Crisis Intervention Serices

Survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault continue to receive the support, hope and resources they need despite funding cuts thanks to the commitment of our communities. Crisis Intervention Services (CIS) offers a 24-hour crisis line, individual crisis counseling and support groups, information and referrals, medical and legal advocacy, children’s programs, transportation, financial counseling, and emergency shelter.

We respond to over 700 crisis calls a year. The reasons for the calls are primarily domestic abuse and sexual assault issues, but we also receive calls because of homelessness, teen pregnancy, legal issues just to name a few. If we don’t have the expertise for the call request, we refer the person to the agency that can best meet their needs. Collaboration with other service providers is essential to meeting the many and varied needs of people who are being abused. Crisis counseling cannot help someone who has no access to affordable housing, employment, transportation, medical care, disability services, or energy assistance leave an abusive situation.

Crisis Intervention Services assists approximately 400 people every year who are currently being abused or who were abused in their past in dealing with the trauma they suffered and with meeting their basic needs such as housing, food, and clothing. Over 100 women and children live in our shelter every year for an average of 45 days.

We plan to open a transitional housing program next year. We have received most of the funding, but we have to raise about $10,000 annually for local cash match to the grants. The program will provide apartments for families to live in long-term (up to two years) and intensive support services to help them reach their self-sufficiency goals. Transitional housing is still a relatively new concept, especially in rural areas. We decided to pursue this program because some families who are chronically homeless have difficulty making it on their own and are often in the shelter at least once or twice a year because of economic barriers.

CIS is always in need of volunteers who can commit to 2-10 hours a month to ending violence. Volunteers are able to choose their own activities such as serving on the Board of Directors, assisting at the shelter, participating in children’s activities, providing transportation, or assisting with fundraising and awareness activities. All volunteers are provided necessary training and support. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out an application at www.cismc.org or request an application at 641-673-0336.