Chippewa County

Domestic Violence Group

Sexual Violence Group

Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

(906) 635-0566

Luce County

8am-4pm Monday– Friday

407 W. Harrie Street

Newberry, MI 49868

(906) 293-48543

Mackinac County

Domestic Violence Group

Sexual Violence Group

Girls Group

246 Ferry Lane

St. Ignace, MI 49781

(906) 643-0498

OR CALL OUR TOLL-FREE

24-HOUR CRISIS LINE AT

1-800-882-1515

We Accept Donations!

Diane Peppler Resource Center

Support Groups

Alarm Clocks

Kitchen Supplies

Pots & Pans

Pillows

Laundry Soap

Paper Products

Trash Bags

Diaper Wipes

Cleaning Supplies

Face Wash

Gift Cards

Tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.)

Body Wash

Toothbrushes

Tooth Paste

Shaving Items

Deodorant

Diapers (Size 5) Gas Cards Volunteers to help around shelter (cleanup)

Family Movies

New underwear- various

sizes

New socks -various sizes

Towels

Furniture -new & gently

used

Mattresses

Bikes

Outside Kids Toys

Hair Brushes

Bedding

Fishing Poles

Diane Peppler Resource Center

Annual Report 2012 P.O. Box 698

Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

(906) 635-0566

Toll Free 1-800-882-1515

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

~ Lao Tzu

Our Mission

Our Philosophy

To provide an atmosphere free from domestic and sexual violence in which survivors can recognize their options to have the opportunity to continue living violence free.

To educate our community and systems within it that domestic and sexual violence is primarily against women and children, and is the result of im-balance of power and control.

To provide on-going prevention programs and services to reduce the inci-dents of physical and emotional abuse against partners and children, therefore creating a healthier environment.

Domestic and sexual assault are violent acts committed against a person’s will. It is a universal crime committed most often against women and chil-dren. This criminal conduct can’t be tolerated, as it has devastating effects on the victims and the entire society. A comprehensive community re-sponse to domestic and sexual assault through education, advocacy and other appropriate interventions are necessary to bringing about change to end the violence.

The Diane Peppler Resource Center is committed to working within the social system to erase the myths, thereby having blame placed on the per-petrator. We are further committed to promoting the empowerment of survivors so that they may make informed decisions for themselves.

We will treat survivors with dignity and respect and provide them the sup-port and advocacy necessary to reestablish their sense of well-being.

2011/2012 Financial Report Expenses

$554,484.07

$68,960.13

$24,046.19

$204,885.18

$32.761.24

$25,621.61

$2,266.70

$90,089.60

$1,003,114.72

$854,578.05

$11,512.30

$52,894.50

$71,084.50

$17,664.19

Revenue

$1,007,733.76

Expenses

*Information shown is prior to fiscal year audit*

Donations The Diane Peppler Resource Center would like to thank the following in-dividuals and agencies who helped us by donating during the past year.

Your donations are always very appreciated and well used!

American Spoon

AMI

Ashley Burger

Barbara Bertram

Bath & Body Works

Beatrice Jackson

Betty Daniels

Betty Smith

Beverly Proulx

Brandy & Sara

Brenda Kinny

Brimley Craft Girls

Butch Goldale

Candy Corner Central United Methodist Church

CFI Chippewa & Mackinac Re-tired School Personnel Chippewa County Correc-tional Facility Chippewa County Probate Court

Church of Christ

Connie Winkler

Courtney Schier

Coyla Graver

Cup of the Day

Dana Vanderwater

Danielle Small

Deborah & Terry Menard

Denise Haldade

Department of Corrections

Detour Christian Church

Diane Fettar

Diane Morgan Ed & Ginny Johnson

Edge of the Woods

Eileen Damiano

Elk’s Lodge

Eric Blubaugh

Erik Welsh

Family Video

FIP

First Presbyterian Church

Fish & Loaves Ministry

Free Methodist Church

Girl Scout Troop #5042

Grace Johnson

Harold & Gail Essmaker

Hirti Witucki

I-500

James Casey

JC Penney

Jean Huntley

Jen Gillet

Jessica Olinskas

John Wallish Joyce Nadolny Julie Rye

June Davis

Karen Homminga

Kate Ross

Kathleen & Leo Joutsie

Kathleen Skwaisly

Kathy Rautio Keeping the Piece Quilt Guild

Kim Dutcher Kinross Correctional Facil-ity

Leslie Dobbertin

Linda Hawkings Lock City Chorus of Sweet Adelines

Lorna Bricco

Lynn Wicks

Mackinaw Woman’s Club

Marcy Smith

Marshalls Fudge

Mary Carnly

Mary Martha Circle

McCullough Contruction

Nancy Martien National Honor Society National Office Products

Nicole Morack

Nora Iggard

Ojibway

Old Mission Bank Our Lady of the Snow Par-ish

Pat Gort

Peggy Hagerty

Peter Decourcy Phat Closet Phil Dandill

Pickford Public Library

Rachel Claunch

Rexton Mennonite Church

Rich Benson

River & Samantha

Robin Rosie

Rudyard Girl Scout Troop

Sacred Heart Church

Sandi Lahti

Sandy Spiwak

Sault Area High School

Sault Area Middle School

Shannon

Shawn Seagles

Shirley Stevens

Soo Lions Club

Soo Super Value St. Isaac Jagues Catholic Church St. Mary’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Stalwart Presbyterian Church Stalwart Presbyterian Woman’s Association

Steel Workers Union

Sugar Island Lioness Club

Sunrise Rotary

Terry Parker

The Park Inn

Tony Hallard

Tony Wizaver

Tracy Menard

United States Border Patrol United States Coast Guard Enlistment Association United States Homeland Security Varsity Cinema Vicki Reidy Village Fabrico & Crafts Wayne Berry

A Note From the Executive Director

Michelle Hank

Executive Director

Prevention and justice continues to be two very important ways to stop violence. DPRC staff collaborates with local professionals including medical, legal and social services to enhance services, and reduce gaps

During the past year we have provided 2,693 shelter nights to women and their children who have fled their own home. In addi-tion, we have provided counseling, advocacy, and outreach ser-vices to over 520 families who may or may not need emergency shelter within Luce, Chippewa and Mackinac Counties. To be ac-cessible, we have staff available in Sault Ste. Marie, Newberry, and St. Ignace.

As you will see throughout this report DPRC is proud to be a service to our tri-county area and will continue to emphasize that violence is inexcusable.

Michelle Hank

Executive Director

Greetings,

I am honored to present this year’s annual report of the Diane Peppler Resource Center. I recently accepted the position of Executive Di-rector and am learning much about the great work being accomplished at the Center. As you read through this report I am confident you will be amazed by the work of the staff in providing services to victims of domestic violence.

The Diane Peppler Resource Center (DPRC) has been providing 24 hour crisis and outreach services to help eliminate this crime in our community for over 32 years. We are dedicated to providing quality programs to ensure safety and alternatives to violence for victims and their children.

The Diane Peppler Resource Center has been providing quality services to survivors of domestic and sexual assault for 32 years. These services are provided throughout the Eastern Upper Peninsula and include: shelter for survivors and their children, crisis and support counseling for all ages, 24 hour crisis hotline and emergency response, referral and advocacy, child care, and transportation assistance. This agency also of-fers a Transitional Housing Program, a Sexual Assault Preven-tion Education Program, a Parenting Program (Chippewa County), and a Strong Families/Safe Children Program (Mackinac County). All of our programs will be detailed in ar-ticles throughout this annual report.

During the past year, Rotary International chose DPRC to receive funds for a renovation project to honor Betsy Demaray. This has been an exciting undertaking for the staff and we feel fortunate to be able to name our new rooms after Betsy. She has had such a positive influence on our community, and we hope that we can follow her lead.

A year ago, one of our staff, Kathy Smithers, was honored by being selected to be a member of the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence Board of Directors. Kathy is the only representative from the Upper Peninsula on this state wide board and was chosen due to her 31 years of dedica-tion to ending domestic and sexual violence.

A Note From the Assistant Director

Kathy Smithers

Assistant Director

Meet Our Support Staff!

Michelle Bennin

Financial Manager

Sharon Brown

Administrative Assistant

Volunteer Recognition The Diane Peppler Resource Center would like to thank the fol-

lowing volunteers for their valuable assistance with the crisis line, shelter coverage, and other wonderful contributions!

Board Of Directors

Lori Miller Alexis Lambros Beverly Proulx

Eric Blubaugh Christine Akkanen Mindy Poliski

Jeffrey Slager Deborah Colbert

Liaison: Rod Nelson

Lois Kenney-Pres. Mark Wilk-V.P. Trish Brazil-Sec/Tres

Aaron Christiansen

Alexis Lambros Alyssa McKenie

Amy Vandusen

Andy Johnson

Angela Chartier

Arnie Hallai

Bev Proulx

Branson Lajoie

Brian Allen

Cammie Threfall

Chris Akkanen Christian Nagewoort

Courtney Shier

Crystal Earl

Doreen Howson

Ellen Quinlivan

Emily Deyoung

Eric Blubaugh

Frank Stempki Greg Rambo Hali McKelvie

Haran Ellis Jamie Vanderville Jenni Parker

Jennifer Wheeler Jessica Marble Jessica Parmer Jillian Schupp Joe Sysol

John Reanoir

Katie Schartz

Katrina Hoover

Kayla McDowell Kayla Schartz Kevin Bey Kody Stieve

Lauryn LaFoille

Linda Christie Lindsey Davis Lizzie Brown

Logan French

Lois Kenny

Mark Howson

Mark Wilk Mary Ellis

Maryanne Otten

Matt Lachapelle Megan Umlor Melissa Merchant Nancy Seymour Nathan Clausky

Pat Lehman Polly Ross Shayla Gallagher

Sharon Fegan Shirley Stevens Shoshie Gardiner Stephanie Colvin

Susan Rambo Susan Stretke Taylor Neal

Tony Rhome

Tracy Schupp

Trevor Gage

Trish Brazil

Wade McKenzie

Zachary Spurr

In May, the Diane Peppler Resource Center held a two day volunteer training session. The training was held May 15th & May 17th, from 6pm-9pm at the Huntington Bank Community Room. The sessions lasted 3 hours in length per night, during which the following topics were covered; the DPRC’s philosophy, Power & control wheel, how to talk to someone in crisis and all the other services the DPRC has to offer.

August 23rd seen the annual Volunteer Picnic at the DPRC. Grilled bur-gers and hotdogs, as well as pop, chips, cookies and an evening of comrad-ery were shared by all in attendance. This event also allowed some newer volunteers to meet more of the staff at the DPRC.

As always, our volunteers help to provide 24-hour crisis line coverage, shelter coverage, and assist with any number of fundraiser and events the shelter hosts throughout the year, and we would be lost without them!

Volunteer Program

Total volunteers for the year

Total volunteer hours for the year

6,128 68

Legal Advocate The Diane Peppler Resource Center provides legal advocacy in

all counties. The legal advocate works closely with police depart-

ments and the County Prosecutor’s Office. We provide assistance

to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. When an assault

is reported, the legal advocate is contacted by the police depart-

ment involved and/or the prosecutor’s office. The advocate then

contacts the victim, explains the program to him/her, and offers

assistance. This may be the first contact a victim has with the

Diane Peppler Resource Center. The Legal Advocate offers assis-

tance with legal issues ranging from attending court, explaining the

legal process or steps of the criminal case, to helping the survivor

with filing a Person Protection Order. The Legal Advocate attends

all of the domestic violence and sexual assault court hearings in

their county. It’s important to keep up to date with the court pro-

ceedings in case a victim requests assistance or has any questions.

Becky Rambo

Legal Advocate

Luce & Mackinac County Outreach

The Luce County office is located in the Luce County Government Building. There is one staff member in the office. This office provides counseling, legal and medical advocacy, referral to transitional housing, dating violence preven-tion programs in the local schools, and presentations to the community. In addition the staff member represents the Diane Peppler Resource Center on various collaborative boards and groups. The staff member also provides vol-unteer recruitment and training. One of events in Luce County include the Burger Bash fundraiser in June sponsored and presented by the Newberry Fireman’s association which raised over $1,200 and raised awareness of the program. Another big event was the Wii Can Beat Violence Teen Program in September where we combined fun and challenging activities with learning about dating and sexual violence. We also took part in the Luce County Child Advocacy Day getting information to children and parents regarding “Good touch-Bad touch. We were present at the Health Fair sponsored by the Sault Tribe and distributed information re-garding sexual and domestic violence and dating violence. Luce County is also working to form a Domestic Violence Task Force like the one in Mackinac County to bring law enforcement, prosecution, and do-mestic violence advocates together to work as a team to provide better investi-gation, more prosecutions and services to the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The DV Task Force in Mackinac County is continuing to meet weekly bringing together prosecution, law enforcement, and domestic violence ad-vocacy working as a team to provide better investigations, more prosecu-tions, and services to the victims of domestic violence. As for fundraising efforts, the 4th Annual Burger Bash/ Family Fun Night held on June 21, 2012 was a huge success. There were 106 people in attendance, which is triple what we had last year. There were tug of war, sack races, duck pond, and kite flying enjoyed by all the kids at the event and the adults enjoyed the music and raffles. All who came enjoyed a tasty burger cooked up by the St. Ignace Fire Department. The event raised $775 to help provide services to victims of domestic and sexual violence. The event was held at the Red, White, and Blue Park, downtown St. Ignace, a perfect location for a large gathering of people on a beautiful day. Thanks to the community for the support and we look forward to holding this event again next year. In the form of providing community awareness, the 4th Annual Strike Out the Violence Teen Event took place last September 2011, with 38 Mid-dle School and High School students in attendance. There were some great grand prizes given away, including an IpodTouch, Digital Cameras, a Wii Console and much more. Every student left with more knowledge of healthy relationships and a bag full of goodies, including a gift card for a local restaurant. The students played a dating violence game while bowling with their friends. It’s a great opportunity to teach the students about healthy relationships while they are having fun.

Phyllis French

Advocate/Counselor

(906) 293-3581

Erica Rhome

Victim Advocate

(906) 643-0498

The Diane Peppler Resource Center provides assistance to survivors

of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. I have had to opportunity of

working with clients at the Women’s New Hope Recovery Center and

providing sexual assault and domestic violence advocacy. Once a week, I

also provide support group for sexual assault survivors. As a victim’s ad-

vocate in Sault Ste. Marie, I also am able to offer advocacy services for

the women that are staying at the shelter. Our goal is to provide a safe,

secure, and supportive environment for those that are receiving services

from our center. I look forward to learning how to better serve survivors

of Domestic violence and Sexual assault and hope to continue ascertain-

ing ways to enrich their lives.

As the Crisis Counselor for the Sault Ste. Marie office, I have the op-portunity to work with a wide range of clients who are the survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence. I also get to work with clients at Men’s New Hope Recovery Center by providing domestic and sexual assault ad-vocacy. As a victim’s advocate, I also get to work with the clients, both adults and children, who reside in the shelter. I currently run the in-house sexual assault survivors group once per week. In my short time with the shelter (since May), I have had the chance to work with both male and female clients ranging in ages from 5 to 60+.

I am a crisis intervention caseworker, victim advocate at the Diane Peppler Resource Center. I run the in-house domestic violence support group. An allotted 2-hr block helps me interact with the clients and we discuss many situations related to domestic violence, how it affects their children, communal living, goals, housing, and we do self-esteem build-ing speeches. Overall, turn out has been excellent, and over the course of their time at Diane Peppler Resource Center you can see a positive transi-tion. Support groups are definitely a positive tool that we offer.

Artisha Volz

Victim Advocate

Melissa Merchant Crisis Counselor/

Volunteer Coordinator

Samantha Masterson

Victim Advocate

Counseling & Support Groups

Total Sexual Assault Clients served: 73

Total Sexual Assault Group Units: 218

Total Sexual Assault Counseling Units: 687

Total domestic Vio-lence Group Units:275

Total Domestic Violence Counseling Units: 4,545

Total Domestic Violence Clients Served: 265

Total Domestic Violence Shelter Nights: 2,693

Teen Prevention Program

The Prevention Program of the Diane Peppler Resource Center has had a year filled with many ups and at least one down. To start, the highlight of the year was the collaboration of the Sex-ual Violence Prevention Team, Student Life of Lake Superior State University, Bay Mills Mental Health, and Journey to Healing to bring in national speaker Michelle Corrao. Michelle gave a wonder-ful and emotional presentation on prevention to a standing room only crowd for our annual Take Back/Give Back the Night event. She was then welcomed into the Pickford high school to talk with the students and to round out her time here, a presentation for workers, community members, and students of the Bay Mills Native Ameri-can community. The annual White Ribbon and White Out Campaigns also saw a renewal of energy and enthusiasm in the cause of prevention. We were able to bring in several fraternities to help spread the message of respect for everyone, and it is time to get the male population in-volved. The prevention program was also invited as a presenter at the Ad-vocacy Resource Center’s teen day. We were able to talk with many high school students in a relaxed atmosphere about prevention, re-spect, healthy/unhealthy relationships, and how change starts with them. There are some tough times ahead for the prevention program. When the message is finally becoming a norm, funding is being cut across the state. So we will have to come up with some creative ways to continue our annual projects that are finally yielding long term re-sults.

Kathy Weber Teen Prevention Program

Educator

I am the Youth/Child Advocate at the Diane Peppler Re-source Center. As the youth/child advocate, I provide ac-tivities for in-house children. Along with activities for in-house children, the youth/child advocate provides child care during all in-house meetings as well as the sexual as-sault and domestic violence in-house support groups.

We’ve had a number of fun activates for children in-house this year. Some of these activities include movie nights, arts and crafts projects, and making family photo al-bums. We look forward to continuing to enrich the children who come through our door!

Adrianna Gunderson

Child/Youth Advocate

2 Professional Trainings:

105 participants.

31 Educational Trainings:

1,119 participants.

In Chippewa County, the equivalent ser-

vice is called The Parenting Program. The

Bavolek Parent Nurturing Program is pre-

sented individually in the clients’ home using

a nationally established curriculum with par-

ent handbooks and DVDs. We include family

activity time where we encourage parents to

play games and participate in fun activities

with their children. We have received a lot of

positive feedback over the years on the bene-

fits of parents having fun, enjoying time with

their children, and children seeing another

side to their parents. We also collaborate

with our county agencies and participate

with Chippewa County Council of Youth and

Families, SCAN, Parent Awareness Michigan,

Family Fun Night, Community Baby Shower,

and Library Night for Families.

The Strong Families/Safe Children Program serves all of

Mackinac County. Our home based program strives to help par-

ents provide a safe, caring, and lasting relationship with their

children and to see their positive parent traits and build on

them. We provide parenting education, child safety items and

equipment (cribs, car seats, etc.) as needed, and support to

families. We utilize the Nurturing Parenting books by Steven J.

Bavolek, Ph.D. and cover all age ranges. Some topics covered

are developing family rules, praise, expressing feelings, empa-

thy, communication, routines, appropriate expectations, and ac-

tivities to have fun as a family. We collaborate with other com-

munity agencies and participate with the Mackinac County

Child Protection Roundtable, HSCB, SCAN, Early On, Wrap-

around, Project Connect, Parent Appreciation Dinner, and Su-

per Saturday.

Parenting Programs

Mallory Bravatto

Parenting Caseworker

Pat Marchand Parenting Program

Supervisor

Sheri Damron Strong Families/Safe

Children Worker

Chippewa County Parenting: 47 Families 460 Units

Mackinac County SF/SC:

47 Families 326 Units

More of Our Support Staff!

Sheila Kibble

House Manager

Nancy Seymour

Night Monitor

Lauryn LaFoille

Night Monitor

Shannon Eastham Victim Advocate/

Housing Coordinator

It’s been another busy and exciting year in Housing at the Diane Peppler Resource Center! We continue to offer our Transitional Supportive Housing (TSH) program to homeless families who have experienced domestic violence. This program provides these families with rental assistance for up to 24 months and also provides support in areas such as transportation, education, and household supplies. In the 2011/2012 year we helped 28 families with housing through this program. Our goal is to have TSH participants stably housed, safe, and self-sufficient by the end of the 24 month period.

We also continue to work with local subsidized housing units, as well as the Sault Housing Commission and Michi-gan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to find permanent, income based housing for homeless vic-tims of domestic violence. We are especially grateful to Park Place City Center Apartments and Edge of the Woods Apartments for providing our clients with vouchers for their programs.

Transitional Housing

Number of nights TSH provided to women and

children in 2011/12

Number of women and children served

by TSH program

Number of vouch-ers provided to the

Tri-County

82 20,800 28

Renovations! Before

During

Renovations! AFTER! The Diane Peppler

Resource Center renovation project was donated by the Legacy Project of the 2011-2012 class of District Governors from Zones 28 & 29 on behalf of Betsy Demaray.

Betsy Demaray joined the Rotary Club in 1988. Betsy was the first woman from the Western Hemi-sphere on the International Board of Directors (2nd woman in the world) and the first woman to hold an officer position on the Internation Board of Directors. Through Rotary, Betsy deicated her life to helping others.

Special local projects include but not limited to Project Playground and Rotary Park. International projects include but not limited to Polio Eradication, Children of the Dump, and Clean Water.

Rotary Positions Held: Treasurer, Rotary International 2011-13 Director, Rotary International 2011-13 District Governor, District 6290 2000-01 President, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. 1994-95 President, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. 2007-08 Treasurer, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Paul Harris Fellowship Member of the Rotary Bequest Society