by Eileen Ringnalda
Communication specialist
Iowa State University Extension to Communities
You may not hear about it, but domestic violence occurs in Iowa's rural areas.
"People think that it doesn't happen. They think, we have a nice community and it doesn't really happen," said Stephanie Stoehr, director of Seeds of Hope, a domestic violence prevention program in Grundy Center.
Stoehr said combating this attitude and the accompanying stereotypes is one of the greatest obstacles of serving a rural area. But overcoming this misconception is not the only challenge for domestic violence prevention programs in small communities. "It took seven and a half hours to get a restraining order the other day," said Phyllis Van Den Hull, director of the Domestic Violence Aid Center in Sioux Center. "In the city, you can get these things in an hour."
It is more difficult to obtain a restraining order because judges in rural areas are on a traveling circuit, Van Den Hull explained. Counselors at the center had to track down where the judge was for the day, and then travel there after visiting their own county's clerk of court. Van Den Hull said they often travel 40 to 50 minutes just to get across one county.
Kirsten Faisal, training coordinator at the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, agreed that transportation is a major concern of domestic violence programs serving rural areas. Besides the time needed to get a restraining order, she mentioned the time it takes law enforcement officers to respond to calls for help, and the time it takes program staff to transport women and drive to meet with them. "Any situation takes more time," Faisal said.
Isolation in rural areas is another major concern. Living on a farm makes it difficult for a victim to maintain a support network outside the home. Faisal said that the multitude of potential weapons on the farm and the seasonal work schedule also can worsen an abusive situation. "In the winter, the victim may be stuck with the batterer 24 hours a day."
Furthermore, victims of domestic violence on farms often have a strong tie to the land and usually do not see any means of supporting themselves apart from the farm. The commitment to the land and livestock prevents victims from leaving.
Stoehr added that the intimacy of small communities presents a challenge for rural programs because it is hard to keep things confidential. The batterer's name is printed in the local newspaper if charged, and members of the community often know who is associated with the offender. Stoehr said they have a confidentiality policy at the center, but they canÕt do anything about what people see and say in the community.
Finally, rural domestic violence centers struggle with funding. In urban areas, large corporations often support domestic violence services. In rural areas, the funding from corporate donors is hard to find, and resources are scattered. Most programs receive some kind of federal, state and county aid, but they still rely on private donations in order to meet the needs of their clients.
Stoehr, Van Den Hull and Faisal agreed that community awareness is the best way to help victims of domestic abuse in small towns. "If you're in a community that gives a very strong message that [the batterer] will be held accountable, he's more likely to stop it," Faisal said.
In addition to crisis counseling, court advocacy and 24-hour hotlines, most domestic violence centers also focus on community education and prevention services. However, many centers, such as the one in Sioux Center, serve areas as large as six or seven counties.
In order to establish more resources in rural areas, the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence has initiated an AmeriCorps project aimed at under-served rural communities. "We will be sending teams of two into rural counties that have very little, if any, services. They will work to raise community awareness, coordinate better community responses and begin efforts for the area to have its own domestic violence projects," Faisal said.
Most domestic violence centers offer training programs for volunteers and are happy to receive assistance through donated time or money. The centers also coordinate safe homes, a program that designates private homes for victims of abuse to go to in emergency situations. Faisal said to find out about the domestic violence program nearest you, call the CoalitionÕs toll-free number, 1-800-942-0333.
Contacts:
Terry L. Besser, ISU
Extension Sociology, (515) 294-6508
Del Marks, ISU Extension
Communication Systems, (515) 294-9807
