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By Rachel Kytonen
rachel.kytonen@ecm-inc.com
Kids being caught in the middle, loopholes in the law, and stiffer penalties were a few concerns Franni Franken heard during a recent visit to an area domestic violence shelter.
Franken, the wife of Senator Al Franken, visited The Refuge Network’s domestic violence shelter, Black Dog Hill, located in between Isanti and Chisago counties on Thursday, Nov. 12.
Franken heard concerns from residents at the shelter, as well as from domestic violence advocates from The Refuge, and other area agencies.
Black Dog Hill, which opened its doors in late February, is the only domestic violence shelter in East Central Minnesota.
The shelter is typically filled to capacity, which is licensed for up to 15 women and children, and staffed 24 hours per day, seven days a week by The Refuge.
One resident talked about her experiences with her abusive husband. She said he went through anger management and promised her it would never happen again. But it did.
“Police officers need training in dealing with women who are victims of domestic violence,” she said. “You’re shook-up, you’re hurt, upset and don’t need to be belittled by a police officer. When they are the ones enforcing the order for protection, it doesn’t make you feel real good.”
The woman said the police officer basically just gave her a card to a crisis services organization, and noted she had a hard time getting a hold of anyone to help her.
Another resident told Franken how she hit some hard times financially and had to move back home with her mother and abusive stepfather.
“If there had been more resources, I wouldn’t have had to move back home and been there in the first place,” she said. “He finally hit me in front of my children and that was it for me. If someone would have listened to me in the first place I wouldn’t have been there. It shouldn’t matter who’s doing it. If you’re stuck in a bad situation you should have the resources available so you can leave.”
Franken said she knows some police departments do offer training in dealing with victims of domestic violence, but it’s something that needs to be expanded.
The residents at Black Dog Hill gave much praise to the staff at The Refuge and Black Dog Hill.
“When talking about orders for protection, if this place wasn’t here I don’t know what I would have done,” said one resident. “I’ve met some of the best people here and I love this place.”
Pictured: Pictured with Franni Franken (second from left) is Darlene Coughlin, executive director of Rivers of Hope; Jan Logan, executive director of Lakes Crisis and Resource Center and Roxie Karelis, executive director of The Refuge Network. (Photo by Rachel Kytonen)
One resident talked about issues with healthcare, and how due to a mistake on the processing end, her medical insurance lapsed and she had to reapply.
“My kids and I currently don’t have medical insurance and are in the waiting period because they messed up,” she said.
Franken said health and dental insurance issues are something her husband is working to address.
“My husband would really like to get that changed,” Franken said. “There are definitely issues with health care providers, especially in communities outside the metro area. When Al traveled the state, he learned about issues with some services in rural Minnesota not being available, no matter how good their insurance was.”
Residents also touched on a need for subsidized housing, and for more daycares to offer extended hours to coincide with a working mother’s schedule.
Franken said county funding, as well as funding for organizations, are hurting.
“County services are devastated, overloaded and not receiving any funding,” Franken said. “They are really struggling, as well as other organizations, because the level of donations aren’t coming in like they used to.”
Advocates speak
Jan Logan, executive director with Lakes Crisis and Resource Center, said she learned about a situation where a young student confided in his teacher about his living conditions.
“He told us how his home has no phone, no car, no food and he has a baby sister,” Logan said. “As a result of the call to us we started working with the woman and learned how she had been in a horrendous, abusive situation, and was absolutely stranded and isolated.
“We believe every woman who walks through our door needs support, and we’re all working hard to get them accesses to services,” Logan added.
Franken said law enforcement officials have seen an increase in domestic violence situations, in part to the economic climate.
“Our law enforcement officials will tell you they’ve seen a huge jump in domestic violence from families under economic pressure who turn to substance abuse and then take on violent tendencies,” Franken said.
Logan said her agency’s client base has increased from 25 to 30 percent over last year.
Logan said victims of domestic abuse want to stay close to the current town they’re living so they don’t have to uproot their children.
“These women don’t want to leave because they want to stay here,” Logan said. “There’s limited opportunity for these women and that’s why they stay with their abuser because they don’t have other options.”
Darlene Coughlin, executive director of Rivers of Hope, said there are difficulties getting victims of domestic violence into a safe place near their home.
“The work we do is very rewarding, but advocating for resources is frustrating,” Coughlin said.
Roxie Karelis, executive director of The Refuge Network, said funding is an issue and more resources are needed.
“We’ve found that the closer the safe place is for the women, the easier it is for them to leave,” Karelis said.
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