Domestic violence victims can develop a kind of tunnel vision in which they think their situations are unique with no possibility of escape. Chickasaw Nation Director of Violence Prevention Janie Loch wants victims with this mindset to know nothing could be further from the truth.
“One of the most important things we want to communicate to victims of domestic violence is they are not alone. We want them to know services are available and urge them to reach out. It’s not their fault,” Loch said.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and an opportunity for the Chickasaw Nation to alert victims to the many resources offered in their time of need.
The Chickasaw Nation Department of Family Services offers a wide array of services in support of domestic violence prevention and intervention.
“We have wraparound services available for violence prevention,” Loch said. “The biggest part of our program is for victims, but we also conduct a batterers’ intervention program led by Teresa Morgan, our program manager.”
Morgan said the course for batterers is a 52-week, court-ordered program that goes by the acronym OTAP. “OTAP stands for Own violence, Take responsibility and Act responsibly Program,” she said.
Morgan said OTAP has seen an impressive success rate with less than 10% falling back into their old habits after completing the program. “It changes their belief system,” she said.
“We see a lot of generational violence where a mother was a victim and the daughter also becomes a victim, and the same with perpetrators,” Loch said. “Through Teresa’s OTAP program we teach them First American cultural values. These are core values the tribe lives by, and we communicate to them that violence is not traditional.”
Loch said it is not just girls and women who are subject to domestic violence.
“The number of men we see is significantly lower because it is so underreported,” she said. “Men are probably less than 5%. Children are approximately 60% with women totaling about 35% of the victims we see.”
The Chickasaw Nation operates a shelter in Ada, Oklahoma, for victims of domestic violence.
“When victims arrive, we review a service plan with them to find out what they want to achieve. We get them employment because often they haven’t been allowed to work outside the home. That, or we get them back into school. Then our navigators find housing for them,” Loch said.
“Once they leave the shelter, our navigators continue to perform home visits to offer continued support for as long as it is needed.”
Loch said Chickasaw Nation Violence Prevention Services are not exclusive to Chickasaws and other First Americans but include non-First American people as well.
“We are open to anyone who calls as long as they are in our service area or are willing to relocate. For Chickasaws, we provide services wherever they are located,” she said.
A candlelight vigil is planned to call attention to Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Kathryn P. Boswell Memorial Chapel at East Central University in Ada.
Those needing support for domestic violence can call the Chickasaw Nation Violence Prevention Services office Monday through Friday at (580) 272-5580. For after-hours assistance, victims can call the toll-free hotline at (855) 405-7645.
Those wanting information regarding court cases are asked to call the Chickasaw Nation Crime Victim’s Support Hotline at (833) 774-1601.
“The Chickasaw Nation Crime Victim’s Support Hotline is mainly for people who have a court case and need to know the latest information,” Morgan said. “We help them get what they need as soon as possible.”
For additional information, visit Chickasaw.net/Services/Family/Domestic-Services.