In This Issue:
Survivor Testimonial: a letter update from one of our past clients
THANK YOU!
This Saturday: Sheena Mendoza Memorial Tournament
40-hour training now open to the public
Now Accepting Applications
A letter update from one of our past clients
Survivor Testimonial
“Dear [counselor name],
Mother and sonI wanted to write you a note to say thank you for helping my children and I through a very hard year. The DVRC program has really been there for us. The very nature of DV has been the harshest of beasts to bind and recover from. You can account for the years of foundation building in simple basics—safety, feelings, constant reality adjustments and perception correcting…. not to mention basics needed—legal help, food, even Christmas presents for the kids.
Finally, the time was right and my children could step forward and face and share their pain, the betrayal, their anger and every other emotion that comes from such horrifying abuses. If for one moment I had ever thought the bruises were the worst of my pain it quickly burst into feelings that shocked my system so strong as to question even my core understanding of good and evil—deepening my experience of guilt and betrayal.
And so the hurricane has hit our shore and sad eyes at night pierce my heart and flash-backs transport me into scenes of the horror movie he lived and I hold him and tell him he’s home and safe and we cry, and I sit with him at night with all the lights on because he is afraid of the dark. When he finally sleeps I go to the far side of the house and sob into a pillow so as not to wake the children.
It all sounds hard and I won’t lie because, well, it is—but there is a difference that I have come to understand during this storm. As the stillness of the eye of the hurricane passed over I realized that this pain is different. It is healing pain—a pain with hope that grows in spite of the hurt. I think it may be like the cancer victim, whom after being sick for so long finally gets the awful diagnosis—then with the life/death implications of such a diagnosis, begins the painful radiation treatments. During the treatments they feel worse than they remember ever feeling from the cancer itself—but it is the treatment that gives them any and all hope for life.
I have concluded that this is what is happening and I will grasp onto that hope as I vomit the guilt and anger and disillusionment each day—and hold my children’s hands as they heal—and we will all go bald together but in the end our hair will grow back and we will be new and strong.
You and the DVRC are a major part of our survival. Domestic violence is a hard beast to bind and its families are hard to help. Thank you for not giving up on us—please never stop reaching out to DV families.
With deepest heart-felt thanks, God Bless You!”
***
Thank you!
2009 Annual Ask Contributers
There is hope and there is help—because of people like you. This winter we needed to raise $32,100 to keep our services running, and because of generous people like you, we raised $33,639.79. Absolutely incredible.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the following businesses, organizations and individuals for stepping up during our annual ask as champions for survivors of domestic violence:
$3,001 - $5,000
Joseph E. Weston Public Foundation
$1,001 - $3,000
Vernier Software & Technology
Providence Health & Services
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue
Mary Epler
$501 - $1,000
PDX Mini Cooper Club
Westside Concrete Accessories
Janet Vorvick
City of Tualatin Employees
Century Club for Women
Roger Johnston & Barbara Kahl
David and Linda Smith
$250 - $500
Marla K. Gardner
LaPorte & Associates, Inc.
Jackson-Haack Family Foundation
Beaverton High School Health Careers Program Students
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
Back to Basics Chiropractic PC
Dorothy Preble
A. Duane & Maryann Dillerud
Darolyn Anderson
Donald & Pamela Sue Evans
Richard & Renee Binns
Marlene Harmon
Jamieson Tools & Design
Gundars & Astrida Strautnieks
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Charlotte Corelle
Marc Maxey, Keepers R Us fantasy baseball league
Joyce A. DeGarmo
Doris Winegar
The R.L.J. Ericksen Family Charitable Fund
Ethics Point
Pauline Reid
$100 - $249
Larry Kaster
Jerome Waterbury
Linda Fairham
Steven Eckert
Oddfellows Montezuma Lodge #50
Brandy Solomon
Westbrook Women’s Association
Karen Rollins
John Leeper
Dorothy M. Rotolo
Rebecca Reisch, Karsten Zuendel & Martha Reisch
Mary Lou Strong
Mary Jane Graham
Leedy Grange #339
Jill & Jerome Yoman
Mercedes Maltese
Kevin & Jan Upton
Donation in name of Jim Boone & Liz LaRue, Bill & Maria Boone
Hillsboro Presbyterian Church
John McNabb & Melissa Lucash
Mary & Michael Townsend
Donation in name of Elizabeth Bosbitt
Gary Berger
Hilde Frey
United First Methodist Church of Beaverton
Tammy Jantzen & Merix Corp. HR Dept.
Lesley Langan
Daniel Hill & Shawna Oliver
Drusilla M. Hamilton Trust
Metzger United Methodist Women
Lynne & David Chapman
Gregory Guthrie & Ayse Gonlubol
Steven & Carolyn Cagle
Sue and Wendell Pike
John Corman, Budget Tapes & Records
Bob & Patty Hermann
Peter & Carolyn Rux
Jennifer Burson
Patrick & Jeanne Wieber
Advanced Dermatology of Oregon, PC
Forest Grove United Church of Christ
Kathryn Todd
Laura Davis
Lorraine Clarno
Pat & Bob Hunter
$50 - $99
Mountain Home United Methodist Women
Mr. & Mrs. Stapelmann
Sally Boussios
Steven & Nancy Geigle
Joel Forbess
TOPS OR #487-Aloha
Hillsboro Encampment IOOF, Auxiliary No. 84
Tina Sahnow
Joanne Vandyke
Phyllis Churchill
Dave Potts
Donation in honor of Gina Skinner
Susan Hartner
Mary O’Donnell
Mr. & Mrs. March
Robert Homer
Lou Saponas
Nancy McLennan
Bonnie Gretz
Michael & Alita McCleskey
Donna Nelson
Carol Van Zuylen
Lynn & Larry Krupa
Douglas Reynolds
$1 - $49
Darla & Douglas Rowe
Amy Parrish
Nancy Cullers
Amanda Nelson
Marie Stiller
Byron & Dianne Steiger
Daisey Pargnet
Eileen Bonn Spencer
Elizabeth Matzke
Associated Property Management
Larry Smith
Johnny & Deborah Delfs
Edith Hernandez
Reed & Susen Ritchey
Barbara Fredericks
Mrs. Leticia Gholson
Shirley Short
Timothy Calderwood
Bonnie & Dennis Collins
Karen Kuehn
Irene & Rollie Ruehlman
Jill Brooks
Fatima Girard
Sally Duyck
Ms. Sharon Segal, Segal Family Trust
Charles
Reynolds
Andrea Korsen
Morning Star Circle
Glenda M. Patty
LOVE Circle - Hillsboro United Methodist Church
Grandma Leeth’s
Union Jills & Irene Silver
Gaston Top Soilers Garden Club
Patricia A. Hartigan
Katherine Haynes
***
This Saturday! Sheena Mendoza Memorial Tournament
Edit: Guest Article by Aaron Crawford: Losing One of Our Own
Guest article by friend of Sheena, and tournament organizer, below
Date: Saturday, February 6th
Time: 11 am, warm up at 10 am
Place: Hot Shots Billiards
4900 SW Western Ave.
Beaverton, OR 97007
Please call the event organizer, Aaron Crawford, at 503-619-6404 to sign up to play or for more information about the Memorial Tournament. There are 64 slots available.
* Silent Auction All Day
* Hair stylists from Great Clips (her former employer) will be there cutting hair for a suggested $20 donation
* Information about domestic violence provided on site
Download the event flyer here and place in your work breakroom, you business’s front window, attach in your organization’s newsletter, etc.
Why organize this tournament? Crawford, friend of Sheena and organizer, said: “in my heart of hearts, I just want people to be aware.”
Losing One of Our Own
Guest Article, By Aaron Crawford
Sheena was a very bright and intelligent young woman, beautiful as she was talented. Looking at her you could tell at a glance there was more to this young woman then could be seen through the naked eye. I suspect even those who don’t believe in a higher power could feel the heavenly love she shared with all of whom she came into contact with.
Sheena Mendoza was always the first person to help when there was a crisis. She was the “strong one” everybody was able to look up too, it’s just who she was. She was able to take on the troubles of the world, lending a helping hand whenever it was needed (usually no questions asked). The reason Sheena was able to touch the lives of so many people in her young life was because of the strong family values taught to her by her loving family.
November 28th, 2009
Gage and I showed up to Hot Shots (Beaverton, OR) around 9:00 pm and saw that the pool hall was unusually busy that Saturday night, there were a whole lot of new and old faces there that night…” Read the article in its entirety on this page.
***
40-hour training now open to the public
Reserve a space now!
Next Training: April 12th through the 16th, 2010-six spots still available. Next 40 Hour Training: September, 2010
Cost: $500
Time: 9 am to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, April 12th-16th
Place: Multiple locations in Washington County
This five-day, forty hour training covers the State of Oregon mandated information needed for staff and volunteers to serve survivors of domestic violence in-person and unsupervised.
ALL 40+ hours of the training are mandatory according to State requirements. For any community members taking the training any missed sessions will disqualify you from certification of completion of the 40-hour training. Please see the Registration Form for more details. Scholarships are available.
April 12-16, 2010, Training covers:
DV 101 - 3 hrs
Anti-oppression - 3 hrs
Compassion Fatigue and Self Care - 1 hr
General Orientation - 1 hr
Confidentiality - 1 hr
Safety Planning - 1 hr
Dynamics of and Working with Law Enforcement - .5 hr
Effects of Domestic Violence on: Elder and Disabled People - 1 hr
Dynamics of and Working with the Legal System - 1 hr
Dynamics of and Working with Protective Orders - 2 hrs
Dynamics of and Working with Abusers - 3 hrs
Effects of Domestic Violence on: Diverse Cultures 1.5 hrs
Intimate Violence: Stalking - 2.5 hrs
Crisis Response and Advocacy - 1.5 hrs
Effects of Domestic Violence on: Women and Men - 1.5 hrs
Foundations of Counseling - 3 hrs
Dynamics of and Working with Survivors - 2 hrs
Effects of Domestic Violence on: Children - 3 hrs
Intimate Violence: Dating Violence - 1.5 hrs
Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse
Effects of Domestic Violence on: Sexual and Gender Minorities
Intimate Violence: Sexual Assault
Now Accepting Applications
Please apply to be on-call as a Monika’s House Shelter advocate
On-call Shelter Advocate at Monika’s House
Hours to be determined at time of hire, at-will employment; Reports to the Shelter Coordinator; Pay rate hourly, DOE.
Overnight, Weekend, or on-call Advocate works at Monika’s House Shelter. Position requires professional contact with diverse social, ethnic, religious, and cultural groups. Some driving required. Must be able to work with representatives from schools, colleges and universities, businesses, law enforcement agencies, social services, government offices, and community service groups. Required dress is at minimum business casual.
Requirements:
Prefer at least one-year experience working with victims of domestic violence. Must have knowledge of domestic violence including causes, history, cycle of violence, and best practices in serving victims of domestic violence, or be willing to attend agency 40-hour training. Excellent written and oral communications skills. Computer literate. Clean driving record with valid driver’s license and proof of insurability. The ability to provide direct services unencumbered by any personal domestic violence relationship. A calm, caring, well-organized person will excel in this position. Prefer bilingual English-Spanish.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Report to work for the scheduled shifts
Be on time for scheduled shifts, meetings, trainings, and appointments
Speak, read, and write English fluently
Communicate clearly in person and on the telephone
Conduct family and individual intakes
Ensure that clients have read and understand house and agency policies, procedures, and guidelines
Ensure that clients understand confidentiality requirements and protocols
Offer short-term case management for clients working to live independently, free of violence
Advocate for clients regarding housing, transitional housing, transportation, employment, medical and mental health care, legal issues, immigration, public schools, AFS, and SCF
Conduct one-on-one client assessments and goal-setting
Facilitate support groups and parenting groups
Maintain the shelter, grounds, and equipment in safe working order
Develop and maintain effective relationships with other agencies and organizations
Maintain confidentiality of clients’ and agency’s information
Maintain required records in compliance with laws and agency guidelines
Maintain high standards of personal and professional integrity
Represent the agency professionally in the community
Help to develop and maintain a positive work environment
Work respectfully and cordially with staff, volunteers, program directors, clients, and the community
Be mindful of the agency’s budget and conserve agency resources accordingly
Other duties as assigned by supervisor
For employment information please visit this page.
If interested, please send a resume and cover letter to Amy Gettings, Clinical Services Director, at amyg (at) dvrc-or (dot) org.
