Be Santa for CAPSA

From now until December 11, Citizens Against Physical & Sexual Abuse is accepting gift donations for the women, children and men within shelter and transitional housing.

Desired items include: gloves, hats, ITunes gift cards, Google Play Cards, movies, makeup kits, perfume, cologne, hair straighteners, curling irons, stocking stuffers, family oriented board games, playing cards and puzzles.

In addition to gifts, individuals can donate wrapping paper, gift bags, bows and ribbons.

“Financial abuse is prevalent among the families we see,” Jill Anderson, CAPSA’s executive director said. “The mothers within shelter don’t have the means to provide presents for their children. They can’t be Santa for them, and that’s heartbreaking.”

For the past five years, Anderson has watched as women from shelter and the transitional housing program have been able to pick out presents for their children amongst the gifts donated to CAPSA.

“It’s empowering,” Anderson said. “Everything may not be going right for these families, but it’s a liberating feeling knowing your child will wake up Christmas morning and see that not only has Santa not forgotten about them, but neither has their mom.”

Along with Anderson, the women and children within shelter are thankful for the donations they receive.

When asked what they were grateful for, children within shelter said, “Nice people, food, clothes, shoes, a house, family and friends.”

A mother in shelter added, “Your donations are beyond our expectations. Your kindness is a godsend. Thank you.”

Individuals wishing to donate can drop-off items at Cox Honeyland & Gifts, Global Village Gifts or Even Steven’s Sandwiches in Logan.

A longtime partner with CAPSA, Even Stevens is excited to give back to the community in this way. Logan restaurant manager, Acea Spencer said customers have already come in and expressed a desire to serve.

“I’ve seen parents come in and they tell me they’ll come back with their kids, so they can see them and understand the importance of giving, along with receiving,” Spencer said.

In an effort to encourage individuals to donate, Global Village Gifts will give 20% off one item from your purchase when you donate a gift to CAPSA.

“We really are grateful for the community’s support,” Anderson said. “Because of all of you, more than 200 families will have a Christmas this year.”

Contact: Katie Stringham, Development Support Coordinator, Katie@capsa.org, 435-753-2500

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The History of CAPSA

In 1976, two high-profile rape cases occurred on Utah State University’s campus. This troubled many community members, and deciding to act, they created the Cache Valley Rape Crisis Team. The team was a hotline and calls were directed toward the university’s Women’s Center.

In 1979, Utah passed a spousal abuse act, which made domestic violence illegal. With this legislation, both the need and funding for domestic violence shelters increased. The response team changed it’s name to Citizens Against Physical & Sexual Abuse, and community members began housing individuals within their own homes.

It wasn’t until 1984 that CAPSA gained enough monetary support to allow a shelter to be purchased. The board then hired CAPSA’s first five full-time employees, and on Valentine’s Day of 1985, CAPSA began serving clients.

Also in 1985, Somebody’s Attic was formed to address CAPSA’s need for continual funding. A CAPSA board member created the organization with the idea that all sale proceeds from the items donated would go to CAPSA. Since its inception, Somebody’s Attic has raised more than $1 million to help end abuse. In 2017, CAPSA received more than $60,000 from Somebody’s Attic.

With this new source of funding, CAPSA was able to form the Mobile Crisis Team in 1992. Team members then and now meet with victims of abuse and stay with them as a rape exam is completed or as they recount what happened to law enforcement personnel. Members of the Mobile Crisis Team are seen as both advocates and friends to the victim, and they are there when family, friends, roommates and others cannot be. When the crisis team was created in 1992, it was the first of it’s kind in the state of Utah.

Ten years after the Mobile Crisis Team was created, a new shelter opened in 2002. This shelter nearly doubled the capacity of CAPSA’s previous shelter and allowed for two new living room areas and kitchens.

In 2017, CAPSA expanded again, when it opened the Gail Bird Weinshenker Therapy Center and the Mary Flynn Palley Children’s Center. These needed additions aid CAPSA staff as they provide therapy and other services to all individuals in need within Cache & Rich Counties.

To learn more about CAPSA’s expansions and current initiatives, follow us on Facebook or contact Katie Stringham at katie@capsa.org.

CAPSA receives $750,000 grant from U.S. Department of Justice

Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse, in conjunction with Fast Forward Charter High School and the Cache Youth Resource Center, has received a $750,000 grant from the United States Justice Department.

The grant came from the Office of Violence Against Women, and its goal is to train youth, particularly boys and men, to become leaders in the community, and be engaged in violence prevention.

To that end, CAPSA has hired a full-time clinical therapist whose office will be located in Fast Forward, and whose time will be devoted to the teens there.

This new therapist, Alicia Stettler, said she’s excited to begin working with the youth.

“I love that CAPSA looks at everything so holistically,” Stettler said. “They look at the children, the adults and the youth, to see how they interact with each other. I’m very excited to get to know the students and help all of their interactions improve.”

CAPSA also hired a full-time prevention educator, Bethany Balady, whose role will be to teach those attending Fast Forward about healthy relationships, personal boundaries, consent, how to prevent bullying and other strategies to assist youth in dealing with their emotions and challenges.

Fast Forward will also be adding staff to support the engagement of students within violence prevention, and to support families who are currently struggling with abuse.

Jill Lowe, the Principle of Fast Forward, said she’s excited to have these professionals and the resources they bring within the school.

“Many of our students do not have access to the resources they need to be successful,” Lowe said. “With the help of this grant, we will be bringing the resources to them and their families.”

Fast Forward’s mission is to serve students who are at-risk of not completing degree requirements and challenge them in healthy ways. Lowe believes the training students will receive will challenge them in positive, non-academic ways.

“These students are remarkable,” Lowe said. “However, similar to any other school in our valley, many have experienced trauma. If these students can gain social skills which help them interact with others and express themselves in healthy ways, as well as learning healthy coping mechanisms, that will drastically improve their lives right now and in the future.”

Jill Anderson, executive director of CAPSA, is looking forward to partnering with Fast Forward, and she’s very grateful to the Department of Justice for their support with this grant.

“We were one of only fifteen organizations to receive this grant,” Anderson said. “Other recipients were based in New York City, Cleveland and Seattle. I’m grateful the Office of Violence Against Women saw that our need in Logan, Utah is of equal importance to that of these bigger cities. Regardless of population size, we all want to do the same thing, and that’s to change and save the lives of our youth.”

CAPSA has previously received grants from the Department of Justice, and in Fiscal Year 2017, grants equated to 70% of CAPSA’s overall funding.

“We can’t do what we do without the support of the community,” Anderson said. “But we also can’t do what we do without the support of larger, national organizations who have dedicated their time and money to helping end abuse and violence.”

Learn more about CAPSA at capsa.org. Learn more about Fast Forward Charter High School at ffchs.org.

Contacts: Katie Stringham, Development Support Coordinator, Katie@capsa.org, 435-753-2500

Jill Anderson, CAPSA Executive Director, Jill@capsa.org, 435-753-2500

Jill Lowe, Fast Forward Principle, Jill@ffchs.org, 435-713-4255

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Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP)

The Lethality Assessment Protocol or LAP, is a major tool used by both local law enforcement and CAPSA personnel. So, what is the LAP?

Originating from Maryland, Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell, of The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, studied the factors associated with domestic homicide within the state. She studied these cases for more than 25 years, and from her study, she found 20 warning signs indicating an individual was at high risk of being killed by an intimate partner.

Inspired by this research, the State of Maryland worked with Dr. Campbell to create an 11 question assessment to be used by law enforcement. Now when a domestic violence call comes in, officers ask the victim of abuse these 11 questions. Depending on the answers, victims are determined whether or not they are at high risk of being murdered by their intimate partner. If at high risk, law enforcement personnel connect the individual to a local domestic violence shelter.

In the seven years since implementing the LAP in Maryland, domestic homicides have reduced by 60%. Since implementing this system in Utah, more than 1,500 individuals have been identified as being in a high-risk situation. Because of the LAP, these 1,500 individuals are receiving the help they are in need of. Before the LAP, only 4% of these at risk individuals visited a domestic violence shelter or sought any type of aid in preventing or dealing with their abusive situation.

We’re grateful for our law-makers and officers for making the LAP a life-saving part of our response to domestic violence within the state.

Learn more about CAPSA and the LAP at the links below:

CAPSA has a new tool to fight domestic violence

Local law enforcement agencies, CAPSA, collaborate to adopt domestic violence protocol

New program connecting domestic violence victims to resources

Policeman honored for implementing domestic violence victim assessment

Give Local

With Thanksgiving coming up, we think of our blessings and how we can better help those in need. As you consider what you can do to give back for all you’ve been given, consider giving local. By giving local, you’re ensuring your gift has an immediate impact on your neighbors and friends.

CAPSA development director, James Boyd created a flyer to learn how to give local and how to use your tax write-offs or estate planning to give local, but another good way to give local is to follow non-profits on social media. Often, the most pressing needs are expressed through this outlet.

Planned Giving Flyer

CAPSA Facebook | Stokes Nature Center Facebook | Cache Education Foundation Facebook | Cache Community Food Pantry Facebook | Common Ground Outdoor Adventures Facebook | Four Paws Rescue Facebook | The Family Place Facebook | Cache Valley Veterans Association Facebook | Little Lambs Foundation for Kids Facebook

CAPSA urges community members to donate locally

Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse has created a campaign designed to help local CPA’s and accountants encourage community members to donate to local non-profits.

Similar to Lee’s branded Buy Local campaign, this campaign encourages residents to keep their charitable giving within Cache Valley.

Matt Whitaker, executive director of the Cache Community Food Pantry, said the Give Local campaign will assist the Food Pantry in many ways.

“Although we receive many food donations throughout the year, we still need financial support to pay for foods that are not commonly donated, overhead, etc.,” Whitaker said.  “The Give Local campaign will go a long way in filling that need.”

Whitaker also expressed appreciation for CAPSA and its efforts to benefit the community at large. Speaking of CAPSA’s development director, James Boyd, Whitaker said, “The efforts by James Boyd to initiate the Give Local campaign is a perfect demonstration of the quality organization that CAPSA is. They are interested in lifting the entire community, not solely those who rely on the services that CAPSA provides.”

Since beginning the campaign in October, Boyd, Whitaker and other non-profit participants have reached out to local financial advisors and met with them regarding the Give Local program.

Troy Martin of Cook Martin Poulson, PC said he’s “All in” when it comes to the Give Local initiative.

“Everyone wants to go travel to South America and work in orphanages or build grass huts, but you don’t have to leave Cache Valley to help someone,” Martin said.

Sammie Macfarlane, executive director of Common Ground Outdoor Adventures, said it’s the willingness of people to give within the community that makes it so special.

“Common Ground Outdoor Adventures is thrilled to be a part of the Give Local Campaign! Seeing individuals invest right here in their own community, to assist those in need, is at the core of what makes Cache Valley such a great place to live.”

As executive director of CAPSA for more than twenty years, Jill Anderson has seen first-hand how generous community members are.

“While we sometimes see the worst of what’s happening in our community, we also get the honor of seeing the best of our community in the support they give to us every year,” Anderson said.

That support enabled CAPSA to become the first and only zero-turn-away shelter in Utah. This means if anyone experiencing domestic violence or sexual abuse comes to CAPSA needing therapy services, shelter or any form of assistance, they will receive it.

“I can only imagine the courage it takes to leave an abusive situation,” Anderson said. “CAPSA is making sure that courage is not in vain. We are here to be a safe place for everyone.”

Boyd said he created the Give Local campaign because he knew what a difference every non-profit makes.

“The Cache Education Foundation is bringing technology into the classroom,” Boyd said. “Stokes Nature Center is providing outdoor learning opportunities to children, and Four Paws Rescue is finding homes for pets who have been deemed by someone else as too old or too much work to care for. I wanted to highlight these great things and show individuals they could make a drastic difference in someone’s life by giving locally.”

Learn more about this program by visiting capsa.org/GiveLocal.

Contact:

Katie Stringham, CAPSA Development Support Coordinator, katie@capsa.org, 435-753-2500.

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An interview with NUVPEC chair, Ana Hernandez

Most of us probably haven’t heard of NUVPEC, but it stands for the Northern Utah Violence Prevention Education Coalition. To learn more about it, I interviewed the coalition chair, Ana Hernandez.

Q. Can you tell me the history of NUVPEC – when and how it was started?

A. In 2009, CAPSA’s prevention department completed a curriculum for male and female peer-to-peer discussion groups. At that time, CAPSA employees felt it was important to create a coalition.  It was called the Northern Utah Violence Prevention Education Coalition in order to address prevention efforts at the community level.

Our mission as a coalition is to reduce the incidences of sexual violence among youth in Cache County. The Northern Utah Violence Prevention Education Coalition aims to provide professional, respectful, sensitive and age appropriate prevention education to youth of all ages. NUVPEC will unite to implement developmental assets with an emphasis on positive values, social competencies and positive identities to help our future generations establish healthy, responsible and caring relationships.

Q. Who’s involved in NUVPEC?

A. Several organizations sit on NUVPEC: The Family Place, Alpha Chi Omega, the Logan Police Department, the Cache County’s Sheriff’s Office, Utah State University, Cache Makers, Pregnancy for Choices, the Department for Children and Family Services, Utah State’s Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information Office, Intermountain Healthcare, the Bear River Health Department and concerned citizens.

Q. What is NUVPEC doing in our community – what are the positive results you can point to from the program?

A. We hope that we are making a difference by raising awareness of domestic and sexual violence within our youth. Currently, we have several projects in the works.

Upstanding Youth Leadership Conference: Hosted at Utah State University on December 2, we have worked tirelessly with the Utah State Health Department and CAPSA to put this conference together. It is targeted specifically for Cache and Rich youth leaders, and we are hoping that by providing training by Marty Liccardo and other helpful workshops youth will be able to go back to their respective communities and teach their peers about making a difference and changing social norms.

Media Contest: Every year from January to the end of February the state of Utah holds a Media contest surrounding healthy relationships. This contest is for students, and NUVPEC participates by informing all the Middle and High School students about the contest and its theme.

Safe Dates: We partner with the Logan Police Department and the Fun Park to create an environment for youth to have fun while gaining an understanding of how to stay safe on a date and what to do if you feel uncomfortable at any portion of a night out.

Q. How are youth involved in NUVPEC?

A. NUVPEC raises awareness and holds events specifically for our youth. Members of the CAPSA Youth Council also help educate their peers with a member of NUVPEC.

Q. How does NUVPEC inspire and create youth leaders?

A. I hope that by making a difference the youth can see that they too can make a difference. A lot of times youth, and even adults, feel that in order to make a difference they have to be labeled as a leader. However, you do not have to be in any type of position (although it can be helpful) to make a difference and rise to inspire and be a leader.

Q. What have you learned from chairing NUVPEC?

A. When I started, I met with each member individually and listened to their concerns, ideas, and successes with the intention of making the coalition better. So far, I have been able to include more members from our community. I am also reaching out to the Latino community in hopes of bringing awareness to them,as well. I realize that although I am not perfect, I have learned that by showing others that I am human, that I care and that I am there to help them make a difference we become more united and are able to achieve more.

Q. What are the long-term goals of NUVPEC?

A. I want to continue inspiring youth to become the leaders of tomorrow. I also want to reach out to more community organizations and involve them in order to bring more awareness to families, and specifically youth.