OASIS provides support, shelter for crime victims

Kootenai County has the highest percentage of domestic violence in Idaho, according to Bridget Eismann, a crime victim advocate at Officer and Advocates Sharing Intervention Services.

“In 2006, OASIS assisted more than 350 adult and child victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking and received more than 1,500 crisis calls,” Eismann said.

Recognition of the increase in domestic violence and its impact as a social problem led to a collaborative effort in 1994 by the Post Falls Police Department, the city prosecutor and social service agencies.

Post Falls Police Chief Cliff Hayes developed OASIS, an innovative approach by law enforcement and victim advocates to provide immediate crisis intervention, support services and shelter to victims of domestic violence and other crimes.

The OASIS team is made up of the lieutenant of investigation, Greg McLean, who also is program director; detective Sgt. Pat Kenner, who investigates domestic violence cases; and two full-time crime victim advocates, Christine Jones and Eismann.

The advocates are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to respond with officers.

Support is ongoing and can include shelter; transportation; medical, court and prosecution assistance; support groups; and referral to other community resources.

“The program primarily serves male and female victims of domestic violence or sexual assault and their children,” Eismann said. “We also assist with child abuse victims, runaways, suicides and other incidents where needed.”

In 1997, the program was expanded to include the Rathdrum Police Department. All Post Falls and Rathdrum residents qualify for OASIS services and are not required to make a report to law enforcement.

“The advocates have unexpectedly saved detectives countless hours in follow-up contacts and report supplements,” McLean said.

Advocates assist officers by taking photographs of victims’ injuries, helping with victim interviews, getting victims’ written statements, obtaining medical releases and reports, interviewing children and witnesses and transporting or escorting victims to the hospital or shelter.

“This coordinated team approach maximizes protection and support services, which enhances victim safety and creates an effective response,” McLean said.

“This joint effort also gives a consistent community message that violence will not be tolerated,” he said.

The first OASIS shelter was opened in 1994, and a transitional house was added in 1999. Both shelters were given to the program by the Post Falls City Council. Community organizations have donated furnishings, maintenance and upkeep.

“Currently, we are changing locations of our shelters,” Eismann said.

There are 13 signs of a batterer, according to Eismann: jealousy, a controlling behavior, keeping the victim from friends and family, blaming others for his problems, cruelty to animals or children, hypersensitivity, “playful” use of force in sex, verbal abuse, a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality, past history of battery, making threats of violence, breaking or striking objects and using force during an argument.

“Power and control are the ultimate forms of manipulation,” Eismann said. “Batterers and perpetrators seek power and control over other individuals to achieve their wants and needs. This is re-enforced by use of physical harm, verbal abuse, sexual abuse or financial abuse.”

The OASIS support group meets every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. The meeting is free of charge, and child care is available at no cost. The group is led by Kathleen Reitmeier, M.A., at her office at 601 E. Seltice Way, No. 205.

“The support group is a safe and confidential environment in which others share their experiences while getting support through hard times,” said Eismann.

In addition, education is offered by local professionals in a range of subjects including setting boundaries, building self-esteem, budgeting and understanding your credit. It is not necessary to file a report to receive services – everyone is welcome.

OASIS has sponsored more than six conferences and has held several one-day workshops designed to assist domestic violence victims and other victims of crime.

The staff also trains law enforcement students at North Idaho College and has been involved in training police officers and prosecutors throughout Idaho.

An American Medical Association anti-bullying teaching tool, “Hands Are Not for Hitting,” has been administered by OASIS to kindergartners and first-graders in the Post Falls and Rathdrum schools for the last six years.

“This activity book helps children learn positive behavior by identifying what their hands should and shouldn’t do,” Eismann said.

“It is not normal to behave in a violent manner. Abuse is a learned behavior from seeing abuse used as a successful tool – often in the home in which the abuser grew up.”

Bullying among children is a serious problem, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It is estimated that 30 percent of kids in grades six through 10 have been involved in moderate to frequent bullying – as a bully, the target of bullying or both – during a school semester.

When a child bullies another child, the verbal, physical and emotional abuse can cause lasting effects. Unfortunately, this abuse often is overlooked or trivialized because children or adolescents are the perpetrators.

Bullying brings real psychological and social consequences for those who are being bullied and for those who are doing the bullying.

“Prevention is the key,” Eismann said. “Children can be taught that name-calling, bullying and hitting are not acceptable, that they can choose who they want to hang out with on the playground and that law enforcement is not a bad or scary face.”