Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV) is dedicated to the empowerment of women and children and therefore committed to the elimination of personal and societal violence. SAFV is committed to preventative work with all to end the intergenerational cycle of abuse.

By-law Changes

SAFV’s work includes:

SAFV maintains a 25-bed residential facility in Sitka for women and children who are in need of safety due to domestic violence or sexual assault. The shelter is staffed by advocates who are trained in crisis and suicide intervention, domestic violence and sexual assault, child abuse, cultural sensitivity, and legal issues. SAFV also operates safe homes in Kake and Angoon. Any person needing safety in these villages should contact SAFV at info@safv.org for information.

We serve the Southeast Alaska communities of Sitka, Angoon, Kake and Port Alexander.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is a pattern of controlling and coercive behaviors intended to punish, abuse, and ultimately control the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of the victim. This abuse usually increases over time. Domestic violence occurs in all segments of our society regardless of religion, race, class, sexual orientation, or educational level. Domestic violence is a crime.

As described by the women of SAFV, domestic violence is…

“…the ebb and flow of love and isolated terror.”

“…the ultimate dehumanizing experience of no rules, no trust, no peace, and no safety.”

“…a relationship that starts with expectations of love and acceptance as it slowly breaks one’s spirit and ends in control and violence.”

“…the relentless use of multiple tactics to emotionally and physically shackle me.”

“…when from fear of violence, I turn and cry silently out of one side of my face.”

“…him living the illusion of power, righteousness, and manly strength while I dwell in the lonely state of scared, helplessness, and shame.”

“…hope becoming a four letter word.”

“…in the beginning, him battering because he could. In the end, I left because I can.”

SAFV's Services:

Contact SAFV:

Crisis Line:	747-6511 in Sitka 1-800-478-6511 (Toll-free in Alaska)
Mail:	SAFV P.O. Box 6136 Sitka, AK 99835
Email	info@safv.org
Telephone:	747-3370 in Sitka

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Women's Program

The Women's Program provides one-on-one counseling and advocacy, which may include: referrals, lethality assessments, safety planning, support groups, and much more.

Referrals

Lethality Assessments

SAFV advocates can help you determine how dangerous or lethal your partner is. The lethality assessment asks a series of questions involving the emotional, physical, and sexual violence your partner has inflicted upon you and your children. This information can be used to help you develop a safety plan.

Safety Planning

SAFV advocates can assist you in making a safety plan for you and your children. The plan can help you stay safe whether you are remaining in a relationship, trying to leave, or have already left your partner. The plan can include a stay at the shelter, the use of one of SAFV’s 911 cell phones, a financial plan, and much more.

Support Groups

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Legal Advocacy

Domestic Violence Protective Orders (PO’s): Assistance with preparing and requesting Emergency Orders, 20-Day Ex-Parte Orders, and Long-Term Orders.

Court accompaniment for Protective Orders, custody hearings, civil proceedings, criminal cases, and more.

Assistance with preparing and presenting Victim Impact Statements.

Referrals to the Legal Advocacy Project Pro Bono Attorney Program.

Referrals to Alaska Legal Services for civil domestic violence cases.

Information and assistance with legal issues related to domestic violence and sexual assault.

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Children's Program

The Children's Program at SAFV works as a resource for child victims or witnesses of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Children's Program works both inside the shelter and out in the Alaska communities of Sitka, Kake, Angoon, and Port Alexander. It provides one-on-one advocacy, support groups, presentations for children and community education about the effects of domestic violence and sexual assault on children.

"There are little eyes upon you
and they're watching night and day.
There are little ears that quickly
take in every word you say.
There are little hands all eager
to do anything you do;
And a little child who's dreaming
of the day he'll be like you."
-excerpted from Little Eyes Upon You
Anonymous

Children's Support Groups:

After school group that meets once a week for discussion, activities, and games. Open to all children ages 5-12 who have experienced domestic violence or child abuse or neglect. Contact SAFV for dates and times.

Support groups that meet once a week during lunchtime at Baranof and Keet Gooshi Heen Elementary Schools.

Offers students a break from the school day to discuss issues involving domestic violence and child abuse and neglect through discussion, arts and crafts, and games with their peers.

Please contact a school counselor or SAFV if interested.

Presentations:

Age-appropriate presentations aimed at teaching children about safe and unsafe touch, what to do if confronted with a situation of unsafe touch, and who to tell if touched in an unsafe way.

Presented to students in preschool and elementary school.

Information on what sexual harassment is, why it can be harmful, how to stop sexual harassment, and what to do if you are being sexually harassed.

Presented to middle school students.

Information on frequency of occurrence, warning signs, what to do if you or a friend is a victim or perpetrator of violence, and root causes of dating violence.

Presented to high school students.

Information on laws regarding sexual assault, safety planning, and what to do if you or a friend is sexually assaulted.

Presented to high school students.

If you have any questions or would like more information on services, including group dates and times, please contact the Children's Program Coordinator at (907) 747-3370.

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Community Education

SAFV provides trainings for groups and agencies that have an interest in domestic violence, sexual assault, and the effects of violence on children. Because domestic violence carries over into every aspect of a person's life, training and information is important for employers, ministers, health care professionals, teachers, counselors, and the general public in order to support victims and their children. There is no cost for this service.

SAFV Volunteer and Community Training 2010 Schedule (20kb PDF file)



Poster (62kb PDF file)











Outreach Program:

The Outreach Coordinator is available for:

Please contact the Outreach Coordinator at SAFV to schedule an Outreach Program training.

Trainings on Children's Issues

SAFV provides trainings for professionals including counselors, teachers, ministers, and others who work with children on the effects of domestic violence on children. This training gives a brief overview of the dynamics of domestic violence, warning signs that a child is witnessing domestic violence, the impact of witnessing violence on children, and how to help keep a child safe.

Please contact the Children's Program Coordinator at SAFV to schedule a Training on Children's Issues.

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Rural Outreach

"Dei Awe" translated to English means "Enough!"

The Rural Outreach Program provides services and resources to Angoon, Kake, and Port Alexander. The Rural Outreach Coordinator goes to those communities 3 or 4 times a year. SAFV operates safe homes in Kake and Angoon. If you need safety in these villages please contact SAFV.

The Rural Outreach Program provides:

If you have any questions or concerns please contact SAFV.

Gunal' Cheesch! And thank you for your kind attention.

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Sexual Assault

Understanding Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence

When most of us hear the words sexual assault, we think of rape. However, rape is not the only type of sexual assault. Even minor forms of sexual violence, such as obscene phone calls, can be distressing. An attempted sexual assault can also be frightening.

Force can happen in any type of relationship.

Sexual assault occurs any time a person is forced into a sexual act. However, force does not always include physical violence. Force can happen in different ways, such as verbal threats, overpowering the person, using a weapon, drugging someone, abusing authority, or taking advantage of a person who passes out from drugs or alcohol or is under anesthesia and cannot consent to sex. Likewise, someone who does not mentally understand sex cannot give consent. Taking advantage of someone’s vulnerability uses another kind of force. It can happen with friends, acquaintances, family, co-workers, and intimate partners. It can also happen to doctors and patients, students, teachers, clergy and parishioners, parents and their children, and it can happen between strangers.

Sexual assaults include any type of sexual contact that is nonconsensual, forced, or coerced.

Online Support and Information for Teens about Dating Violence

www.loveisrespect.org provides online support for 13 to 18-year-olds. Teens who are experiencing dating abuse can log in and get help from trained peer advocates in a one-on-one private chat room.

If you are assaulted

Sexual assault can happen to anyone; it happens to adult women, adult men, persons living with disabilities, elderly persons, teens, and young children.  It crosses all societal lines and can affect anyone's life.  If it has happened to you, know that you are not alone.

Sexual assault is a crime.  It is not your fault.  Nothing you have done has caused the assault.  It is a frightening and disturbing event in someone's life.  There are many fears, questions, and thoughts you may have because of the assault.

You may experience the immediate reactions of shock, denial, anger, anxiety, and disorientation.  Your emotions may go from one extreme to the other. You may blame yourself, have stomachaches, or feel exhausted or fearful of being alone. Whatever you are feeling is okay!  Everyone handles their emotions differently, you might mask or hide them or become expressive with crying, restlessness, and so forth.  The process of resolving your feelings will vary with your age, personality, and available support system.  You will make it through this process!

Understanding the facts about sexual assault can help you cope with your resulting feelings and thoughts.  Speaking with a SAFV advocate can assist you with the immediate crisis or with the aftermath of a sexual assault.  At SAFV, we will assist and support you coping with your feelings and decision-making processes, in a way that is best for you.  The advocates at SAFV are ready to help you whenever you need them, now or in the future.

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Prevention

Community
                Pathways to a Safer Sitka

High school programs
                Healthy Relationships Classes   (in progress)

Teen programs ( ages 13-19)
                Violence Prevention Teen Group: TRAIN
                LeadOn!  (in progress)

Programs for Girls under 12
                Girls on the Run

Adult Women Workshops
                Praise Portraits  (in progress)

The Sitka DELTA project is one of four prevention sites in the state of Alaska working to prevent first time perpetration of intimate partner violence and promoting healthy relationships. This program, funded through the Centers for Disease Control, is a comprehensive primary prevention program. It aims to prevent violence before it ever occurs by fostering environments where intimate partner violence(IPV) and sexual assault do not occur. Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Dillingham are the four DELTA sites in Alaska; all DELTA programs are housed in local domestic violence shelters. These sites rely heavily on guidance from the Director of Prevention projects, Lori Grassgreen at the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) in Juneau, AK and the Empowerment Evaluator, Wendi Siebold, in Seattle, WA. Alaska was one of 14 states to initially receive federal funding for primary prevention.

Primary prevention is different from secondary prevention in that it explicitly focuses on action before there is ever a threat of violence. It works across the socio-ecological model to bring about change in individuals, relationships, communities, and societies. DELTA coordinators across the state are working with their organizations and community coalitions to generate comprehensive prevention plans to challenge and change social norms that support violence in the community.

Pathways to a Safer Sitka is Sitka’s prevention coalition comprised of approximately 20 individuals representing a diverse cross section of the community.  Pathways meets quarterly allowing time and space for the participants to develop a collective understanding of primary prevention, create a dialogue for effective solutions, strengthen alliances and partnerships, develop a manageable work plan, and build capacity for prevention across the community. Below are the talking points created by the members of this coalition.  The comprehensive prevention plan is still underway and will be visible online soon.

Community

               Pathways to a Safer Sitka

Community members understand and demonstrate respectful and safe relationships.

WHEREAS, Intimate partner violence (IPV) and teen dating violence is a serious problem that can have lasting harmful health, education, and economic impacts on individuals, families, and communities;

WHEREAS, In Sitka alone, 164 adults and 50 children requested and received services from Sitkans Against Family Violence because of domestic violence in 2008;

WHEREAS, Intimate partner violence can and should be prevented. Studies show that violence is learned and therefore can be unlearned or not taught in the first place;

WHEREAS, IPV primary prevention efforts should work to create the environmental conditions that reduce risk factors and promote protective factors;

WHEREAS, Behaviors are complex and influenced by multiple factors. Comprehensive IPV prevention efforts that work across the socio-ecological model will also work tangentially to reduce risk factors inextricably linked to other social ills;

WHEREAS, IPV prevention efforts are most effective if they abide by the nine principles of prevention: efforts are comprehensive addressing a wide range of risk and protective factors, use a variety of teaching methods, the dosage is sufficient (once will not change behavior), are theory driven, foster positive relationships between youth and adults, introduced at an appropriate time in life, have social and cultural relevance, are taught by well trained staff, and are evaluated to ensure success.

THEREFORE, in 2008, more than 20 individuals representing a diverse cross section of social services, schools, and healthcare organizations in Sitka came together to develop a comprehensive prevention plan to address the underlying causes of  IPV and create the social change necessary so that IPV does not occur. This newly formed community coalition, Pathways to a Safer Sitka, worked to conduct a needs and resources assessment and identified five goals:

• Goal 1—There are outlets and programs for youth engagement that promote safe and respectful relationships and build protective factors of IPV.

• Goal 2—Youth are more connected to the community and integrated as leaders.

• Goal 3—Men and boys are partners with women and girls in building mutual respect and equality between men and women.

• Goal 4—Community agencies work together to efficiently and comprehensively impact the policies and programming of IPV and sexual violence prevention.

• Goal 5—Families are working together to strengthen and create safe and respectful relationships.

Prevention efforts can no longer be solely the responsibility of one individual or organization.

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High school programs

                Healthy Relationships Classes  (in progress)

 Teen programs ( ages 13-19)

                 Violence Prevention Teen Group

TRAIN—(Teens Resisting Abuse and Initiating Nonviolence) is a violence prevention teen group that meets weekly mid-September to mid-May. TRAIN offers numerous educational and leadership opportunities to any teen 13-19 years old. Over the years TRAIN participants have worked on a variety of innovative projects including a film with local filmmaker, Ellen Frankenstein, dedicated to promoting peace and harmony within communities, a photography project that explored other relevant themes of peace, violence, home, and community. TRAIN participants have written and recorded many public service announcements promoting positive messages about relationships and healthy communities, volunteered at the Pioneer Home to assist with ice cream socials for the elderly, volunteered at SAFV’s Family Fun Fair, and most recently developed a radio show titled, “What is the meaning of Life is not the question, the question is, What is the meaning of YOUR life?” Students in TRAIN are excited to continue utilizing local media sources to promote positive messages to the community and their peers about family, culture, traditions, relationships, health, beauty, moods, and laughter next school year.

Students in TRAIN spent the majority of the fall and winter of 2008/2009 developing a vision and goals for TRAIN. It was and remains important that participants actively play a role in program development. Although not all TRAIN students are able to participate in every project, they are intimately connected to these projects due to their role in laying the foundation. TRAIN’s vision is as follows: TRAIN strives to build bridges between teens and their community by creating a safe and supportive environment for self-expression and discovery, and by promoting peace, equality, and healthy life styles amongst their peers.

Some of the other tools used in TRAIN are theater games, writing exercises, meditations, art and collage projects, and viewing films to break down barriers, create a safe space for both dissecting social issues and self-expression and discovery. Some of the social issues explored are discussions on beauty and body image, societal violence, privilege, oppression, intimate partner violence, drug and alcohol use, violence against women, creating allies, creating community, and creating healthy relationships.

If you or someone you know would like to participate in this program please contact Julia Smith, DELTA Prevention Coordinator at 747-3370 or jsmith@safv.org. Please see below for examples of photos, writing and recorded shows created and produced by students in TRAIN.

                LeadOn!  (in progress)

 Programs for Girls under 12

                Girls on the Run

            Girls on the Run is an international prevention program providing pre-adolescent girls with the tools to embrace their individual strengths as they enter middle and high school. Girls on the Run Southeast is committed to offering empowering and life-changing programs for elementary and middle school aged girls from Yakutat to Ketchikan.  This 24- lesson program (12 weeks) combines self-esteem enhancing life-lessons, discussions, and running games in a fun and encouraging, girl-positive environment.

Molly Barker established GOTR in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1996.  She is a four time Hawaii Ironman tri-athlete, holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, and is a former high school teacher and track coach.  She has also worked as a counselor addressing the needs of women with eating disorders, alcohol and substance addictions and depression.
“Girls on the Run is much more than a running program. Our curriculum is the core of our program,” says Molly Barker.  Molly and Dori Luke, LCSW, developed the curriculum based upon extensive research in the field of adolescent behavior, their professional experience, and their “on-the-track’ interaction with real girls. 
This curriculum is designed to address the many aspects of girls’ development—their physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. The lessons provide girls with the tools to make positive decisions and to avoid risky adolescent behaviors.

Girls on the Run International has been evaluating the program since 2001.  Dr. Debate said, “Girls on the Run curriculum improves participants’ self-esteem, eating attitudes and body image to a statistically significant extent. Girls on the Run couples physical activity with a whole-person philosophy and a wellness curriculum which provides girls with the positive benefits of physical activity without increasing the risk of unhealthy attitudes about body image and eating.”

GOTR now has programs in over 160 cities across North America and has just recently expanded to southeast Alaska. Thanks to the affiliate organization, AWARE Inc, Sitka was able to get the training, materials, and support needed to implement this program for 3rd-5th grade girls at Keet Gooshi Heen elementary school this past spring 2009. 

Over 14 girls participated in this girl empowering program and completed the 5K run/walk on May 17 at Totem Park. We look forward to spring 2010 for our second annual GOTR program in Sitka.

If you would like to volunteer as a coach or assistant coach, please contact Julia Smith, DELTA Coordinator at SAFV, jsmith@safv.org 747-3370. If you would like your daughter to participate in Sitka’s GOTR please contact Meg Baier, Children’s Program Coordinator at SAFV, 747-3370. If you are just generally curious about GOTR Southeast or would like your community to implement this program please contact AWARE, Inc. 1-800-478-1090 or email Council Director, Ati Nasiah, at atin@awareak.org. See below for fun pictures of GOTR Sitka spring 2009.

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Adult Women Workshops

                Praise Portraits  (in progress)

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Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Volunteer Opportunities

If you are interested in supporting SAFV and assisting in the work to end violence against women and children, you can volunteer either on a regular basis, or work on a one-time project. There are many opportunities, including:

If interested please contact SAFV's Volunteer Coordinator.

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Upcoming Events

SAFV Volunteer and Community Training 2010 Schedule (20kb PDF file)



Poster (62kb PDF file)

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Newsletters

2010

June
March

2009

December
September
June
March

Note: You will need a free PDF reader application to view or print these PDF files. Windows users will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader application from http://www.adobe.com/reader. Mac OS X users may use the built in Preview.app to view or print PDFs, or you may also download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for Mac OS X.

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Links

Coming soon!

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Contact Us

Crisis Line:	747-6511 in Sitka 1-800-478-6511 (Toll-free in Alaska)
Mail:	SAFV P.O. Box 6136 Sitka, AK 99835
Email	info@safv.org
Telephone:	747-3370 in Sitka

Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV)

Safety Instructions

CAUTION
If you bookmark this or any other site about domestic violence, your abuser can find out that you have been getting information on domestic violence. If you can, clear all cache/history files from your web browser. You may want to access this site from somewhere other than home. See instructions below for eliminating traces to browsing the internet for domestic violence web pages.

Instructions for Internet Explorer

1. To delete temporary internet files, cookies and pages listed in your History:
2. On the menu at the top of the browser window, click on Tools>Internet Options...
3. In the dialog window that opens, click on the "General" tab.
4. In the section labeled "Temporary Internet Files", if you wish to delete all the files and cookies, click on the "Delete Files..." button. A confirmation dialog will open asking if you want to delete all files in your temporary internet folder. Click "OK".
5. If you wish to selectively delete files and cookies, click on the "Settings..." button. A dialog window will open. Click on the "View Files..." button. A window will open with a list of all your temporary internet files and cookies. You can highlight the files you wish to delete and hit the delete key or click Edit>Delete.
6. To empty the History folder, click on the "Clear History" button and then the "OK" button.

Instructions for Netscape (Versions 6.0 and higher)

To delete pages listed in your History and Location Bar History:

1. Open the Edit menu and choose Preferences.
2. Under the Navigator category, click History. (If no subcategories are visible, double-click Navigator to expand the list.)
3. Clear History: Click this to delete the list of sites visited.
4. Clear Location Bar: Click this to clear the list of sites in the Location bar menu.

To delete Cookies:

Your browser is set by default to accept all cookies. This section describes how to use the Cookies preferences panel to change that setting. If you're not already viewing it, follow these steps: Important: To remove cookies, follow the steps in this section. Do not try to edit the cookies file on your computer.

1. Open the Tools menu and choose Cookie Manager.
2. Choose Manage Stored Cookies from the submenu. The Cookie Manager window opens with a list of all the cookies stored on your computer.
3. Select one or more cookies and click Remove Cookie, or click Remove All Cookies.

Even though you've removed the cookies now, you will reacquire those same cookies the next time you return to the web site.

To prevent that from happening, select the checkbox labeled "Don't allow removed cookies to be reaccepted later". When this checkbox is selected, web sites for the cookies that you are removing are added to the list of sites whose cookies will automatically be rejected.

You must click OK for your changes to take effect.

Instructions for Netscape (versions 4.7 and lower)

To delete pages listed in your History:

1. Click on Communicator>Tools>History on the menu bar at the top of your browser window.
2. When the History window opens, highlight the addresses you want to delete and hit the delete key on your keyboard or click on Edit>Delete on the menu bar.
3. If you wish to clear the History file, click on Edit>Select All then Edit>Delete.

To empty your cache:

1. Click on Edit>Preferences on the menu bar at the top of your browser window.
2. When the Preferences window opens, click on the "+" sign in front of "Advanced" in the frame on the left then click on "Cache" to open the cache dialog.
3. In the Cache dialog window, click on the "Clear Memory Cache and the "Clear Disk Cache buttons and click on the "OK" button to close the window.

There's no simple mechanism for deleting Cookies in older versions of Netscape. At the same time though, it's not very easy to locate the cookies that are placed on your computer when using Netscape. If you want to delete the cookies in Netscape, you have to open "Windows Explorer" and browse to the "Netscape" folder which is usually in your "Program" folder on your "C" drive. In the "Netscape" folder is a folder called "Users". Open "Users" and then the "default" folder contained within. In the "default" folder there's a file called "cookies.txt". You can delete that file without harming your computer but all your cookies will be removed and some websites that you visit frequently may not recognize you when you return. If you double click the file name, it will open in Notepad and you can edit out the cookies related to domestic violence websites you've visited despite the fact that it says you can't edit the file.

Cookies

Each time you access websites, "cookies" can be created. Cookies are cryptic bookmarks that a Web site can place on your computer to acknowledge your prior visit, authenticate your access or let you continue on through a site from where you last left off. They are really no big deal and will not do anything to damage your computer, however, they can leave a trail of evidence of where you have been on the web. If you visit a website on domestic violence and a cookie is created as a result of that visit, your abuser can trace your trail and discover where you've been.