Criticism of abuse
By Nanci Kreidman
agencies is unfoundedI received a copy of the League of Women Voters' report, "Victim Safety in Hawaii," which was featured in a front-page story in Monday's Star-Bulletin. In its evaluation of the work done by domestic violence agencies in Hawaii, the League ultimately concluded that what is needed is a coordinated community response to the problem.
This is not a novel idea. And it is very unlikely that we will awaken tomorrow to find such a thing in place. Even though the League asserts that such coordination will reduce the spousal homicide rate in Hawaii, I wish it were that simple.
Domestic violence is a lethal and costly crime. Notorious local and national cases startle us with the reminder that we still have a long way to go before we bring peace and safety to isle families.
For those of us in the trenches, waging our lives and our hearts in this effort every day, we do not need the publication of reports like the League's to educate us about weaknesses in the system.
Women and their whimpering children come into our offices in alarming numbers -- the lucky ones we can assist, the rest who we must turn away as the demand for services far exceeds the capacity to serve. They describe the horrendous acts of violence that have been perpetrated against them, and the ways the system has fallen short of meeting their needs for safety from physical and psychological torture.
It wasn't too long ago that we weren't here at all for any abused women. We used to live in a state with only one shelter for victims. We had no mandatory arrest policy for batterers, no mandatory jail time for abusers, and we did not have vigorous prosecution or supervised visitation centers, much less legal services or specially designed programs, for battered women or perpetrators.
We had no community or statewide discussions at all with policymakers or elected officials, and no Crimes Against Women Packages introduced and chased loyally by program providers.
Those days are over; we have all these things and more.
Institutional reform is a lifelong pursuit. On the days when I have seen too much pain, or become twisted with the burden of responsibility, my husband reminds me, "Not in your lifetime will you see it disappear." Changing belief systems and institutional practices takes a very long time.
One of the most confounding criticisms in the League's report is that we are "concerned with the survival of our agencies." I would think we deserve some gratitude for that. If not for our relentless quest for money to have programs available, where would we be? It isn't often we see others joining with us to raise funds for the maintenance and growth of our agencies. It takes funds and somebody has to beg for it.
THERE is more work to do. There are many improvements still to be made. For 20 years I have been working to bring peace to island families. I have seen enormous changes already, so I know it is possible.
We have affected hundreds of laws; created new small corporations to provide social, health and legal services; trained thousands of community citizens and agents of our system in the schools, courts, prisons, police departments and other public agencies; and have raised the level of attention to this problem. Once, that would have seemed unimaginable.
This work does not pay well and is not highly valued, since women and family are often secondary issues to more "important" items on the social, political and economic agenda. Yet here we are.
We have a lot to be proud of. We are often guilty, ourselves, of criticizing rather than celebrating our achievements. Therefore, in closing, let me take this opportunity to thank all of the people who work with us to bring peace closer to home for Hawaii's families, since the League of Women Voters did not.
Nanci Kreidman is executive director of the
Domestic Violence Clearinghouse & Legal Hotline.