Sherburne and Wright counties are among the fastest growing in the State of Minnesota.

 

Problem is, so are the cases of domestic abuse.

 

Chris Pomerenke, in the chair for the past nine months as executive director of Rivers of Hope, points to it as a condition of our society.

 

In 2016, staffers of the non-profit organization attended to 1,200 cases of abuse with residents of the two counties.

 

“That includes people we had met with,” said Pomerenke. “We had actual conversations with them - and we only counted them once.”

 

Rivers of Hope, officed in downtown Monticello, has been around for 30 years.

 

By government and corporate grants and contributions from local residents and organizations, the organization lives on to listen to another story - and to help another person.

 

They are planning their giant fundraiser dinner - their fall ball, - headlined “Masquerade,” at the Carousell Works in Big Lake Oct. 14. It’s a time where everybody can help. See more details on that below. 

 

Pomerenke sat this week and explained the role of Rivers of Hope, as it has joined efforts with law enforcement, the courts, schools and financiers, to better serve the residents of the two counties.

 

Rivers of Hope for years was into just a few schools to do advocacy (counseling) work with students. That has flourished in just the past few years, as now they are in seven school districts in Wright County and two in Sherburne. 

 

Annandale, Maple Lake, Rockford, Monticello, Buffalo, STMA and Delano are served by them.

 

In Sherburne, Elk River and Big Lake schools host ROH staffers for specific time frames where students, having questions, can meet with advocates.

 

The organization, as a non-profit, doesn’t have to answer all the questions staffers from public institutions, like schools do, so their interaction with students is on a more free basis.

 

“As to the need?” said Pomerenke. “I know for a fact we can have more people in our schools.

 

“The earlier children realize that it ‘isn’t them’ when it comes to family abuse issues, the better the chance they can be helped.”

 

She speaks of many instances where school counselors have referred students to ROH, which has one advocate for students in Sherburne and one for Wright.

 

There is the design of student curriculum that can help them deal with their issues.

 

“These (materials) are about healthy relationships, changing behavior,” she said.

 

And the organization has been helpful in getting students with abuse issues out of their environments and placed in special learning situations, like the new Jane Goodall School of Environmental Sciences, in Annandale. 

 

ROH has a continuing link with Open Doors of Elk River, the youth advocacy organization dealing with runaways after violence. 

 

One ROH advocate has been seeing 80 students on a weekly basis through Open Doors.

 

ROH has support groups in each county for students needing help. 

 

“From year to year there are increases,” she says “And the youth cases are going up with the population. There are all kinds of situations - eating disorders, cutting themselves, suicidal, running.”

 

One of the most important advances ROH has made in recent years has been their increased visibility through the eight local policing departments in the counties - the two sheriff’s and six city police departments.

All officers attending to potential abuse situations tell the victims about ROH and the services they provide. 

They also conduct a “lethality assessment” of the aggressor, comprised of eight questions to them. If the officer determines the aggressor is capable of killing, they will automatically intervene with a ROH advocate.

 

“Some are giving us really strong support,” Pomerenke said.

 

In the past year, the organization has been able to secure volunteers to answer phones in a 24/7 crisis line.

 

Staffers are there by day and some evenings; volunteers carry the load weekends. 

 

“Not all people will call right after an incident,” says Pomerenke. “People will call when they are ready to make a change.”

 

In the spring of 2016, ROH was able to develope a Safe House in the area, which they provide for families for short-term crisis housing.

 

Meanwhile, restraining orders will be placed on perpetrators. Advocates will follow victims through the court cases.

 

And legal assistance, many times from volunteering attorneys, can be available.

 

The 15-member ROH Board currently has four openings due to recent retirements. 

 

Boardmembers are sought due to their vocations - or expertises - which they can bring to deliberations. Pomerenke says there is need for for persons representing the clergy, the legal professions, a school administrator and a medical field professional.

 

Interested persons may contact her at the ROH office -763-295-3433.

 

The ROH annual fall fundraiser ball - this year themed “Masquerade,” is set for the Carousell Works in Big Lake Sat., Oct. 14. 

 

Sponsorships are available in any number of financial denominations and individual tickets are available for $50.

 

The program will consist like all other fundraisers - fun and money raising.

 

The effort that grips, however, will be the one from an abuse victim, terrified, but willing to tell her story.