Last month we began implementation of our Sexual Assault Demonstration Initiative (SADI) project, after 18 months of community assessment and planning. The next two years will be an exciting time, as we work through the plan to enhance our sexual assault services in Chatham County. The plan includes the following activities:

• Increased training for staff, so that all staff are able to meet the needs of sexual assault survivors who turn to FVRC for services;
• Enhanced organizational ability to serve sexual assault survivors, including policy review and revision, revision of job descriptions, and enhanced communications and support for staff;
• Increased capacity to serve sexual assault survivors through advocacy, support groups and counseling;
• Increased outreach to the community, with a special emphasis on youth and young adults;
• Increased support of community partners, such as justice system and medical providers, to increase their capacity to respond to survivors.

We have a lot of activities planned that will unfold as we go through the project. And we continue to learn, working with both our grant support team and the five other projects across the county.

Kathy Hodges, MSW
Executive Director

After 25 years at the helm of Family Violence & Rape Crisis Services (FVRC), Co-Executive Director Jo Sanders is retiring. She leaves the agency running a greatly expanded and comprehensive domestic violence and sexual assault services program.

Sanders was hired in 1988, a new graduate from the Masters in Social Work program at UNC Chapel Hill. The agency was created six years before, but it was Sanders who rolled up her sleeves, articulated the vision, and, one by one, cultivated the untapped energy of community members to address domestic and sexual violence.

“Paired with Jo’s guiding vision has always been a willingness to grow, to change, to improve FVRC,” said Kathy Hodges, FVRC Co-Executive Director. “I know the agency will remain in her heart, especially this year, as we begin the process of building a new shelter, starting our new sexual assault response plan, and continuing down the path toward comprehensive response and healing which she began forging 25 years ago.”

Under Sanders’ leadership, the agency grew from a staff of two to a staff of more than 25, with bilingual services including court advocacy, crisis intervention, support groups, long-term counseling, shelter, extensive prevention programs, and much more. As the agency grew, so did the community’s awareness of the needs of survivors.

“With her gentle, yet relentless pursuit of safety and non-violence for all Chatham residents, she became the most recognized person in the community who cared about and coordinated the numerous ways in which victims were responded to,” said Kit Gruelle, former FVRC Board Chair. “It has been said that the best disinfectant is sunlight. Jo has brought sunlight to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, to FVRC, to Chatham County, and, indeed, to the state of North Carolina. She is a true hero.”

Sanders plans to take full advantage of her retirement, spending at least its first six months touring the nation’s parks and camping along the way.

“Naturally I have mixed feelings, though not about my upcoming adventures!” said Sanders. “In some ways the timing for my retirement seemed opportune to me. The agency is as strong as it’s ever been. On the other hand, is there ever a good time to walk away from unfinished work, not knowing what the future holds for FVRC and the larger movement to end domestic and sexual violence against women and children?”

The hiring of an associate director will lead to a continued partnership with current Co-Executive Director, Kathy Hodges. FVRC has tapped Mary Linker, currently a therapist at FVRC, to serve as its Associate Director. She has been with FVRC for three and a half years, although her involvement collaborating with the agency stretches back 20 years. As Associate Director, Linker will assume supervision of the direct client services of FVRC, including the agency’s advocacy, counseling and shelter programs.

Join Jill McCorkle and Tim Tyson for the second installment of the Southern Scribbling Class Book Club. Thursday, February 21 starting at 6:30 p.m. at McIntyre’s Fine Books in Fearrington Village.

Download short story “Intervention” by clicking here.

Tickets to the event are $20 and are available at McIntyre’s in advance, or at the registration table the evening of the event.

January is Stalking Awareness Month. Throughout the country agencies are attempting to cast a light on this often hidden, but very dangerous crime. While the term stalking is used lightly in the community and jokes about it are common, stalking is very serious. It is one of the key indicators of increased danger to victims of domestic violence. Elements of stalking are often present in sexual assault. Perpetrators of stalking often have a close prior relationship to the victim, but not always. Not only is it creepy—and terrifying—it is a sign that the obsession and the danger is escalating.

In Chatham County, we have been working for the past two years to bring increased attention to this issue, starting with a workshop sponsored by the National Stalking Resource Center. We have worked to increase the awareness of everyone—our staff, law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges—of the issues and dangers related to stalking, including both traditional and cyberstalking. We are working together to develop guidelines for intervening and assisting victims. We are also working with more and more victims of stalking to get protective orders and other assistance.

For more information on stalking, contact the National Stalking Resource Center at http://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking-resource-center. If you or someone you know is being stalked, contact FVRC for assistance.

Kathy Hodges, MSW
Co-Executive Director

As we enter the holiday season, I always begin to take more time to think of what I am thankful for. This year is no exception. At FVRC we have several things to celebrate.

First, we are in the midst of celebrating 30 years in Chatham County. We have grown to be a strong and important service in this amazing and supportive community. Last week we took time to formally celebrate the strengths and support of our community with a party at the Fearrington Barn. It was and evening of music, food, dancing and fellowship for our community. More than 200 community members came out to be part of the evening. We are grateful for the organization and services that you have helped build in Chatham County.

Second, we are celebrating with one of our clients, who had her child returned to her—6 years after his father abducted him and took him out of the country. We are grateful for law enforcement and the DA’s Office who stayed on this case, worked to extradite the father, proceeded with the prosecution and helped support the return of this child. It was a long road and they stayed with it. We’ll continue to support the family as they work through the issues ahead.

And finally, I want to celebrate the amazing staff that I have the honor of working with every day. Their commitment to the work of making the Chatham County community safe and supportive for all its members, and to helping those suffering from the effects of violence inspire me every day. Thanks to each of them for their energy and vision.

Kathy Hodges, MSW
Co-Executive Director

On Sunday, we will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of FVRC, with a party—music, refreshments, dancing and fun—at Fearrington Barn. It will be high energy and lots of fun as we celebrate the impact of FVRC on Chatham County.

We started out as an all-volunteer crisis line in 1982. Now, 30 years later, we have comprehensive services, more than 25 staff members, four locations and an effective coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence. We have served more than 12,000 survivors over the years. While I have only been here about half that time, I have experienced amazing changes and growth. I have seen us become one of the most effective domestic violence and sexual assault programs in North Carolina. We have built a shelter and effective programs for victims. We have built strong bilingual services. We have also added a major focus on primary prevention of domestic and sexual assault.

Although I am very proud of the services, I am saddened by the continued and growing need. We have lost too many people in our community to domestic violence. We have had too many women, children and men come to us for services. We must all work together to work toward the day when our energies can be put towards just prevention and education.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll join us in celebrating. Visit our event page for more details and ways to purchase tickets.

Kathy Hodges, MSW
Co-Executive Director

As I think about domestic violence awareness month, I thought it would be good to share some ideas about the impact of domestic violence on children. For a long time we have known that children raised in homes with domestic violence are at increased risk for substance abuse, behavior problems, poor school performance, running away, teen pregnancy, gang involvement, health issues and delinquency. We have known that they have an increased likelihood of becoming abusers or victims themselves. Being exposed to domestic violence has serious consequences for children. While many women may stay with their partners initially because of the children, many will also leave because of the children when they see the impact that the violence is having on them.

Learning about the science of brain development and trauma has opened up an even larger discussion about the impact on the child’s developing brain. Even before a child is aware of what is actually happening, the violence can start to shape the pathways of the brain. Frequent exposure to the hormones released under stress and fear can reduce the brain’s capacity over time. A violent home is a toxic environment just as being exposed to damaging chemicals at home is toxic. It is no wonder that children living under the daily stress of domestic violence are at risk of health and behavioral problems.

But there is good news. Research is also showing that there are ways to compensate for this rocky start for some children. The presence of a strong, constant and supportive adult in a child’s life makes a huge difference in a child’s ability to overcome the violence. Additionally, we are finding that the brain has much more plasticity than originally thought, and that once the stressors and damaging hormones are removed, the brain can develop new pathways and begin to heal.

Our children need us. At FVRC we believe that one of the best ways we can help children exposed to domestic violence is to help their mothers take the steps to protect them and to build violence-free lives. This is one of the goals we work toward each day.

Kathy Hodges, MSW
FVRC Co-Executive Director