Family Crisis Center Marks 35th Anniversary
Left, CAP Services’ Family Crisis Center and its volunteers distributed 3,000 purple bags this month to honor 35 years of service to the community and recognize National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. (Contributed photo)
For the City-Times
Results from CAP’s 1977 Community Needs Assessment Survey reflected the need for a safe place for domestic violence victims and their children. At that time, the Women’s Resource Center in Stevens Point coordinated a safe house network of individuals who opened their homes to victims and their children but a more comprehensive model was needed.
Within 18 months, senior managers at CAP Services found the resources to open a shelter, the first located at 708 North Second Street in Stevens Point. Since that time, the Family Crisis Center moved to successively larger facilities, first to 1503 Water Street and then to its current location at 1616 West River Drive in Stevens Point. As facilities grew, so did services. Those now include services for children, educational programs for those arrested for domestic violence and transitional living services for those who choose to set up a household separate from their abuser.
Unfortunately, thousands of individuals have needed help. Last year alone, almost 150 women, children and youth found the center a safe place to stay. They also accessed a variety of supportive and advocacy services to meet their needs. CAP’s Sexual Assault Victim Services Program also provides brings specialized services for those affected by sexual assault.
Meeting these needs couldn’t be accomplished without strong community support. Many donors and volunteers make a difference every day in CAP’s ability to provide these services. Girl Scout Cadette Troop 6231 recently assisted with some clean-up at the Center. Mary Berard, long-time center volunteer, coordinated the efforts of Associated Bank volunteers who provided the labor to paint many rooms in the Center. Berard has also spent many hours painting, organizing and cleaning; and purchased blinds, new bedding, pictures, paint and tools to update the Center.
The Stevens Point Woman’s Club donated funds to purchase and distribute purple bags to recognize not only the Center’s anniversary but National Domestic Awareness Month. They can be found at a number of locations throughout central and east central Wisconsin.
“The bags are a wonderful way to get the word out about the Family Crisis Center,” said Betsy Altenburg, who pledged funds for the bags and has been helping to distribute them in the area. “This was a project that the Woman’s Club could really get behind and support.”
CAP Services is a private, nonprofit community action agency that has been helping low-income people in Waupaca, Marquette, Outagamie, Portage, and Waushara counties attain economic and emotional self-sufficiency since 1966.