New effort targets domestic violence

This is final part of four-part series on domestic violence published Saturdays in the Willows Journal and Orland Press-Register.

Hope is on the horizon for domestic violence victims in Glenn County.

In January, 17 volunteers completed a certification course that qualifies them as domestic violence advocates. They are associated with a new nonprofit organization dedicated to helping victims safely and permanently leave violent situations.

Westside Domestic Violence Services plans to provide a wide range of services to women, children and men, including establishing a hotline, safe houses in Orland and Willows and accompanying victims to court.

Executive Director Gloria Irwin, who founded the organization with her daughter Valerie Johnson, said the volunteers "are such a wonderful group of women. We are fortunate to have them. They are such good strong women who are motivated and the energy" to pursue their goal of changing attitudes and helping victims.

The advocates also will go into schools and visit civic organizations to help educate people about what domestic violence is, how to report it and how to avoid it.

Irwin, who founded the organization with her daughter Valerie Johnson, said educating children is especially important because what children see and learn, "they duplicate when they get older."

Irwin emphasized "there is a great need" for education and aid for victims of domestic violence in Glenn County.

She said calls already are coming in, but Westside Domestic Violence Services has limited ability to help at this time. The organization has not found homes in Orland or Willows where it can set up safe houses to shelter victims from their abusers.

"Until we have a place, we can't have a hotline," Irwin added.

Glenn County is No. 1 in domestic violence in the state, Irwin has said, noting that California has 85 domestic violence shelters and Glenn County is one of only a few without one.

Irwin and Johnson decided to build a domestic violence service organization because they have seen too many women suffer in silence, thinking there is no way out of an abusive relationship, they have said.

"There's hardly a family that hasn't been affected by domestic abuse," Irwin said in an earlier interview.

Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones said others have tried to establish services in the county, but none has lasted. As a result, victims have had to seek assistance from agencies outside the county.

Currently, domestic violence victims rely on Catalyst in Chico. But sending victims — who mainly are women — outside the county for help "puts added pressure on them," he has said.

Jones is temporary chairman of the regional Domestic Violence Council and a member of Westside Domestic Violence Service's board of directors.

He said Westside's "overall concept is of totality of service."

"Having trained volunteers go to law enforcement stops" will be helpful to police officers and victims alike.

The certified advocates are trained to speak with victims at the scene and to fill out temporary restraining orders, thus allowing law enforcement time to focus on the criminal aspects of a case, Jones said.

Willows police Chief Bill Spears, who teaches domestic violence classes to police cadets and also sits on the Westside board of directors, agrees the services are needed.

Orland's new police chief, Paula Carr, teaches a self-defense course for women in which she focuses on avoiding potentially violent situations.

Domestic violence "is an ageless topic," she said, noting that victim-witness programs have made difference.

Services, such as Westside, "are of great value. Especially as safe houses," Carr said.

"If victims know there's a safe house, it gives them more confidence to get out of a domestic violence situation and feel safe and keep children safe."

Contact Lydia Harris at 934-6800 or lharris@tcnpress.com.