KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2010 / NEWS
7
STATE
Kansas changing domestic violence programs
BY RICHELLE BUSER
rbuser@kansan.com
Dayna Langdon began volunteering for Willow Domestic Violence Center last semester. Now working as a court advocate for abused women, Langdon has seen the effects of domestic violence first hand.
"It's a really scary thing. There's so many types of abuse. Not just physical or emotional, but even economically," Langdon, a senior from Omaha, Neb., said. "Sometimes a victim doesn't have the means to leave an abuser."
But recent federal funding and approval from Kansas Attorney General Steve Six could change the way the state handles domestic violence. The state is now developing and certifying batterer intervention programs which will require offenders to undergo mental assessments, spend at least 24 weeks in group meetings and retrain from contacting victims. Since the approval of funding in January, five batterer intervention programs have been certified in Kansas.
The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence developed the standards for these programs after a review of the increasing rate of domestic violence fatalities throughout the state. Coalition cochairs Curt and Christie Burgart are the stepfather and mother of Jana Mackey, Mackey, a University law student and women's right advocate, was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2008.
Robert T. Stephan, chair of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, reported 34 adult and 14 child
fatalities in Kansas caused by domestic violence in 2009 the third highest number since 1992.
Michelle McCormick, the Batterer Intervention Program unit coordinator, works for the Victim Services Unit created by Six. She said the batterer intervention programs will focus on behavioral changes.
conflict changes.
"If we can stop an offender from creating new victims, then we can stop the cycle of domestic violence," McCormick said.
McCormick said past programs focused on anger management, but the new program addresses the power-and-control scenario specific to domestic violence.
Kathy Rose-Mockry, program director of the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, said help was available on campus for students experiencing domestic violence. The center counsels students and provides a link to other organizations that can provide assistance.
"People should know that if they are in a relationship where they feel controlled, scared or a potential to be hurt — contact somebody. Even if you think it's not serious, go talk to somebody and get some good advice," Rose-Mockry said. "It's very common for the person in the relationship who is controlling to isolate someone from their sources of support."
Langdon said that though she thinks the University has great programs available, there is also room for improvement.
"We can always be increasing awareness," Langdon said. "It's something that's prevalent in our society and in the state of Kansas."
$10 OFF BOOKS with $75 purchase or more