CADA Receives Grant to Help Secure the Phoenix House

CADA Executive Director Wendy Elam accepts an Operation Round Up donation from Kankakee Valley REMC Communications/Marketing Director Amanda Steeb.
CADA Executive Director Wendy Elam accepts an Operation Round Up donation from Kankakee Valley REMC Communications/Marketing Director Amanda Steeb.

Women and children fleeing from domestic or family violence can rest a little easier at the Phoenix House, thanks to a grant from Kankakee Valley REMC. The electric cooperative recently gave the shelter $3,115 to assist with security at the transitional home for women and children. Counseling and other support services are also offered. Continue reading

Starke County Building Corporation, Commissioners Meeting This Morning

Starke County Courthouse
Starke County Courthouse

The Starke County Building Corporation plans to appoint a committee to discuss future uses for the current jail. They are meeting this morning at 8:30 at the county annex building, prior to the commissioners meeting at 9. Skillman Corporation will also provide an update on how construction of the new jail east of Knox on State Road 8 is going. It’s scheduled for completion in the spring of 2015. The commissioners agenda includes consideration of a proposal from Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski to relocate some precincts. Officials from IU Health Starke Hospital will also discuss the physicians recruitment program. EMA Director Ted Bombagetti and James Coad are on the agenda regarding the county’s emergency preparedness plan. Wendy Elam from CADA has a proclamation for the county to declare April Child Abuse Prevention Month. CADA, CASA and the Indiana Department of Child Services are kicking off the awareness campaign tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Nancy J. Dembowski Convention Center in downtown Knox with a Pinwheels for Prevention candle lighting ceremony. Members of the public are invited to come show their support for children in the community. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place inside.

Starke County Commissioners Declare October Domestic Violence Awareness Month

 
 
October is officially Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Starke County, after the county commissioners this week signed a resolution proclaiming it so. Wendy Elam with the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse approached the commissioners with the proclamation and explained that we must all join together to support victims of abuse and end abuse of any kind, and to create zero tolerance in our communities for such behavior.

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Starke Commissioners to Sign Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation

 
 
The Starke County Commissioners are slated to sign a resolution proclaiming October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and according to case manager Annette Ohman for the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse and the Phoenix House program, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

“We have proclamations that are going to be signed by the Starke County Commissioners and the mayor of Knox this month, declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Starke County and the city of Knox. Then, we also have exhibits at all five of the Starke County libraries regarding domestic violence awareness. Some involve the effects of domestic violence on children, whether they’re witnessing the abuse in the home or actually being abused,” said Ohman.

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Candlelight Vigil Planned to Honor Victims of Child Abuse

 
 
April is Prevent Child Abuse Month and the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, CASA and the Department of Child Services in Starke County will be holding a candlelight vigil to honor victims of child abuse on Tuesday, April 16. CADA Representative Wendy Elam invites you to participate.

“We will have a moment of silence led by Pastor Heyboer from the First Baptist Church in Knox,” said Elam. “It will be held in the municipal parking lot adjacent to the Knox police station. Everyone is welcome.”

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Starke Co. CADA Celebrates 20 Years of Service

The Starke County Coalition Against Domestic Abuse is celebrating its 20th year of service to the community this month. Started in 1992 as a grassroots volunteer organization called the Starke County Alliance Against Domestic Violence, CADA has retained its focus on awareness and education. The group began with staffing information booths at every Starke County fair and festival in an effort to get the word out to residents about the services offered to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and last week the Starke County Commissioners signed a proclamation urging all citizens in the county to become aware of this tragic problem and commit themselves to helping a child in need. Presenting the proclamation were CADA members Wendy Elam and Annette Ohman.

This is also the twelfth anniversary of the death of Lilliana Ciprianu, who had been brutally beaten by her stepfather two days earlier. CADA President Ruth Matsey told WKVI that it was the most tragic case she has had to work on.

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CADA Receives $10,000 Grant

Judy Jelinek, Operation Roundup member, presents a check to Wendy Elam, Executive Director for CADA

Starke County’s Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, or CADA, is the recipient of a $10,000 grant from Kankakee Valley REMC.

CADA received the money through the Operation Round-up Trust grant program. The money will be used to expand the Phoenix House, a transitional housing program for victims of domestic violence and their dependent children. The additional space will add meeting/advocacy rooms for clients, additional office space and storage space for donated items for victims of domestic abuse. A restroom will also be built for convenience of advocacy volunteers.

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City of Knox and CADA Receive Grant

A $424,620 grant was recently presented to the City of Knox by Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman. Knox Mayor Rick Chambers accompanied a number of members from the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, or CADA, to the Indianapolis presentation last Friday for the award ceremony.

The City of Knox applied for a Community Focus Fund Grant, in partnership with CADA. In previous meetings of the Knox City Council, Ruth Matsey explained the need for an addition to the Phoenix House building. Water ruined a portion of the building that was used for storage. The money from the grant will be used for the construction of the addition.

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CADA, KIRPC Asks Knox City Council to Sponsor Phoenix House Expansion

Ruth Matsey, President of the Coalition Against Domestic Abuse, and Edwin Buswell of the Kankakee Regional Planning Commission appeared before the Knox City Council Tuesday night to ask the City officials to approve sponsorship of an addition at the Phoenix House. Since 1995, the Phoenix House has served as a short-term emergency shelter for women fleeing abusive relationships.

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Starke County Community Foundation Awards Grants

The Starke County Community Foundation made the holiday bright for many community organizations during its 2010 Grant Award Banquet. Over $24,000 was awarded on Monday, December 6th at the Community Center in Knox.

The grants are part of the Community Foundation’s Unrestricted Funds which allow the Community Foundation to assess the greatest needs of the community and assist the individual agency programs. Since 1998, the Community Foundation has awarded over $1.7 million to local organizations and projects that make a difference in Starke County.

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