” she said.

“We service all branches of the military here,” said Fairchild spokeswoman Maj. Carol Gering. The program will service all military personnel and their families in the area and North Idaho.

Even after members of the Air National Guard or the Army Reserves return home from active duty, their benefits remain in place for up to three months.

How to help: Sunde said Fairchild Family Advocacy is mandated by Congress, but folks can donate clothing, household items, furniture and other items to the Family Support Center on the base. If someone is fleeing a violent situation, they can get the basics at the center, which can be reached at 247-2264.