Fed grant targets domestic violence
 Program to aid residents in rural Utah and Arizona
 
By Amy Joi Bryson
Deseret Morning News
 
A nearly $700,000 federal grant will help the Utah Attorney General's Office partner with eight agencies to fight domestic violence in rural areas across the state and in Arizona.

Safe Passage, a two-year-long program, will target victims in "underserved" areas, including polygamist communities.

"The isolation in these areas makes it so it is so foreign to individuals when they leave, they have no idea who to turn to for help," said Ned Searle, state coordinator of the Utah Domestic Violence Council.

"We want to serve every population in Utah who is not getting information about domestic violence. It happens in every culture."

Awarded by the justice department's Office of Violence Against Women, the grant will be spread among a variety of agencies to beef up coordination and training, legal services, law enforcement response, shelter services and public awareness.

Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith will get to add a new deputy and vehicle to increase services in eastern Washington County and in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.

"My hope is that if these people are victims of crime, they can feel confident to contact local law enforcement or us and it will be dealt with appropriately," Smith said.

Smith said Washington County's rapid population growth has put a strain on law enforcement's ability to be a visual and proactive presence.

"We feel like we are understaffed. There has not been a lot of law enforcement presence in the area. We're hoping to get people familiar with us," he said.

Part of the money will be used to hire a program manager for the state Division of Child and Family Services to increase the effectiveness of that agency's interaction with polygamist families where domestic violence and child abuse co-exist.

"Few services have been available for people fleeing domestic violence in Utah's more rural areas," said director Richard Anderson. "We're happy that the grant will give us a chance to help individuals who have had a hard time accessing services."

The money will make it possible for the Utah Domestic Violence Information and Referral Line to expand its hours to seven days a week, 24 hours a day, in contrast with its schedule of 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Vicky Prunty, a co-founder of Tapestry Against Polygamy, said the money will provide critical help for families who seek to leave polygamy behind them.

"This is a good beginning. I'm grateful this has happened. I'm glad to see that there is going to be more aid available for victims," Prunty said.

Her organization was founded five years ago to help women and children who are abandoning the lifestyle.

Other recipients of the grant money include:
  • The DOVE Center in St. George, which plans to hire an additional social worker to assist victims and their children, and upgrade its security systems. Victims, beyond a shelter stay, will be able to tap into a fund to help them find a place to live.

  • The Mohave County Sheriff's Office in Arizona will get money to offset transportation costs of victims who need to go to St. George for services.

  • Utah Legal Services will get more money to help victims in contested divorces and custody cases.
"No matter where you live or what you believe, domestic violence affects everyone," said Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.

"This grant makes it possible to reach the most vulnerable victims and make sure they have access to help."
 
deseretnews.com
Originally published Tuesday, August 31, 2004
 
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