Family Support Services launches program to support victims, families

Incidents of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and substance abuse go up during hard economic times, like we have experienced in 2020 as we have all suffered through the COVID-19 pandemic. Job losses, foreclosures, health issues and fear for the future put tremendous stress on families.

Unfortunately, those stresses are often taken out on members of the family, significant others and loved ones.

What we know is:

-- One in four women and nearly one in 10 men experience intimate partner violence (IPV) sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner.

-- At least one in seven children have experienced child abuse and/or neglect in the past year.

-- That drug overdoses increased 18 percent, and alcohol sales have increased by more than 25 percent in the past year.

The team at Family Support Services of West Central Indiana believes that it is the responsibility of all of us to participate in eliminating intimate partner violence, child abuse and addiction in our communities. Every day our team of frontline, direct support staff work and volunteers work with victims and families in Putnam, Owen, Clay, Parke, Montgomery and Boone counties providing support, guidance, and intervention.

Through the organization’s work in 2020:

-- The Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Victim Services Program in Putnam, Clay and Parke counties has experienced a 26 percent increase in crisis calls from victims of intimate partner violence in 2020.

-- The Healthy Families Program in Putnam, Owen, Boone and Montgomery counties provided services to an average of more than 150 families per month.

-- The Putnam County Recovery Coalition continues to serve 8-15 individuals a week through programs like Parents of Addicted Loved Ones.

“COVID 19 has provided many unique challenges for all of us this year,” Executive Director Scott Monnett said.“The struggles that many in our community are facing have not improved, in fact, they continue to get worse. Following the COVID related cancellation of key fundraising events and activities the board and staff of FSSWCI have been working hard and adjusting to set a plan to provide more support for our clients in 2021 and we need the help of the businesses and individuals in the communities we serve to reach this goal.”

FSSWCI has developed a new funding program called the FSSWCI Sustainer Fund. The Sustainer Fund is a pledge program that allows you to contribute a small amount each month to make a long-term investment in creating a world where no one is abused and all victims of violence have the support and resources they need, where all children are raised by nurturing, skilled parents and individuals and families battling addiction have access to a supportive recovery network.

It’s a simple way to multiply and leverage the impact of your charitable giving and be part of a select group of our most loyal donors. With a simple monthly gift, or a one-time contribution, individuals and businesses can have a tremendous impact on those who need it most at the time they need it most.

Why is this program important? A reliable monthly gift to the Sustainer Fund will allow FSSWCI to respond to the urgent needs of our families and victims as they arise. Continued success of the organization means we need sustainable support. For more than 40 years, FSSWCI has provided effective support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, parenting education – helping parents and children thrive, preventing child abuse and neglect, and transforming lives for the better.

Beginning Giving Tuesday, Dec. 1, you can donate to the Sustainer Fund. Your continued support helps to provide a stronger community one individual and family at a time.

For more information, or to make your Sustainer Fund contribution over the phone, contact Executive Director Scott Monnett at 653-4820, extension 101 or scott.monnett@pcfss.net.

To donate, visit https://fsswci.net/donate.