West Plains Support Network meeting covers family violence

Seventy-two people have been victims of domestic violence homicides in Spokane County since 1997, the fourth-highest of any county in the state according to Washington State Domestic Violence Coalition research. Twenty-two of those have happened since 2015.

It’s those statistics the West Plains Support Network is trying to combat, tackling family violence at its May 1 meeting. The meeting included a panel discussion by local non-profit leaders and family violence prevention advocates from organizations all across the West Plains and beyond.

Representatives from the Spokane Fatherhood Initiative, Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery, Women’s Healing and Empowerment Network, Kalispel Tribe Victim Assistance Services and Spokane County Communities in Schools shared their experience with attendees, offering statistics and advice and sharing upcoming events.

“A victim will usually go back to the perpetrator 10-15 times and each time they do, their support system dwindles,” said Kalispel Tribe Victim Assistance Services program manager Lucretia Gill. “Don’t stop supporting the victim even when it’s hard.”

The network’s April meeting included input from two Airway Heights police officers, who said they go on at least two domestic violence calls per shift every day and noted that the majority of violence calls come in in the morning after kids have gone to school.

Communities in Schools Cheney/Medical Lake Volunteer Coordinator Kelley Hinrichs encouraged attendees to make a difference to at-risk children through mentorship.

Even an hour a day once a week with a mentor has proven to lower drop out rates and change the course of a child’s future, she said.

“There are easy things you can do,” Hinrichs said. “If you’re a child in a dark room, even a sliver of light can change your perspective.”

About 30 people attended the network’s May meeting.

Keith O’Brien from Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery stressed that parenting is hard, and it’s OK to ask for help.

“Parental stress is the number one contributing factor to childhood abuse and neglect,” he said. “Through our programs we try to relieve that.”

The West Plains Support Network meets the first Wednesday of every month at 9:30 a.m. Locations vary. Its next meeting is slated for June 5. No meetings are planned for July and August.

For more information call 509-703-2802.

Shannen Talbot can be reached at [email protected].