Awareness month filled with activities
Christine “CJ” Jones remembers an incident when a husband had kept his wife hostage in their home for seven days – beating her repeatedly. The victim was transported to Kootenai Medical Center, where surgery was performed on her brain.
It’s a scenario that’s all too familiar to Jones, a crime victim advocate for Officer and Advocates Sharing Intervention Services, O.A.S.I.S., and chairwoman of the North Idaho Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Jones wants people to know that Kootenai County has the highest percentage rate of domestic violence per capita in Idaho.
“Education and training is the key to reducing incidents of domestic violence,” she says. “In reality, domestic violence is not just a family situation – it affects all of us.”
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the NICADSV has planned several education and training activities.
“Keeping Romance Alive,” a free workshop that is open to the public, will be held Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The workshop will be presented by international adventurer, educator and nationally known speaker Mark Altman. He will discuss ways to keep romance in relationships.
A Domestic Violence Training, open to anyone in the faith community who assists others going through or who have been affected by domestic violence will be held Oct. 24 at Lake City Community Church, 6000 Ramsey Road, Coeur d’Alene. The training is from 9 to 4 p.m., with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.
The keynote speaker is the Rev. Douglas Yarbrough, a licensed counselor who provides assistance, support, and information to other faith leaders and congregations who often serve as first responders to domestic violence survivors. Other guest speakers include Opohelia Araujo, Spokane’s director of Abuse Recovery Ministry and Service, who will discuss “Teen Dating Violence.” Cost is $25, which includes lunch.
The annual North Idaho Coalition Against Domestic Violence Awards Luncheon will be held Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Silver Lake Motel and Convention Center, 6160 Sunshine St., Coeur d’Alene. Lunch is provided by Cafe Chulo; cost is $15 per person, and reservations are necessary.
The celebration luncheon honors law enforcement officers, community advocates, and volunteers in the five northern counties. Awards will also be given to outstanding individuals in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum and Shoshone County police departments, the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police, and the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.
Special Recognition Awards will be given to Laura Bonneville, Amy Kinsley, and Mary Marano, retiring NICADSV board members, for their service. New 2007 volunteer board members include Jones; Anne Chatfield, Women’s Center; Ionana Siegler, Mountain States Early Head Start; and LouRinda Buttrey, North Idaho College Head Start.
For more information about the workshop, training or for award luncheon reservations, call “CJ” Jones, at the Post Falls Police Department, at 773-6349 or by e-mail, cjones@postfallspolice.com by Monday.