STOP Violence Against Women
The STOP Violence Against Women Program has been in effect since 1997. The program provides services for those living within the service area of the Coeur d’Alene Reservation who are currently or have been victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, teen dating violence, and/or stalking.
Mission Statement
The STOP Violence Against Women Program is dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking through awareness, intervention and developing partnerships within the community and other programs. It is the purpose of the Program to provide confidential victim advocacy, safe shelter and compassion while promoting one’s dignity and respect for cultural beliefs. Domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking are not traditional to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s cultural teachings and indigenous way of life.
Goals of STOP Violence Program:
To provide trauma-informed services in a timely manner with respect and courtesy to all victims of domestic violence and their children. It is also the goal to sustain and enhance services by continuously seeking avenues of funding to provide essential services for those victimized by intimate partner violence.
Funding
Federally funded through the Grants to Tribal Government Grants and Family Violence Prevention Services Grant through the Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women and the Health and Human Services Program.
The program provides the following services:
- Crisis Intervention, including emergency shelter
- Victim advocacy
- Court advocacy
- Information and referral
- Resource referral
- Technical assistance to agencies, other departments, professionals, etc.
- Community outreach
- Counseling
- Domestic Violence Offender Intervention
- Transportation
- Client Assistance
- Education and Awareness Trainings
- Support Group/Healthy Relationships Class
Batterer Intervention Program
We offer domestic violence offender evaluations on a monthly basis, and weekly offender intervention groups, it is a court-mandated program. Please call the department for dates instruction groups are taking place.
Counseling
Counseling is offered for victims of domestic violence and their children who have witnessed violence in the household. Counseling is available every Wednesday. Call Debbie at 208-686-2077 for appointments.
Groups
Call the STOP Violence Program for a schedule of Healthy Relationship groups being offered. All Groups meet onsite.
Advisory Committee Members
There are five committee members and two alternate members. The terms are for three years. Requirements are:
- Appointments by the Tribal Council. A letter of interest must be sent to the Tribal Council.
- Must attend quarterly committee meetings.
- Must be an active and committed member.
Missing Persons
If a loved one goes missing, it can be a scary and overwhelming experience. The first 72 hours are crucial. Read more about what to do by visiting the Missing Persons page.
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence is defined as the mistreatment of an intimate partner by using physical, sexual, and emotional abuse including threats, harassment, neglect, and stalking to establish control and maintain power and control over another person.
Quiz-Does Your Partner:
- Embarrass you with bad names and put-downs?
- Look at you or act in ways that scare you?
- Control what you do, who you see or talk to, or where you go?
- Stop you from seeing or talking to friends or family?
- Take your money or social security, make you ask for money, or refuse to give you money?
- Make all the decisions?
- Tell you you’re a bad parent or threaten to take away or hurt your children?
- Act like the abuse is no big deal, it’s your fault, or even deny doing it?
- Destroy your property or threaten to kill your pets?
- Intimidate you with guns, knives, or other weapons?
- Shove you, slap you or hit you?
- Force you to drop charges?
- Threaten to commit suicide?
- Threaten to kill you?
If you checked even one of the above, you may be in an abusive relationship. If you need to talk, please call the STOP Violence Program.
How You Can Help A Friend or Family Member Who Is In An Abusive Relationship:
- Become informed about domestic violence.
- Lend an ear.
- Guide them to community services.
- Focus on their strength-give them the emotional support they need and deserve to believe that they are a good person.
- Be a friend/good relative-let them know you are there for them.
- Confront them with the danger-help them face the reality of living with an abusive partner.
- Help them develop a safety plan.
How You Can Help A Friend…And How To Help An Abuser:
Reporting Abuse
Everyone is a mandatory reporter of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and abuse to elders and vulnerable adults.
- Notify the STOP Violence staff in Social Services by either phone or fill out an “Abuse Reporting Form”. (Available at the STOP Program office)
- Deliver or fax the form to the STOP Violence Program
- All information is strictly confidential!
- You may receive a phone call from an advocate if further information is needed.
- For Emergencies – call 9-1-1.
How to Help An Abuser
- Call the Police if you witness an assault.
- Tell them that violent behavior is not O.K.-it is a sign that the person has a problem and needs help.
- Offer to talk to them about alternatives to violence-cooling off, talking about the problem, counseling, support group.
- Be a role model for healthy relationships-treat your friends and partners with respect.
- Take a stand! Don’t reinforce abusive behavior by laughing, minimizing, or ignoring an act of violence or a threat.
Violence Is Not a Coeur d’Alene Tradition. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe has a Zero Tolerance Policy to domestic violence.
*Information available courtesy of National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center.
*STOP Violence Program funded by the Office of Violence Against Women in the DOJ CTAS Grant #2016 TW-AX-0010 & Grants to Tribal Governments #15JOVW-22-GG-03355-TRIB and Grant # HHS-2021-ACF-ACYF-FVPS-1961
*The opinions, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed are those of the author (s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. DOJ OVW or the Office of ACF-HHS-FVPS.