Battered Families Services, Inc., a local direct service community-based program that provides comprehensive services for those experiencing domestic violence, is working with local Law Enforcement entities to provide temporary immediate assistance to victims of crime.
The program provides services to victims/survivors, children, and those that have been abusive in a relationship. Established in 1981, Battered Families Services has worked to empower and support the efforts of those experiencing domestic violence to change their circumstances. Serving Gallup and local communities within McKinley County and the surrounding counties, including the Navajo Nation and Pueblo of Zuni; the organization has become a resource for the community and surrounding areas.
The vision statement states:
“Our vision is for residents of McKinley County and immediate surrounding areas to be safe from all forms of violence. As an organization we respond to individuals and families in crisis; provide ongoing support for those healing from the effects of domestic and sexual violence; and reach out to children, adults, and organizations to educate and prevent future violence. We believe offenders should be held accountable and provided the opportunity for re-education when appropriate. Understanding the many cultures in our community, we maintain a voice of anti-oppression and social justice. In the spirit of community building, we collaborate with local, state and national resources, work to raise awareness, build bridges, and improve systems on behalf of survivors. We believe that given resources, time, and support, survivors will make the best decisions possible for themselves and their families.”
Comprehensive services provided include – 24/7 emergency shelter and crisis line, Legal Advocacy (court accompaniment, assistance with filing protection orders, divorce, child custody issues, power of attorneys, and educating on legal processes), Children’s Program (individual, group, and family case management with safety planning, goal setting, referrals, and Parenting Classes), Housing Program (transitional housing, rapid rehousing, financial assistance with security deposits and rent payments, and housing support services), community outreach & education, Batterer Intervention Program (men’s groups and women’s group), and providing incarcerated individuals with skill building courses to assist in re-entering society (at the local McKinley County Adult Detention Center). Clients receive services at no charge. Services are available to all individuals regardless of their race, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.
Currently, BFS identified a gap in services and has found a way to assist criminal justice personnel in meeting the immediate needs of victims in crisis. BFS received funding through its Missing Murdered Persons program for Fiscal Year 2024 to address victim needs. Having previously met with law enforcement over the course of the year, it was stated that oftentimes victims of crime (and/or their children) may be waiting with law enforcement while a case is proceeding and may not have some essential needs (food, clothing, child care items, etc.) that officers have paid out of their own pocket. With the understanding that needs vary on a case by case basis, BFS has offered a number of gift cards to the following entities for this purpose – Gallup Police Department, McKinley County Sheriff’s Department, Ramah Navajo Nation Police Department, and Zuni Prosecutor’s Office. Ramah Navajo Nation Police Department will also receive a camera to use and a car seat.
BFS organized and coordinated with each of the entities listed. Gift cards will be housed with a responsible party to document and assist with authorization of use. Gift cards are to be used only when reasonably necessary, for urgent and short-term victim needs, as a one-time assistance. BFS has provided a guiding policy to each of the entities which outlines the storage and custody of gift cards, issuance of gift cards, and use of gift cards to maintain internal controls.
Unallowable items include – alcohol, cigarettes, entertainment, illegal drugs, unnecessary expenses, resale or cashing out of cards or as an incentive for participation in services. Authorization is documented on an accompanying form. Gift cards will expire in May 2027 and are only in the amount of $50.
On Aug. 9, BFS met with Ramah Navajo Nation Police Department’s Chief of Police Tyler Woody. Woody expressed gratitude for the gift cards provided, camera for case documentation, and car seat for small children who may need to be transported. These needs were identified by the police staff and will help with the crime experienced in the community.
The items were delivered by BFS Operations Director Sabrina Martine and BFS Program Manager Dianne Nakai. BFS staff also traveled to Zuni to deliver gift cards to the Zuni Prosecutor’s Office afterward. Meeting with Zuni Tribal Prosecutor Kerin Leche and two of her staff, Martine and Nakai received appreciation on behalf of BFS for the clients they work with and the needs they encounter.
Then on Aug.15 McKinley County Sheriff James Maiorano III came to the BFS Administrative Office to receive a batch of gift cards for crime victims on behalf of his agency. BFS Legal Advocate Marinda Spencer, BFS Shelter Manager Delphine Johnson and Martine were present to talk with the Sheriff about BFS services and how the gift cards can be used.
During the course of the discussion, the Sheriff expressed gratitude and shared an example of how one incident involved spending 16 hours with a child who was removed from their home, due to domestic violence. At that moment, it had to be figured out where to place the child, and needing to wait for the Children, Youth, and Families Department in Albuquerque to make that determination. There was no fund in their office to cover the needs of the child and at the time, taking care of the child was left to the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office to pay out of their own pocket.
BFS sought to provide a batch of gift cards to the Gallup Police Department, for crime victims served by their agency. However, they respectfully declined, which was at the discretion of their leadership.
This funding came from the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission, which is an entity that provides financial assistance to victims of crime in addressing needs that were created by the crimes they experienced. If clients need further financial assistance relating to their case, they may contact BFS to get assistance in filling out a CVRC application.
From their FY2020 Annual Report, the NMCVRC received almost 4,000 compensation applications for the state. Categories of benefits requested included: funeral, lost wages, hospital, sexual assault exams, counseling, rent, medical, relocation, child sexual assault exam, travel, dental, domestic violence exams, ambulance, crime scene clean-up, loss of support, alternative medicine, property loss, prescriptions, inpatient counseling, child abuse exams, dependent care, and eyeglasses.
It is BFS’s hope that victims won’t have to feel re-victimized in the process of their incident or case proceeding, and to alleviate what may occur with children as well. Years of working with clients have given victim-service providers, such as BFS, perspective for some of the impact of the crime victims experience. This effort to coordinate with law enforcement and the criminal justice system will continue. BFS seeks to help build a safer community, by responding to those in crisis, and continuing the efforts to build bridges with other community service providers.
By Dianne Nakai
Program Manager for Battered Families Services, Inc.
