4
University Daily Kansan
City/Area
Wednesday, August 20, 1986
Women's shelter provides sanctuary and counseling
By Rachelle Worrall Staff writer
Help is available to the hundreds of Lawrence women who are physically and emotionally abused each year.
Women's Transitional Care Services, WTCS, which has a secret location, provides a 24-hour crisis telephone line for women in need of help. It also provides shelter for women who need to get out of an abusive situation, said Barb Smith, an employee at WTCS.
Last year, the center received about 900 crisis and referral calls, she said.
From July 1985 to June 1986, 86 of the 124 women sheltered by WTCS were battered. The 38 other women were those who needed temporary shelter because of reasons other than abuse, such as a house fire, said Kathy Greenlee, an employee at WTCS
WTCS also housed 139 children, 110 of whom were children of battered women. The children are assigned "advocates" within 48 hours of their arrival at the shelter. The advocates are volunteers who offer support and try to develop friendships with the children.
Women at the shelter have peer counseling, said Smith, and many are referred to professional counseling. Peer counselors are women who are not professionals.
but have also been battered, based on the assumption that those women who have been battered can best understand battered women.
According to statistics from July 1985 to June 1986, 15.1 percent of the abused women at WTCS were 21 years old and younger; 55.8 percent were 21 to 30; 18.6 percent were 31 to 40; 7 percent were 41 to 50; and 3.5 percent were 51 to 60
Of the women who were sheltered last year, about 70 percent were abused by husbands, about 5 percent by ex-husbands and about 25 percent by a boyfriend or live-in boyfriend, Smith said.
Smith said that sometimes a woman would be sheltered by WTCS four or five times before she became independent of the person who was abusing her, Smith said. There is no limit to the amount of time a woman can stay.
"We don't require bruises or broken bones if a woman says she needs shelter." Smith said.
"At least she knows that she's got a place to be." Smith said.
Smith said that there was not a typical personality that ended up in an abusive situation, although many seemed to come from traditional homes. Despite the different backgrounds, by the time women end up at the shelter, they have more in common.
"By the time we see them, they have no self-esteem left." she said.
Last year, alcohol was involved in 42 percent of the abuses and drugs were involved in 22 percent. But Smith said she didn't think merely drinking alcohol caused a person to be violent. The personality types that become dependent on alcohol also tend to be more violent.
The seven-bedroom shelter can house seven families at one time, although no one in need of shelter would be turned away because of lack of room. Smith said.
The shelter location is secret to protect the women. Smith said they would sometimes meet the women in a neutral location or go with the police to their home.
WTCS is funded by about 15 organizations, one of which is KU's Student Senate. A major funder of the shelter is the United Way. The budget next year is $83,000.
There are five full-time employees at WTCS and 50 to 70 volunteers, depending on the time of year. Many of the volunteers are KU students.
WTCS has formed a task force against violence in student relationships that will present a training program to resident assistants at residential halls. The program will include the issues of date rape and any battery that occurs in relationships.
Watch for Grand Opening! Lawrence's First Fine Bakery-Deli
Specialties
Breads:
low sodium breads & dietetic breads
multi-grain breads
ryes & pumpernickel
and other hearth baked breads
Sweet Goods:
Fried:
doughnuts
longjohns
cream filled rolls
and other fried goods
at
Baked:
cookies
fruit pies and cream pies
danish
puff pastry
croissants
coffee cakes
birthday cakes
cinnamon rolls
and other custom baked goods
STUDENTS:
check out our deli with
bread baked fresh daily
Southern Hills Mall
WE'RE BACK!
UNIVERSITY LUTHERAN CENTER
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
LUTHERAN CHURCH
15th & Iowa
843-0620
WORSHIP-8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Bible Study-9:15 a.m.
Student Activities
• Thursday August 21 6:30 p.m.
• Friday August 22 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday August 24 Noon
Student Activities
Volleyball & ice cream Movies & refreshments Free welcoming meal
ENTERTEL Earn $6 - $8 Per Hour
Entertainer, one of the nation's fastest growing telemarketing firms, now has openings for 50 part-time telephone sales representatives evenings and weekends. Only enthusiastic and aggressive individuals need apply. No experience necessary, but good communication skills is a must.
WE OFFER:
- Paid training
* Advancement opportunities
* $5/hour with minimum of 20 hours/week
* Please warm up conditions
* Flexible hours
GIVE US A CALL 841-1200
M-F 8:30-5:30