First Steps Outreach

06/27/2017

If you or your organization would like more information on First Steps Oiutreach please go to www.firststepsoutreach.com.

First Steps Outreach came about out of Sandy’s personal survival and her desire to make a difference in her community to educate and help woman of abuse and to help them find shelter away from harms’ reach.

01/19/2016

As a victim of domestic abuse myself, my non-profit and I want to give back to our community. We want to ensure that victims of abuse are safe, and we want to get them back on their feet. First Steps Outreach operates with hotels to give victims a temporary living space. We also educate those on...

06/12/2015

Please join us for our first event on Thursday June 18 at Alex and Ani in Cherry Creek. What a wonderful cause to support victims of domestic violence and educate the public on bullying to help bring an end to it.

05/14/2015

Tell your friends!

We are all about empowering children and adults in our neighborhoods, in our schools, our families and in our communities.

04/15/2015

So excited. Getting ready to launch "Stephens Project". It's a new innovative concept where we at first steps outreach are the school liaison between the bully, the bullied and the school..Stay tuned for more. Launch date is coming soon...we are working hard to put a stop to domestic violence through going to the root cause, bullying. They go hand in hand. You see here's how it works: A young child is bullied and abused at home . The bullied becomes the bully at school. It starts at at home and it's domestic violence because being bullied are part of the same . Years go by and guess what? The bully has grown up to be an abuser.. this is the cycle of bring abused. We must put a stop to it and I think we can. We have a plan that is going to rock the world of being bullied. This is something no one has ever done before . We're going to need your support .. it will cover cyber bullies too.. if you want to help stop bullying stay tuned for updates.

04/13/2015

Here's a shout out to all of my facebook friends! We want to have a fundraiser for First Steps Outreach with Ms. Georgia as a special guest speaker talking about domestic violence and the epidemic of bullying. We are also going to be talking about solutions. Looking for ideas! A couple of ideas are to have a 60's, 70's or 80's party where you can dress up and we will sell raffle tickets, eat food and drink wine. Thanks in advance. We will pick a winner for the best dressed.

04/12/2015

Grace beyond the pain of domestic violence.

I never wore an evening gown
I never wore a beautiful crown
I never wore a sparkle
I most always wore a frown
Falling tears from my face
Angels adorned in lace
falling, calling
crying, begging
Lord, when will you deliver
me from this place?
20 years later-
Gods Grace.
Delivered 2/1997

by: Sandy Chrisman
Crowned Mrs. US WOA 2015/2016

04/05/2015

Court access important to domestic violence victims
Carolyn Copps Hartley 11:46 p.m. CST November 25, 2014
Tiffany Allison 3.png

(Photo: Special to the Register )

The Des Moines Register recently published several articles on domestic abuse, including one about Tiffany Allison, who was abused by a man who spent only 10 months in prison for his offense.

Allison is working to require habitual offenders to serve at least 80 percent of their sentences, as opposed to the mere one-third that her abuser served for a felony domestic violence offense. Tougher sentencing of violent habitual offenders will both punish and deter offenders and keep our communities safer.

While these efforts to improve the criminal justice system's response to domestic violence are laudable, it was disappointing to see the Register's coverage take such a narrow approach to interventions. The criminal justice system is only one piece of a coordinated community response to personal violence.

RELATED: Victim: Repeat offenders need stiffer penalties

Unfortunately, the role of civil legal remedies is often overlooked. In fact, research of the needs of domestic violence victims found that 59 percent of these women were dealing with legal issues unrelated to their abuser.

While civil protective orders are the most common civil intervention for domestic violence, civil courts can address a myriad of needs for victims in addition to immediate safety concerns. Economic issues present a significant barrier for women trying to leave an abusive relationship. Domestic violence is also a chief cause of housing instability and homelessness for women and children. Victims may have difficulty securing or keeping employment, as abusers often interfere with their ability to get to work.

Civil legal services can assist domestic violence victims with a divorce, child custody and support, tax problems, debt relief, identity theft, and employment and housing discrimination, to name a few. These remedies eliminate or reduce barriers that might keep victims trapped in an abusive relationship.

Unfortunately, access to these civil remedies can be challenging without the help of an attorney. Although the U.S. Constitution's Sixth Amendment addresses a defendant's right to counsel in a criminal case, this right is not guaranteed in most civil proceedings unless the case involves a restriction of physical liberty, such civil commitment.

Thus, many victims, particularly those who are low income, are left without access to an attorney in civil matters.

Iowa has simplified some court processes through online forms and instructions for people without legal counsel. However, victims still face significant barriers navigating the civil legal system.

Research has shown that victims are less successful getting civil protective orders when they do not have lawyers, especially if their abusers have an attorney. Typically less than 20 percent of petitioners have legal representation when filing a civil protective order. Victims who file petitions on their own often experience longer delays and greater biases in the court system.

The scarcity of representation and the difficulty in obtaining a protective order is especially concerning, as such an order is often a way for victims to take that initial step away from their abusers.

Iowa Legal Aid is an important resource for domestic violence victims. In all 99 counties, Iowa Legal Aid provides civil legal services that address victims' needs and provides access to the courts.

However, it is woefully underfunded and frequently ignored as a critical lifeline for victims and children. Domestic violence is not just a criminal issue, and jailing perpetrators is not enough. A coordinated community response needs to support victims by providing meaningful access to our civil justice system.

CAROLYN COPPS HARTLEY, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the University of Iowa School of Social Work. Contact: [email protected].

04/05/2015

Exploding the domestic violence myth

2. We must not forget the lesson that seems to have been learned through this case that violent men look a certain way: that is a domestic violence myth, a myth which has now been exposed. Seemingly respectable, middle class professional men are violent toward women.

According to Women’s Aid, 1 in 5 women in Ireland report that they have been the victim of violence at the hands of a current or previous partner. The true figure could be much higher. Some 1 in 3 will endure emotional abuse in the course of a relationship (it’s interesting to note that ‘coercive control’ has recently been made a criminal offence in England and Wales, but it has not been specifically criminalised in Ireland). The prevalence of violence against women is proof enough that it crosses all social boundaries.

And these are not one-offs. Three-quarters of domestic violence incidents are repeat offences and 50% of husbands who beat their wives do so three times a year. Because of the controlling nature of the relationship, the fear of not being believed, the knowledge that leaving is the most dangerous thing a woman can do, these cases are not reported readily.

04/04/2015

My friend Melissa Fleming and board member with First Steps Outreach reminded me that we all must guard our hearts even when it's out family. I talked about remnants of domestic violence recently. Remnants may be a family member trying to get you and the abuser back together, or adult children who learned the abusive behavior and now they are trying to manipulate you. Just remember to guard your heart!

04/04/2015

Colorado Domestic Violence Guide
By Clifton L. Black

Colorado Law Makers (General Assembly) has determined that domestic violence is a very serious threat to our society. As such, the laws surrounding criminal allegations involving domestic violence have provided virtually zero discretion for law enforcement. Basically, if a law enforcement agency receives a report of crime that is domestic violence related, a police officer, deputy sheriff or a law enforcement officer will be dispatched to the location of the call. If there is any claim of domestic violence, an arrest will be made by the cop. Although the intent of the Colorado General Assembly is honorable and respectful in that it seeks to protect victims of domestic violence, often a person is charged with a criminal offense when they are innocent.

When a person is arrested or charged with a domestic violence criminal offense, the suspect will not be allowed to post bond until they have appeared before a judge. Also, in some Colorado jurisdictions, the deputy district attorney / prosecutor will attempt to have the accused enter into a plea agreement immediately, often threatening to add in more charges or threaten to seek jail time if the accused does not accept the plea agreement offered. The unfortunate result is that a suspect may feel pressured or forced to enter a plea before they have a right to seek the advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney.

In many cases involving criminal allegations of domestic violence, the defendant may have a valid defense. An experienced criminal defense attorney will know the various defenses for the criminal charges and may be able to have the case completely dismissed or many of the charges dismissed. The attorneys at Black, & Graham, LLC Attorneys at Law, are experienced at representing defendants charged with domestic violence criminal charges. You may contact the law firm and speak with one of the attorneys today at 719-328-1616.

Furthermore, a mandatory restraining order will be issued against the defendant / accused which generally prevent the defendant / accused of having any contact with the alleged victim of domestic violence for at least 7 days. This mandatory restraining order will prevent the defendant from returning to the family home if that is where the alleged victim resides. This often displaces the person and prevents them from access to their belongings. This can have a drastic affect on employment and family / child relations.

04/04/2015

Have you heard the term "spiritual abuse?" Unfortunately domestic violence and spiritual abuse can go hand in hand. Victims of any kind of abuse need a support system, not only to be safe but to get through the thought process of why someone would be doing this to them.