HANCOCK COUNTY — An Anderson-based crisis center that helps victims of domestic and sexual abuse is seeking a new advocate to assist Hancock County residents in need.
Rachel Dennis, who served as Alternative Inc.’s victim advocate and outreach coordinator for two years, left her position at the end of 2018, said outreach program manager Natalie Warren. As the county’s victim advocate, Dennis assisted police with crisis response for both domestic violence and sexual assault cases as well as leading prevention programming in Greenfield’s middle and high schools.
“She has been a great asset to Alternatives Inc,” Warren said. “She has provided knowledge to the community that may not have gotten there without her and helped move our mission forward for domestic violence victims.”
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
In her time as the victim advocate, Dennis established the 5K Against Violence, a springtime run/walk that raises awareness — and funds — for the organization. In its first year, in 2017, the run/walk raised about $3,500 for Alternatives.
The 5K Against Violence run/walk was a project of the 2016-17 class of Leadership Hancock County, which included Dennis.
Dennis said she has taken a position with another organization that serves victims of domestic violence. Before her two years as the Hancock County victim advocate and outreach coordinator, Dennis worked as a shelter advocate, working closely with women and children who have been abused, often answering phone calls from women seeking help or shelter and then assisting new residents as they adjusted to life in the shelter, which is in Anderson.
Warren said the victim advocate positions at Alternatives work with the rest of the Alternatives team but also lead educational efforts in their service areas.
“We’re looking for someone that’s passionate about the work and willing to help people,” she said. “We are currently interviewing for the position.”
Alternatives, Inc., serves Madison, Hamilton and Tipton counties in addition to Hancock County. The organization’s domestic violence shelter, the heart of its mission, also serves as an overflow shelter for when shelters in Marion County are full, Warren said. Women and children who need to leave unsafe conditions at home are referred there.
In 2017, the latest year for which data is available, the organization served 362 individuals and provided 8,045 safe nights in its shelter, she said. Alternatives served 440 people through its outreach program in 2017, she said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About Alternatives Inc” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Madison County-based Alternatives Inc. is a nonprofit advocacy and intervention organization that strives to eradicate domestic and sexual violence through education, prevention and assisting law enforcement. It serves families in Hancock, Hamilton, Henry, Madison, Marion and Tipton counties.
Alternatives maintains a shelter in Anderson. Women and children who need to leave dangerous situations at home — including people from Hancock County — are referred there.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
