COMING UP NEXT ON HEADLINE HUMBOLDT, DESPITE A COUNTY HIRING FREEZE THAT WAS DEPLOYED TO HELP CONTAIN A $17 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT, SUPERVISORS THIS WEEK VOTED TO LET THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FILL SEVERAL POSITIONS THAT WILL HELP THE DEPARTMENT EXPLOIT MORE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND FIGHT CRIME.

ALSO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMELY VELEZ FROM HUMBOLDT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY AND HOW HER PROGRAM IS WORKING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND IMPROVE LIVES.

COMING UP NOW ON HEADLINE HUMBOLDT.

FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THIS IS HEADLINE HUMBOLDT.

I'M JAMES FAULK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'VE DISCLOSED A LOT ABOUT MY PERSONAL LIFE ON THIS SHOW AND OTHERS, FROM MY BATTLES WITH ADDICTION AND HOMELESSNESS TO MY FATHER'S MENTAL ILLNESS AND HOW IT IMPACTED MY LIFE AND LEFT MY FAMILY DEEPLY TRAUMATIZED.

I'M SO OPEN ABOUT THESE SUBJECTS BECAUSE FOR FAR TOO LONG, THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH ALL OF THESE ISSUES HAS COMPLICATED THE SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS AND LEFT PEOPLE FEELING SHAME FOR STRUGGLES THAT ARE COMMON TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

I REJECT THAT.

I'M DOING MY BEST TO FOSTER A CONVERSATION THAT SETS ASIDE SUCH PROBLEMATIC THINKING AND ALLOWS FOR HEALING.

THAT BEING SAID, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS ALSO A PART OF MY STORY.

MY FATHER, WHEN STRUGGLING WITH THE PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA THAT DOMINATED HIS PSYCHIC LIFE, WAS OFTEN VIOLENT.

AT TIMES, HE STRUCK US ALL, THREW DISHES AGAINST THE WALL, UPENDED THE DINNER TABLE AND EVEN TRIED TO KILL MY MOTHER, SHOOTING UP INTO THE CEILING AS SHE COWERED IN THE ATTIC, AFRAID FOR HER LIFE.

DESPITE THESE EPISODES, AND THE TRAUMA THEY CAUSED US ALL, MY MOTHER STAYED WITH MY FATHER.

SHE DID HER BEST TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY FINANCIALLY AND KEEP THE FAMILY GOING, EVEN IN THE FACE OF SUCH EXCRUCIATING CHALLENGES.

IT'S EASY TO SAY TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, LEAVE YOUR ABUSERS.

BE STRONG, AND FIGHT BACK.

IN REALITY, IT'S NEVER SO EASY.

IN MY OWN CASE, IF MY MOTHER HAD LEFT MY DAD WHEN THE ABUSE STARTED, I - HER YOUNGEST CHILD - WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BORN.

AND MY MOTHER KNEW THAT DEEP DOWN, MY FATHER WAS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

HE WASN'T MAKING A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO ABUSE HIS WIFE AND FAMILY.

HE WAS LED BY DELUSIONS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ANGUISH TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH BEHAVIOR WAS NECESSARY.

IN THE END, HE GOT TREATMENT.

THE VIOLENCE SUBSIDED, AND HE AND MY MOTHER EVENTUALLY FOUND A HAPPIER PLACE.

BUT WAS SHE RIGHT TO STAY?

SUCH QUESTIONS HAVE NO EASY ANSWERS, AND EVEN TODAY, IF CONFRONTED WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION, I WOULD ADVISE HER AND OTHERS LIKE HER TO RUN FOR THEIR LIVES.

BUT UNLESS WE'RE FACED WITH THESE ISSUES OURSELVES, BEARING THE BRUNT OF ABUSE WHILE TRYING TO STAY SANE AND RATIONAL OURSELVES, HOW CAN ANY OF US EVER KNOW WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE?

WE HAVE TO HAVE EMPATHY ABOVE ALL.

TO UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITIES, SUPPORT THE VICTIMS, AND ACHIEVE REAL CHANGE.

OUR GUEST TONIGHT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMELY VELEZ FROM HUMBOLDT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES, WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AND WHAT'S ULTIMATELY AT STAKE.

BUT FIRST, THE NEWS.

THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THIS WEEK VOTED TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION TO ITS COUNTY-WIDE HIRING FREEZE TO HELP THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IMPROVE SERVICE AND SECURE FUTURE FUNDING.

THE BOARD APPROVED SHERIFF WILLIAM HONSAL'S REQUEST TO HIRE THREE FULL-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEES, POSITIONS THAT WERE ALREADY FUNDED FOR THE YEAR, SO WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE BUDGET.

THE PREVIOUS HOLDERS OF THESE POSITIONS, AN ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST AND TWO COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS, MOVED UP OR MOVED ON.

FIFTH DISTRICT SUPERVISOR STEVE MADRONE MENTIONED THAT EVEN THOUGH THESE POSITIONS WERE ALREADY FUNDED, HE WORRIED SUCH EXEMPTIONS COULD MEAN BRINGING ON PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE TO EVENTUALLY BE LET GO.

HONSAL TOLD THE BOARD THAT PART OF THE PURPOSE OF THESE HIRES WOULD BE TO HELP SECURE FUTURE FUNDING.

THIS ISN'T COSTING THE COUNTY ANY MORE BY FUNDING THE THREE POSITIONS.

THE THREE POSITIONS ARE FINANCE POSITION ANALYST FOR OUR BUSINESS OFFICE AND RECENTLY THIS YOUR BOARD APPROVED AN ASO POSITION.

THAT ASASO COUPLED WITH THIS ANALYST ARE GOING TO BE PRIMARILY ASSIGNED TO GRANTS.

THIS IS SOMETHING MANDATED BY THE BOARD.

WE NEED TO START LOOKING FOR MONEY OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY TO FUND POSITIONS AND PROJECTS AND EQUIPMENT THAT THE CURRENT GENERAL FUND PAYS FOR.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY VITAL FOR US TO CONTINUE IN THESE OPERATIONS IN THE FUTURE BY HAVING THESE POSITIONS IN PLACE TO APPLY FOR THESE GRANTS.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LEFT IN GRANTS.

BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE TIME IT TAKES TO MANAGE THESE GRANTS.

AS YOU KNOW SUPERVISOR MADRONE YOU'VE THERE ARE VERY, VERY TIME INTENSIVE.

AS A CHONDROITIN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HIRING INTERNAL PERSONNEL TO ASSIST WITH THE DEPARTMENTS.

I'M TAKING THAT VERY PERSONAL AND AS FAR AS RESPONSIBILITY GOES TO TRY AND CREATE A CIVILIAN STAFF THAT CAN GO UP TO GRANTS TO LEVERAGE MORE MONEY SO WE CAN NOT DIP INTO THE GENERAL FUND IF WE DON'T NEED TO NECESSARILY HAVE IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S THE ANALYST.

THE OTHER TWO POSITIONS ARE COMMUNITY OFFICER POSITIONS.

THESE WERE ORIGINALLY UNDER MEASURE Z AND THESE ARE AGAIN FUNDED POSITIONS.

THE COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER SERVICES ARE VITAL.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEPUTY SHERIFF POSITIONS THAT AREN'T CURRENTLY WE HAVE 15 OF THEM.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS OF GOING OUT IN THE FIELD DURING DAY SHIFT HOURS AND THEY ARE TAKING COLD CASES ESSENTIALLY.

THESE ARE THEFTS, VANDALISMS, BURGLARIES THAT DON'T HAVE SUSPECTS ON SCENE, AND IT TAKES THE PLACE OF A DEPUTY SHERIFF TO GO OUT THERE AND TO PROPERLY INVESTIGATE THESE CRIMES.

THEY ARE ALSO THERE TO PROVIDE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH INFORMATION.

HOW TO BETTER SECURE YOUR HOME.

TO GO INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND TEACH DRUG EDUCATION, AND PERSONAL SAFETY.

AND ALSO JUST TO BE OUR COMMUNITY VOCKETSS.

AGAIN THEY TAKE THE PLACE OF A DEPUTY SHERIFF'S.

AND OFTENTIMES WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO GIVE TO SOME OF THESE VITAL CASES.

WHEN YOU ARE VICTIMIZED IN OUR COUNTY I DON'T WANT TO REFER PEOPLE TO A PHONE CALL.

I DON'T WANT TO REFER PEOPLE TO A WEBSITE.

I WANT PEOPLE -- I WANT OUR DEPUTIES AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS TO RESPOND AND HAVE THOSE FACE-TO-FACE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE VICTIMIZED SO THEY KNOW WE'RE THERE AND WE'RE EMPATHETIC AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN DO EVERYTHING TO SOLVE THE CRIME PERPETRATED BY THEM.

JOINING US NOW IN STUDIO IS EMELY VELEZ FROM HUMBOLDT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES.

>> LET'S START FROM A BROAD PICTURE.

TELL US DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES AND HUMBOLDT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES YOUR HDVS WE'RE A LOCAL NONPROFIT THAT HELPS SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, AND TRAFFICKING.

WHETHER THEY EXPERIENCED ABUSE IN THE PAST OR CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING ABUSE, WE STARTED IN 1977.

I WASN'T HERE FOR THAT PART.

BUT WHEN THE AGENCY WAS FOUNDED.

BACK THEN I THINK IT WAS REALLY LED BY LOCAL WOMEN REALLY JUST TRYING TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S EVOLVED EVER SINCE.

BACK IN 2003 WE CHANGED OUR NAME TO THE HUMBOLDT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES.

AND ALL GENDERS.

AND SO YEAH, NOW OUR BIG FOCUS TO STRIVE FOR A COUNTY AND OVERALL THAT DOESN'T HAVE VIOLENCE.

>> THAT'S AN IMPORTANT MISSION.

I DO REMEMBER MY MOM ONE OF THE ISSUES WHEN SHE WAS GOING THROUGH HER EPISODES THERE WASN'T ANY PLACE FOR HER TO GO.

IT WASN'T IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

IT WAS IN EL DORADO COUNTY.

IT WAS AN ABSENCE OF INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FUNDING.

YOU ARE PRIMARILY DONOR SUPPORTED OR BY GRANTS.

WE ARE GRANT FUNDED PREDOMINANTLY.

WE GET FUNDS FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS AND LOCAL COUNTY FUNDS AS WELL.

BUT WE'RE SMALL.

WE'RE THE PRIMARY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCY SERVICING THE COUNTY.

THE GRANTS TEND TO HAVE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND NEEDS.

SO SOMETIMES THEY HAVE NEEDS THAT DON'T SPECIFICALLY FALL UNDER A GRANT PROGRAMS.

SO DONATIONS ALWAYS COME IN HANDY TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT SURVIVORS.

WHETHER THAT'S CLOTHING, THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM LOTS FOR TOTS FOR OR HOUSEHOLD ITEM.

WE WORK WITH THE SURVIVORS AND AFTER THEY FLED AND HAVE COUCHES, BEDS.

>> IF THEY RUN AWAY FROM A SITUATION THEY MAY NOT HAVE ANYTHING.

HAVING THAT STUFF AND RECEIVING DONATIONS OF THAT STUFF.

A LITTLE BIT EARLIER WE'LL SHARE THE URL TO GIVE THE DONATIONS.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE SCOPE IS IN TOTAL.

SO FOR EXAMPLE LAST YEAR WE SERVICED ABOUT DIRECTLY SERVICED ABOUT 300 CLIENTS.

WE TOOK IN A LITTLE OVER 2,500 CALLS IN THE YEAR.

AND SO WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH DIRECT CLIENTS WE'RE WORKING WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

IT COULD LOOK DIFFERENT.

OUR SCOPE SOMETIMES IT'S ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING.

OTHER TIMES WE HAVE SUPPORT GROUPS.

WE OFFER SUPPORT GROUPS EVERY WEEK FOR SURVIVORS.

BUT WE DO RESTRAINING ORDER ASSISTANCE.

WE ACCOMPANY PEOPLE TO COURT TO SOCIAL SERVICES.

WE HELP THEM NAVIGATE HOUSING AND TRYING TO FIND SUPPORT THERE.

SO IT JUST LOOKS KIND OF DIFFERENT HOW WE'RE HELPING CLIENTS.

>> 2,500 CALLS THAT'S A LOT OF CALLS.

>> A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE ULTIMATELY DECIDING NOT TO LEAVE THE SITUATION TREE IN.

OR THEY HAVE MEANS OUTSIDE OF YOU GUYS.

>> IT CAN LOOK DIFFERENT.

MAYBE TRYING TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING IF WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING ABUSE OR UNHEALTHY DYNAMICS.

OTHER TIMES WE GET THOSE EMERGENCY CALLS.

PEOPLE WHO'RE WANTING TO FLEE OR ACTIVELY FLEEING, LOOKING FOR SERVICES.

THE GOOD THING ABOUT OUR HOTLINE IT'S 24/7 AND IT'S CONFIDENTIAL.

SO PEOPLE CAN CALL AND NOT REALLY TELL US TOO MUCH ABOUT THEMSELVES OR TELL US WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

IT'S WHEN THEY'RE WANTING TO BECOME A CLIENT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE INTAKE PROCESS.

>> THIS IS A 24 STAFFED NUMBER IF ANYONE IS HAVING ANY KIND OF CRISIS IN THIS REGARD THEY CAN TALK TO AN ACTUAL HUMAN BEING THAT WILL HELP THEM WHATEVER.

>> THE IF YOU DON'T GET THROUGH.

IT'S USUALLY BECAUSE WE'RE ON THE PHONE WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.

WE RECOMMEND GIVING US A CALL IN 15 OR 30 MINUTES.

WE DO WANT TO HELP YOU.

BUT WE'RE A SMALL STAFF RUNNING A 24/7-365 SERVICE.

AND THEN POTENTIALLY CONTACT SOMEBODY ABOUT DONATIONS OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

I'VE HEARD BEFORE AND I'VE BEEN IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY A LONG TIME.

I'VE HEARD THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A BAD PROBLEM HERE.

BUT ALSO IN THE AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES IF YOU KNOW.

>> I THINK THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY ITSELF IS A UNIQUE IN A LOT OF TIMES.

WE'RE GEOGRAPHIC AREA IS SO AND WHAT WE FIND IS THAT AT LEAST WITHIN THE RURAL PERSPECTIVE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF FEAR AND THERE IS LACK OF SERVICES AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO TELL SOMEBODY THAT WHEN THEY LEAVE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE EASY.

REALLY IT'S NOT EASY TO LEAVE.

SOME PEOPLE HAVEN'T HAD EMPLOYMENT EITHER FOR A WHILE OR MOST OF THEIR LIFE.

AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

IT'S REALLY HARD BECAUSE WE'RE NAVIGATING ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.

AND I THINK ALL OF US ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO SERVE SURVIVORS.

SOMETIMES WE DO MEET JUST A WALL OR WE ACTUALLY MEET A HICCUP.

WE TRY TO BE HONEST WITH THE SURVIVORS ALTHOUGH THE PROCESS ISN'T EASY WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO SUPPORT THAT.

>> NOW THESE ISSUES ARE REALLY, REALLY COMPLEX AND IN TERMS OF FAMILY DYNAMICS AND IT CAN ALSO IF THE BREAK ISN'T CLEAN LIKE IF THE PERSON ISN'T ABLE TO LEAVE RIGHT AWAY AND CREATE DISTANCE THERE'S DANGER THERE.

HAVE YOU BEEN LUCKY IN THAT REGARD WHERE YOU'VE NOT HAD THAT SITUATION >> WE'VE WORKED WITH SURVIVORS WITH SEVERE PHYSICAL ABUSE OR END UP IN HOSPITAL.

IT'S HARD BECAUSE WE TELL SURVIVORS WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOUR DECISIONS.

WE'RE NOT HERE TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR YOU.

IT'S NEVER AN EASY ANSWER.

IT'S NEVER A YES OR NO.

THEY'RE SCARED.

THEY STILL LOVE THEIR PARTNER.

THAT'S COMPLETELY VALID.

UNFORTUNATELY ABUSE JUST CONTINUES TO ESCALATE.

AND WE REALLY TRY REALLY HARD TO SAFETY PLAN.

IF WE FEAR SOMETHING IS ESCALATING WE DO TRY TO ENCOURAGE POSSIBLY LEAVE SHORT-TERM OR CREATE SOME SEPARATION BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO DIE OR GET SEVERELY HURT.

>> ARE YOU MANDATORY REPORTERS AS FAR AS KIDS ARE CONCERNED.

>> WE ARE.

BECAUSE WE RUN A SHELTER, AND WORK WITH MINORS IN OUR CHILDREN'S SERVICE AND OUR SUPPORT GROUP SETTINGS, MOST OF OUR ADVOCATES ARE MANDATED REPORTERS FOR CHILD ABUSE.

>> IF THAT'S GET MENTIONED IN THE COURSE OF A INTERVIEW THAT MAY GET REFERRED TO SOMETHING.

>> YES.

WE WOULD HAVE TO REPORT IT TO.

CWS.

WE TRY TO ENSURE EVERYTHING IS REGARDLESS.

BUT IF WE HEAR ABOUT CHILD ABUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE MANDATED TO REPORT.

>> AGAIN IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE.

IF YOU ARE NOT IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP BUT YOU SEE ONE, YOUR SISTER OR BROTHER IS IN A RELATIONSHIP AND THERE APPEARS TO BE PHYSICAL ABUSE GOING ON, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

>> SHOULD YOU APPROACH THEM.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S DIFFERENT.

IT DEPENDS ON HOW CLOSE YOU ARE WITH SOMEBODY.

ONE THING WE ALWAYS YOU BEING THERE FOR SOMEBODY CAN MEAN SO MUCH.

JUST IF THEY EVER NEED ANYTHING OR THEY NEED TO TALK TO SOMEBODY.

IF YOU'RE WORKING WITH SOMEBODY WHO'S ACTIVELY FLEEING OR HAS BEING A SUPPORTIVE HAND OH I CAN HOLD DOCUMENTS FOR YOU.

IF YOU'RE TO STAY WITH ME FOR A NIGHT WHILE YOU'RE DOING IT.

ONCE AGAIN, ALLOWING THEM TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

AND I'M A LITTLE BIT INTERESTED IN THE SOCIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THIS.

DOES ECONOMICS PLAY FACTOR.

HOW WOULD YOU BREAK DOWN THE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF CLIENTELE IS COMING IN THE DOOR.

A LOT OF THEM ARE LOW-INCOME.

UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO BEGIN WITH.

I THINK ABUSE CAN HIT ANY RELATIONSHIP DYNAMIC.

IT'S JUST SOME PEOPLE MAY BE ABLE TO GET SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF SOCIAL SERVICES OR AND WE JUST KNOW THAT CERTAIN POPULATIONS DO HAVE MORE PERSISTENT VIOLENCE IN THEM.

AND RURAL COMMUNITIES FALL INTO THAT.

YOU'RE IN YOUR OWN POPULATION.

WE HAVE SEEN AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN AT THE AGENCY WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE OF SPANISH SPEAKING SURVIVORS AND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO NAVIGATE RESOURCES, AND HAVE IT BE IN YOUR LANGUAGE IS VERY LIMITED IN OUR COUNTY.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WHAT KIND OF LANGUAGE SERVICES DO YOU OFFER.

OBVIOUSLY WITH THE SPANISH SPEAKERS YOU CAN.

>> WE TRY TO HAVE BILINGUAL SPEAKING STAFF.

IT'S THE LANGUAGE WE GET ASKED THE MOST.

THE DIRECTOR AND MYSELF ARE SPANISH SPEAKERS OURSELVES.

WE TRY TO KEEP A GOOD STAFFING OF SPANISH SPEAKERS BECAUSE OF THE NEED.

>> HOW MANY BEDS DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR SHELTER.

WE HAVE TWO VERSION OF SHELTERING.

AND WE HAVE EMERGENCY SHELTERING.

THAT'S REALLY FROM THREE TO FIVE DAYS OF SHELTERING.

AND THE THEN WE HAVE OUR TRANSITIONAL SHELTER THAT ABOUT 16 BEDS.

>> IS THAT WITH KIDS OR JUST THE GROWN-UPS.

>> THAT IS WITH KILEDS.

OUR CAPACITY IS SPRIT SMALL AS AN AGENCY FOR SHELTERING.

BUT WE TRY OUR BEST TO TRY TO MEET THE NEED.

>> IF YOU'RE FULL CAN YOU REFER THEM TO ANOTHER PLACE.

WE WORK WITH LOCAL PARTNERS.

WE ADVOCATE TO GET THEM INTO OTHER SHELTERS.

THERE'S GREAT PARTNERS LIKE BETTY CHIN AND EUREKA RESCUE MISSION.

THEY'RE REALLY GREAT TO WORK WITH IF WE DON'T HAVE THE SPACE.

MY OWN STORY INVOLVES MY DAD'S MENTAL ILLNESS.

ALCOHOLISM AND ADDICTION CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ROLE.

WHAT ARE THE PERCENTAGES THAT SEEMS TO BE A PRESENT FACTOR IN WHAT IN TERMS OF ABUSE.

>> VIOLENCE CAN COME IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> IT'S EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL.

FINANCE.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ABUSE IS THEIR POWER AND CONTROL DYNAMICS THAT ARE BEING USED TO CONTROL THAT PERSON.

THERE CAN BE UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABUSE THERE TENDS TO BE POWER AND CONTROL.

SO ALCOHOL, DRUGS, MENTAL ILLNESS, PEOPLE CAN BE GOING THROUGH ALL OF IT AND STILL BE ABUSIVE.

ABUSE IS A CHOICE TO US.

AND I THINK WHEN YOU'RE SEEING THAT NOT OTHER THINGS CAN'T HEIGHTEN OR NOT FUEL IT.

REALLY WE LOOK AT THE FACT SOMETIMES PEOPLE'S NEEDS AREN'T BEING MET THAT CAN REALLY JUST SHIFT HOW THEY ARE WITH THEIR PARTNERS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY ABUSE SOMETIMES IS PART OF A RELATIONSHIP DYNAMICS BECAUSE OF TRYING TO KEEP THAT PERSON WITH YOU.

>> YEAH.

CONTROL THEM AND NOT LET THEM GET AWAY.

I WASN'T AWARE YOU WORKED WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

I KNOW THAT'S REPUTED TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY.

IS THAT MORE OF AN ABUSE WHERE THEY'RE HELD CAPTIVE.

WHEN WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS MANY OF THEM HAVE COME THROUGH THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED BY THEIR ACTUAL PARTNER.

WHETHER THAT'S SEX TRAFFICKING OR WORK TRAFFICKING.

ONCE AGAIN IT'S A SIMILAR DYNAMIC WHERE THERE'S THAT POWER AND CONTROL.

WE KNOW THAT TRAFFICKING IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTY, AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE TRY TO SERVICE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

>> ADVISING PEOPLE TO GO TO THE POLICE OR MORE HANDS OFF BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW -- >> IF SOMEBODY IS IN DANGER, IF SOMEBODY IS FEARFUL FOR THEIR LIFE WE DO RECOMMEND GOING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CALLING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WHEN IT COMES TO SOMEBODY BEING AN ABUSIVE OR PER PERFORM TRATING ABUSE ON SOMEBODY.

MANY TIMES WE TRY NOT TO PUT THAT BURDEN ON OUR CLIENTS.

IT'S NOT FOR THEM TO BE FOCUSING ON THAT.

>> AND NOT FEELING THE BURDEN OF MAKING SURE THAT PERSON IS GOING TO CHANGE.

REALLY IT'S A HUMAN CHOICE HOW YOU ARE, AND THAT PERSON MAY NOT WANT TO CHANGE.

AND AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THAT TOO.

>> SUCH IMPORTANT WORK.

LOOKING AT THIS GLOBALLY.

YOU GUYS ARE A SMALL AGENCY IN A SMALL AREA.

AND THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD SOMEWHAT AROUND HERE.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN FROM A LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL OR STATE GOVERNMENT LEVEL THAT COULD MAKE A SUBSTANTIVE DIFFERENCE.

I JUST MEAN JUST FOR MORE GENERAL FUNDING JUST BEING ABLE TO SERVICE MORE PEOPLE.

WE KNOW THE NEED IS THERE.

AND WE FILL UP APPOINTMENTS EVERY WEEK, AND WE SEE CLIENTS EVERY WEEK.

AND WE KNOW WE'RE NOT MEETING THE FULL NEED OF OUR COUNTY.

I THINK HAVING MORE RESOURCES WHICH CAN IMPACT ALL AGENCIES JUST BEING ABLE TO HAVE MORE.

YEAH, I THINK ULTIMATELY WHAT WE'RE NEEDING FOR OUR AGENCY IS CAPACITY TO HELP MORE.

THAT COMES WITH MORE FUNDING.

THAT COMES WITH MORE SHELTER OPTIONS.

WE HAVE A SMALL SHELTER LOCATION.

BEING ABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE OF A CHOICE TO SET THEIR LIVES BACK UP.

>> DO YOU HAVE A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES.

>> YEAH.

WE DO WORK WITH DHSS.

AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL STRETCHED.

I KNOW EVERYONE IS DOING THEIR BEST.

IT REALLY FEELS LIKE THE HUMAN ASPECT THAT PEOPLE NEED MORE SUPPORT.

WE'RE IN AN INTERESTING TIME THAT WE'RE JUST ESPECIALLY WITH SURVIVORS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MEET NEEDS THAT ARE BEYOND OUR SCOPE AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES, AND TRYING TO GET CONNECTED TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

I WANT TO GET THAT GRAPHIC AGAIN SO WE CAN GET THE HOTLINE.

IF YOU ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ABUSE AND YOU NEED HELP, THIS IS A NUMBER YOU CAN CALL.

IT'S STAFFED 24 HOURS A DAY.

AND SOMEONE IS THERE AT THE FACILITY TO TRY TO HELP OUT.

IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO ANSWER THE PHONE RIGHT AWAY THEY WILL BE BACK SHORTLY.

IF YOU ARE DONATE MONEY OR MATERIALS FOR SHELTERS VISIT HDVS.org.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

YOU'RE SAVING LIVES.

AND I APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EVENING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

STAY TUNED AND STAY INFORMED.