Shiny Burke the SCN Director of Violence Prevention and Victim Services shared about the domestic violence prevention program offered for tribal members. The program started as a federally funded grant through the OVW (Office of Violence Against Women) and has extended in 2019 to include victim services. Additionally, the program now provides services to women and men. “Now that we have the additional grant partnership with victim services, we are able to deliver aid to a variety of abuse victims,” said Burke. The department offers confidential assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and victims of other crimes. The program jurisdiction is within a fifty-mile radius of our office in Grove.  Some of the services provided include advocacy, domestic violence education, safety planning, relocation, financial assistance with food/household, utility/rental, safe shelter, and court support. Additionally, the program offers community education and community outreach.

Burke continued: “The goal of our program is to develop and strengthen effective responses to violence against victims, survivors and their children. The purpose of the program is to educate, empower, and advocate for Native American victim survivors and their children in our community.”

The unique thing about the grant is it is not only for tribal members. It is for the entire community within 50 miles of administration. The list below outlines the services covered through this program: 

Transitional Housing:  A housing program, to help people who may have been part of a domestic violence situation and are homeless due to violence. We provide financial assistance for them to find housing, and for 6-9 months will cover housing and utilities (Within limits set out in the grant.)

Financial assistance: This includes food, clothing, and household needs. Participants in this program do not have to be part of the transitional program to qualify.

Legal Assistance program Services: If an individual needs to get out of a relationship, can’t afford a divorce etc. the program will help to pay for legal/attorney services.  

Transportation assistance: Allocation of funds available for fuel or relocation, bus transportation, vehicle repair. (Within limits set out in the grant.)

Advocacy: Department employees will meet with program participants on a regularly scheduled basis to establish goals, develop a plan to meet them and track progress towards them. Additional support resources are delivered in support of the established goals as well.  These additional resources typically include assistance with personal budgets, and increasing sustainability of new environments.  

Education: Currently, the Nation delivers domestic violence education to participants of the program.  During this process, we discuss what  domestic violence looks like in relationships, what healthy relationships should look like and what red flags to look for that help victims identify dangerous situations.  

From a regional perspective, the department partners with other domestic violence tribal initiatives throughout the state.  The SCN chapter and other neighboring organizations have collectively formed an alliance called the RISE: Respect, Inspire, Support, Empower.  RISE is open to the public and is available to distribute educational awareness resources to groups in various communities. The alliance includes Eastern Shawnee, Wyandotte, Peoria, and Quapaw Tribes.

If you or someone you know is impacted or affected by domestic violence, call or come into the office immediately to access the available SCN services. The office is located within the Family Services Building or you can call the office directly at 918 787-5452 EXT. 6059. You can also reach out by email to: spandirla@sctribe.com. Wendy Nichols, Victims Services Advocate,  918 787-5452 ext. 6057