Work together
Susan K. Moran, SOS executive director
Thursday, December 17, 2009
The recent killing of four family members in Osage County is a grim reminder to victims of domestic violence of what may happen to them when they get the courage to leave.
SOS has been providing services to victims of domestic violence since 1978. Since then we have expanded services to Chase, Morris, Osage, Coffey, and Greenwood counties.
SOS advocates work with the various systems such as law enforcement, SRS, medical, mental health, community corrections, court services, prosecution, education, and others. These community collaborations help educate the different systems to develop best practices, identify gaps in services, and evaluate what changes need to happen to best serve those who have experienced domestic and sexual violence or child abuse and neglect.
In Emporia, SOS soon realized that the job of helping victims stay safe and holding perpetrators accountable could not be done alone. The Domestic Violence Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT) met for the first time in August 1993. Since that time, members have established protocols for their respective disciplines, received training both locally and nationally, created the Lyon County Domestic Violence Prevention Plan, initiated an assessment fee for individuals convicted in city court, initiated batterers intervention programs, created a city ordinance to restrict the number of diversions a batterer may receive, and supported the Annual SOS Domestic Violence Summit.
While we have made great strides in the area, it is you — family, friends, and co-workers, which can make the biggest difference. It is through community members joining together to let lawmakers know that perpetrators of violence need to be held accountable and that stricter sanctions should be in place for those who make a choice to abuse. It is through community members speaking out against abuse when they see it, telling your family member, neighbor, or friend who may be perpetrating abuse in his/her family that abuse of any sort is unacceptable, or stepping up to volunteer as a CASA volunteer to speak on behalf of children or as a crisis service volunteer to provide assistance in the middle of a crisis.
Community agencies can join together to continue our work to make sure those whose lives are impacted by abuse are protected, but agencies cannot do it alone. We all have a voice and we should all use it to stop abuse in our communities.
Susan K. Moran
SOS executive director
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