During her life, Nina Mason Pulliam helped countless women gain self-sufficiency and provided many with educational scholarships to better their lives. Her legacy of empowering women continues today. Since its beginnings in 1998 the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has awarded more than $5 million to 63 organizations in Arizona and Indiana that work to improve the lives of women and children affected by domestic violence.

Read on to learn how Trust grants are helping to bring the issue of domestic violence out of the shadows. For a full listing of Trust-supported domestic violence groups in each state link to Arizona or Indiana.

Programs Unique to Indiana and Arizona

The Julian Center, Indianapolis

Sadly, more than 21,000 women in Marion County are physically abused by their partners each year. The Julian Center is a unique nonprofit agency providing counseling, safe shelter and education for women and children who are escaping abuse. In 2000 it came out of the shadows from an undisclosed location to create a new shelter and transitional housing complex along a well-traveled thoroughfare near the center of Indianapolis.

The Julian Center is comprised of 32 units of housing, kitchen, cafeteria, art therapy room, schoolroom for children (kindergarten through eighth grade), and offices for medical and legal professionals. However, its unique and path-breaking feature is that it also houses the Indianapolis Police Department's (IPD) newly formed Domestic Violence Branch, whose primary focus is to follow up on domestic-related arrests and batteries. A Marion County deputy prosecutor completes the team of four uniformed police officers and 10 detectives. Ann DeLaney, executive director of the Julian Center, explains, "The primary goals of the Branch are to make prosecution easier for victims with detective intervention, to hold the batterer accountable for his or her behavior, and to decrease domestic violence homicide rates through early intervention and enforcement. This co-location of services is proving to be very successful. Between January 1, 2003 and October 31, 2003, the Branch investigated 2,846 cases, leading to 1,943 arrests."

Additionally, the strong presence of the IPD at the facility creates a secure environment for its residents, who no longer must remain in the shadows to feel and be safe while recovering and rebuilding their lives.

The White House has designated the Julian Center to be the community model for reducing domestic violence and has provided funding to create 15 other Family Justice Centers across the country.

For more information about the Julian Center, call 317-941-2200 or visit www.juliancenter.org

Area Agency on Aging, Domestic Older Victims Empowerment and Safety (DOVES) program, Phoenix, Arizona

The unique focus of the Domestic Older Victims Empowerment and Safety (DOVES) program is serving men and women over the age of 50. The Area Agency on Aging moved beyond its traditional programming because in Maricopa County people in this age group represent a substantial percentage (almost 33 percent in 2003) of all reported domestic violence deaths. The DOVES program combines safe housing with counseling, legal advocacy and employment assistance, with the goal of helping clients become self-sufficient.

In 2003 with the assistance of the city of Phoenix, the agency purchased and renovated a multifamily housing complex that provides 17 DOVES clients with transitional housing for up to two years. Prior to the DOVES program the only available shelter for older clients was emergency beds located in assisted-living facilities for a maximum of two weeks.

For more information about Area Agency on Aging and/or the DOVES program, call 602-264-2255 or visit www.aaaphx.org

"System-Changing" Grants

To further help women who are victims of domestic violence, the Trust has awarded several grants to develop innovative programs that provide coordinated delivery of domestic violence services in Phoenix and Indianapolis.

CONTACS Hot Line and the Domestic Violence Safe Temporary Overflow Program (DV STOP), Maricopa County, Arizona

Like almost every urban area in the country, the Valley of the Sun faces a critical shortage of emergency beds for domestic violence victims, as well as for the homeless. Only 20 to 30 percent of those who call the CONTACS hot line find immediate emergency housing in one of the Valley's domestic violence or homeless shelters, representing over 1,500 beds.

To make up for the shortfall, since 1999 the Valley's many hotels and motels have been donating rooms on a nightly basis through the Domestic Violence Safe Temporary Overflow Program (DV STOP). Managed by PREHAB of Arizona, a nonprofit social services agency, in collaboration with the Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross, DV STOP provides 24-hour emergency counseling, case management and parent-aide support until appropriate longer-term shelter space is available. To date, DV STOP has assisted more than 2,400 women and children.

PREHAB of Arizona's President Michael Hughes is appreciative of the opportunity to operate DV STOP. "It truly has been an important piece of our service continuum and mission, which is Helping Families and Changing Lives. Because of DV STOP, we never have had to turn anyone away due to lack of space."

(In Phoenix, access the CONTACS system or DV STOP by dialing 602-263-8900 (or outside Phoenix, 800-799-7739). For more information about DV STOP, call PREHAB of Arizona at 480-939-4024 or visit www.prehab.org

Domestic Violence Navigation Hub, Greater Indianapolis

Through the work of the Domestic Violence Network of Greater Indianapolis (DVNGI), domestic violence victims have access to a 24-hour telephone response system. Information and Referral Network, in collaboration with the United Way of Central Indiana, runs the service. Since beginning operations in 2003, the Hub has received 3,600 calls and anticipates that the number will grow to more than 10,000 by the end of 2006. Through AT&T, the Hub response team has access to translators who can speak any language in order to assist callers immediately.

Before 2004 the Navigation Hub's single telephone number to access domestic violence services was a critical missing link. Available services range from immediate emergency housing needs to legal assistance to mental health counseling. As one victim put it, "I have to make my first call count because it may be my only call." This powerful statement attests to the need for the Hub, especially when census figures show that more than 100,000 women in Marion County may need assistance at one time or another as a result of domestic violence.

"Without the Hub, the DVNGI would be greatly challenged in reaching its full potential to increase the capacity of the area's domestic violence service providers," says Tracey Horth Krueger, executive director. "The project creates a live telephone response for people needing help. It maximizes safety, gives access to resources through a single telephone call and supports callers seeking assistance with domestic abuse. The Hub is not an added program but instead makes existing services easier to access when help is needed."

In Indianapolis, access the Domestic Violence Navigation Hub and services by simply dialing 2-1-1 (or outside of Indianapolis, 317-926-4357). For more information about the Hub and the DVNGI, call 317-475-6110 or visit www.dvngi.org

The empowerment of women

Domestic abuse is not just someone else's problem. It is a community problem because every six hours a woman is killed as a result of domestic abuse and every 10 seconds an act of domestic violence occurs. Domestic violence affects one in four American families.

"Nina Pulliam cared deeply about women and families and the issues that confront them. Through the Nina Scholars program (see Connections article "40 New Nina Scholars Begin Studies" this issue) and the support of organizations dedicated to helping women recover from domestic violence, the Trust is continuing Nina's legacy of empowering women to lead productive and healthy lives," said Trustee Carol Schilling.