NCJ Number
62258
Date Published
1978
Length
36 pages
Annotation
AN EVALUATION OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE SHELTER OPERATED BY ABUSED WOMEN'S AID IN CRISIS (AWAIC), ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, IS GIVEN IN THIS FINAL REPORT.
Abstract
AWAIC IS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE ASSAULTED AND BATTERED WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN REFUGE FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND EDUCATION TO ENABLE WOMEN TO IDENTIFY VIABLE LIFESTYLE ALTERNATIVES. IN ADDITION, AWAIC WORKS CLOSELY WITH EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEMS. SERVICES INCLUDE OPERATION OF A RESIDENTIAL SHELTER, A 24-HOUR CRISIS LINE, COUNSELING, TRANSPORTATION, CHILD CARE, AND REFERRAL NETWORK TO EXISTING STATE AND LOCAL SERVICES. THE SCARCITY OF DATA CONCERNING THESE RELATIVELY NEW AREAS OF HUMAN SERVICE MAKE COMPARATIVE ANALYSES IMPOSSIBLE. THE CONCENSUS OF THE LEGAL, MEDICAL, AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS THOSE USING THE SHELTER, HOWEVER, IS THAT THE SHELTER PROVIDES A GREATLY NEEDED SERVICE AND THAT THE NEED WILL CONTINUE. THREE SITE VISITS AT VARIOUS INTERVALS DURING THE YEAR RESULTED IN THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. THE SHELTER DOES NOT DUPLICATE ANY SERVICES OFFERED BY OTHER STATE AGENCIES, AND IS, THEREFORE, WORTHY OF CONTINUED STATE FUNDING. IT IS RECOMMENDED, HOWEVER, THAT AWAIC DEVELOP PROPOSALS TO SOLICIT MORE FUNDS FROM PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS. JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR SHELTER PERSONNEL ARE VAGUE AND IN NEED OF CLARIFICATION. SALARIES ALSO NEED TO BE INCREASED 5 TO 10 PERCENT IF STATE AND PRIVATE PAYROLLS ARE TO BE APPROXIMATE. ADMINISTRATION IN THE FIRST YEAR WAS STRONG ON PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, YET WEAK IN FISCAL MANAGEMENT. CONSEQUENTLY, THE DIRECTOR AND THE BOARD HAVE INCREASED THEIR COMMUNICATONS. ADDITIONALLY, A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT HAS BEEN RETAINED AND SHOULD BE MAINTAINED DURING THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT AWAIC ACCOMPLISHED ITS OBJECTIVES IN THE FIRST YEAR. CHARTS SHOW THE PERTINENT STATISTICAL INFORMATION FOR THIS EVALUATION AS WELL AS PROVISIONS OF STATE LEGISLATION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. (JMB)