Family Service Society, Inc.

Hands of Hope, formerly called Women’s Services, is a division of Family Service Society, Inc. Services have been offered in Grant County since 1981 and Wabash County since 1984.

The name was changed to Hands of Hope in 1997 to enforce to the community that DV is not just a female issue, but a family problem and crime and that we work with the entire family. Hands of Hope is funded through federal grants, United Way of Grant County, United Fund of Wabash County, private businesses, individuals, churches and civic groups. There is no charge for the programs offered to victims of domestic violence, homelessness or sexual assault. For more information, please contact Linda Wilk at 765-662-9971 ext. 123.

Services Provided Teen Dating 5 Types of Abuse 50 Reasons Why Articles Links


Check out our Blog Relationships for Girls	When you renew your license plate, help end violence in Indiana.

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Services Provided by Hands of Hope

Crisis Hotline- 765-664-0701 or 1-800-434-8973

For Wabash 260-563-4407

Flannery-Keal Shelter- Is a shelter located in a confidential location for female victims of domestic violence and their children (arrangements made for male victims). Domestic violence victims may stay up to 45 days at the emergency shelter where all their basic necessities such as food, clothing, personal hypgiene items are provided for them at not cost. We can assist homeless women and their children for up to 45 days when space permits.

            Flannery-Keal Needs List - If you can help by donating any of these items, it would be a great way to help                     those who use our services.
            Services also include:

                Case Manager - Grant County only
                   *Meet at least twice a week with each resident
                        *Offers client options and alternatives to violent relationships
                        *Assists client in reaching realistic goals for self-sufficiency

                  Case management- all clients are required to meet with the case manager at least twice weekly to                           work with the case manager to set realistic goals for self-sufficiency.

                      Case management is also available to outreach clients who do not want to come to the                                           shelter.

                Counseling
                    Available through Clinical Services. As funding is available, free individual therapeutic counseling is                                 offered to victims of domestic violence or sexual violence.

                    Victim's Advocate
                        Trained victims advocates are available to help victims through the legal process including completion of                           protective order or violent crime compensation paperwork.

                    Latino Victims Advocate
                           Trained, bi-lingual adovcate available to provide crisis intervention as well as completion of protective                                order or violent crime compensation paperwork. Advocate is available to provide translation assistance                            for victims on crisis line or in person.

                       Children's Advocate - Grant County only
                            Aids children at the Flannery-Keal Home
                                *Provide assistance with schoolwork
                                *Provide structured play and learning activities

Support Groups

There are no charge for services; child care is provided, unless specified.

W.E.N.D. (Women Exploring New Directions in their relationship)- Free support group for victims of domestic violence. Topics include: the cycle of violence, healthy styles of relationships, and establishing boundaries. The group meets from 6-7:30pm, Thursdays. Call for location: 664-0701.

Relationship Building for Victims of Domestic Violence- This group is offered from 6-7pm, Mondays. Childcare is provided. Call for location: 664-0701.

Alternative's Batterers Program- This group is for those who are physically or emotionally abusing a spouse or significant other. It is a 26-week program, that meets Monday evenings and costs $20/session. Childcare is not provided. The group is held at Family Service Society, Inc. at 101 S. Washington St. Suite 200 and has two sessions each Monday, call 662-9971 for more details.

Wabash County Victims Advocacy Services- Provides 24-hour assistance to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Wabash County Victims Advocacy Coordinator may be reached at 260-563-4407 or after hours by calling the crisis hotline at 1-800-434-8973.

Community Education- Community education provided in Grant County to elementary students to educate students about domestic violence is done through two programs: Kid-Ability and Hands are Not for Hitting. Programs have also been developed on bullying for fourth and fifth-graders as well as dating violence and date rape for middle and high school students. Similar programs are offered to students in Wabash County.

Information and training in the areas of domestic violence and sexual assault are available to organizations. Topics include how to identify and assist victims of domestic violence.
"Kid-Ability!" is a personal safety program available to all kindergartners and first graders.
"Teasing and Put-Downs" for third graders is a one-time class that teaches conflict resolution and encourages students to take responsibility for their words/actions.
"Hands are not for Hitting" is a program teaching how to handle angry feelings, available for second graders.
Dating Violence video and presentations for high school students.
Bullying Prevention Program for fourth and fifth graders. This is a program that defines and discusses the differences between joking, teasing, and bullying.
Anti-bullying strategies and presented for sixth and seventh graders.
Men Against Violence is a weekly program with middle school males about recognizing violence toward women as a man's issue. Also encourages healthy and positive relationships.

Staff

                Linda Wilk - HoH Director
                    Helen Chambers - Victim's Advocate (Wabash Co.)
                    Bobbie Stratton - Flannery-Keal (FK) Case Manager
                    Rosalyn Turcott - HOH Community Education Coordination
                    Becky Fansler - FK Facility Coordinator
                    Nita Hernandez - FK Advocate
                  Janice Adams- Alternatives Instructor
                    Nora Thomas- Part-time FK Advocate
                    Jami Haines- Part-time FK Advocate
                    Cathy Persinger- Part-time FK Advocate/No Contact Order Class Facilitator
                    Liz Hicks- Part-time FK Advocate & Part-time Wabash Co. Community Education Coordinator
                    Nathan Dalton- Part-time HOH Male Outreach Education Coordinator
                    Monica Rickner- HOH Latino's Victim's Advocate (Grant & Wabash Co.)

Teen Dating Abuse & Relationships

CONGRATULATIONS!
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Parents:

Information about teen dating abuse and how to talk to your teenager, click here.
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Adolescents/Teens:

BLOG for girls age 11-17 dealing with relationships, click here.
BLOG for boys age 11-17 dealing with relationships, click here. (COMING SOON)

5 Types of Abuse

Emotional Abuse - There are many forms of emotional abuse including ignoring a person and their feelings, lying about them to others, playing mind games, being jealous, and being possessive. Not allowing them to have friends, degrading them by calling them names or making them feel worthless. Publically humiliating them.

Verbal Abuse - Yelling, insults, swearing, interrupting, put downs, name calling, threats, and not listening.

Physical Abuse - Destroying property, getting into someone’s face, blocking someone’s path, spitting, slapping, pulling hair, pushing, punching, beating, kicking, choking, threatening to do harm, using weapons, throwing things, breaking things in sight of the other person, punching walls, and driving in a reckless manner. Locking her out of the house.

Sexual Abuse - Rape, unwanted sexual touching, rude comments, not listening, staring at a person to make them uncomfortable, sexual harassment, and inappropriate jokes criticizing them sexually. Calling partner sexual names, treating partner as a sexual object.

Financial Abuse - Making you ask for money, preventing you from getting or keeping a job, not contributing financially, not paying child support.

50 Reasons Why Women Don't Leave Their Abusers...
The children...Money...Fear...Relatives blame her...Therapist blames her...Police blame her...Clergy blames her...Her batterer blames her...She blames herself...No one believes she’s being abused...She doesn’t think she’s being abused...Her partner says “I love you”...Her partner says “I’m sorry”...Her partner says “I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you”...Her partner says “I’ll never do it again”...Her partner says “I’ll kill you if you leave”...Her partner says “I’ll take the children”...Her partner says “I’ll kill myself if you leave”...She’ll be homeless...The shelters are full...She believes the welfare system will abuse her worse...Her partner loves her...She loves her partner...The children love them both...Her father abused her...Her mother abused her...Her partner is an alcoholic...Her partner is a drug addict...She’s an alcoholic...She’s a drug addict...Her partner’s a pimp...She’s tried to leave before...Her partner found her before...She can’t speak English...She doesn’t have the papers to be in this country...She’s in a wheel chair...She’s deaf...She’s retarded...She’s blind...Her partner is her personal care attendant...Her partner is a public figure...She’s a public figure...She can’t read...She’s afraid of the unknown...She’s isolated...She’s depressed...Her partner threatens to expose her as a lesbian...She’s never told anyone...It’s not the right time, yet

If any of these reasons are things you or someone you know have dealt with,
give us a call, we can provide the support and information you need.

Articles about Domestic Violence

Awareness month a success- October 30, 2010
Wabash Vigil Thank you- October 15, 2010
Deadly domestic violence in Indiana- October 5, 2010
Expect Respect community walk a success- October 2, 2010
Hands of Hope Community Walk in Marion- September 21, 2010

Walkers who participated

Take Part in Community Walk- September 11, 2010
Delivering a Message of Respect- September 6, 2010
Back to School Night- September 2, 2010
Hands of Hope editorial
March 11, 2009 - Expect Respect by Linda Wilk
March 11, 2009 - Domestic Violence & Famous People by Linda Wilk
March 11, 2009 - Digital Era & Domestic Violence by Linda Wilk

Abuse Information Links

What does it mean to Expect Respect?

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