Twenty-six years ago Beth Morrison did some volunteer work as a Central Michigan University undergraduate at a newly opened domestic violence shelter in Mt. Pleasant.
‘I was really taken aback by the injustice of it all,? said the 45-year-old Oxford resident. ‘It was a real eye-opening experience.?
That experience led Morrison, who was raised in a ‘rather peaceful family setting,? to devote her life to helping victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and ending these crimes once and for all.
‘I just fell in love with this kind of work,? she said.
Today, she’s the president and CEO of the Pontiac-based HAVEN, which stands for Help Against Violent Encounters Now.
HAVEN is a nationally recognized non-profit leader in Oakland County and surrounding communities providing comprehensive solutions and innovative programs that promote violence-free homes and communities.
With a shelter in Pontiac and offices in Southfield, Famington Hills, Royal Oak and Bloomfield Hills, HAVEN’s mission is to eliminate violence and sexual assault through treatment and prevention services across Oakland County and surrounding communities.
‘What makes HAVEN unique is our rich history,? Morrison said. ‘HAVEN is not the first, but it’s one of the first domestic and sexual violence programs in the state.?
Given the domestic and sexual violence movement is ‘only about 35 years old,? HAVEN has always been on the ‘cutting edge? since its founding in 1975.
Morrison was initially hired to be HAVEN’s vice president about 2? years ago after spending more than two decades aiding and counseling victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in various capacities in Arizona and Michigan.
All her years have taught Morrison that ‘domestic and sexual violence are crimes that never discriminate.?
Race, religion, socioeconomic status, educational background, none of those factors make a difference when it comes to these heinous crimes.
‘People at all ends (of the spectrum) are impacted,? she said.
The only commonality is it’s always an ‘issue of power and control,? a situation ‘where the abusive personality seeks, gets and maintains control at all costs,? according to Morrison.
Although domestic violence and sexual assault are ‘predominantly crimes against women,? she noted HAVEN does ‘serve male victims? and offers counseling programs for the perpetrators of violence.
An Oxford resident since June 2003, Morrison said the ‘myth? that these crimes are more prevalent in urban areas as opposed to suburbia or rural America ‘is still there.?
‘When people hear where I work, it’s not uncommon for me to get the response, ‘Wow, that must be a big problem in Pontiac,?? she said. ‘It’s seen as an urban problem?
But that’s simply not true.
In 2004, the Village of Oxford had 102 of its residents utilize HAVEN’s services while Oxford Township had 22 citizens receive the organization’s help.
Morrison noted that the township’s number was ‘much higher? the year before, ‘more than double.?
The disparities between the township and village’s numbers are not easy to explain.
‘The numbers vary from year to year,? Morrison said. ‘Some years they’re up. Some years they’re down . . . It’s really hard to gauge why. Is that abuse happens more frequently or people seek out services more often? It’s hard to say.?
Oxford’s numbers were considerably larger than those of neighboring Addison Township, which had 8 residents utilize HAVEN’s services last year. The Village of Leonard only had one citizen seek out HAVEN’s help.
Although there’s no clear-cut or easy explanation for increases or decreases in demands for HAVEN’s services, Morrison noted economics and publicity play definite roles.
‘The demand for services definitely increases when there are economic difficulties (or crises) in a community,? she said.
Instances of heightened awareness also lead more people to HAVEN’s door.
Recently, FOX 2 television’s Morning Show did a segment on domestic violence and flashed HAVEN’s phone number on the screen.
‘Our crisis line was very busy all day,? Morrison said. ‘Many people referenced they got the phone number off the FOX 2 show.?
‘If that number hadn’t been there, those people might not have called (that day),? she explained.
To anyone reading this who is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, Morrison wants them to know ‘there’s hope and there’s help.?
‘They’re not alone,? she said. ‘They’re not the only ones facing violence.?
Even if they’re not ready to leave or end their abusive relationship right at that moment, Morrison urges victims to at least call HAVEN’s anonymous 24-7 Crisis and Support line (248-334-1274 or 877-922-1274) to ‘start examining your options? and learning your rights.
‘There are choices,? she said.
Spending a lifetime helping victims of violence and abuse can be an emotionally draining experience, but Morrison said, ‘Part of what keeps me going is that there are fortunately a lot of wonderful success stories.?
She recalled working with the mother of three children who had been ‘virtually isolated from everyone and anyone? by her abusive husband.
Everyday when he went to work, he ‘took the phone with him? and ‘literally padlocked? the family inside their house. ‘They had no way out,? Morrison said. ‘No way to call for help.?
Biding her time, the mother ‘slowly? hid money (mostly loose change) away under loose piece of molding, ‘knowing someday she would have a choice, a chance to make a run for it with her kids.?
After five years of waiting, that day came when the husband left the front door unlocked while fixing the lawn mower in the backyard.
‘She grabbed her money, (identification) and kids, and ran out the front door,? Morrison said.
Over time, she was able to get a divorce, move out of state and start a new life with her kids.
Besides working with victims in a one-on-one setting, Morrison has been able to impact many lives by testifying on domestic violence and sexual assault issues before Congress and legislatures in three states. She’s even helped write legislation.
Morrison helped enact marital rape laws in both Michigan and Arizona.
‘It was never a crime for many years for a husband to rape his wife,? she explained, noting it was considered a ‘right,? not rape.
On the legislative front, Morrison said HAVEN is currently advocating the reauthorization of the federal Violence Against Women Act, which expired Sept. 30. Both the Senate and House has passed resolutions calling for its reauthorization, however, differences in approved language sent the bills to committee.
The act is a ‘really significant piece of federal legislation that addresses violence against women? by providing funding for programs, police departments, prosecutor’s offices and court systems for special training and direct services, all of which designed to get everyone ‘on the same page? and ‘working together to make a difference in the lives of victims.?
Morrison described the act as the ‘force behind us all working together.?
From personal counseling to overseeing HAVEN’s operations to lobbying for legislation, Morrison has succeeded in ‘being a voice for those who don’t feel they have a voice.?
Let’s hope everyone hears her loud and clear.
Morning Show did a segment on domestic violence and flashed HAVEN’s phone number on the screen.
‘Our crisis line was very busy all day,? Morrison said. ‘Many people referenced they got the phone number off the FOX 2 show.?
‘If that number hadn’t been there, those people might not have called (that day),? she explained.
To anyone reading this who is a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, Morrison wants them to know ‘there’s hope and there’s help.?
‘They’re not alone,? she said. ‘They’re not the only ones facing violence.?
Even if they’re not ready to leave or end their abusive relationship right at that moment, Morrison urges victims to least call HAVEN’s anonymous 24-7 Crisis and Support line (248-334-1274 or 877-922-1274) to ‘start examining your options? and learning your rights.
‘There are choices,? she said.
Spending a lifetime helping victims of violence and abuse can be an emotionally draining experience, but Morrison said, ‘Part of what keeps me going is that there are fortunately a lot of wonderful success stories.?
She recalled working with the mother of three children who had been ‘virtually isolated from everyone and anyone? by her abusive husband.
Everyday when he went to work, he ‘took the phone with him? and ‘literally padlocked? the family inside their house. ‘They had no way out,? Morrison said. ‘No way to call for help.?
Biding her time, the mother ‘slowly? hid money (mostly loose change) away under loose piece of molding, ‘knowing someday she would have a choice, a chance to make a run for it with her kids.?
After five years of waiting, that day came when the husband left the front door unlocked while fixing the lawn mower in the backyard.
‘She grabbed her money, (identification) and kids, and ran out the front door,? Morrison said.
Over time, she was able to get a divorce, move out of state and start a new life with her kids.
Besides working with victims in a one-on-one setting, Morrison has been able to impact many lives by testifying on domestic violence and sexual assault issues before Congress and legislatures in three states. She’s even helped write legislation.
Morrison helped enact marital rape laws in both Michigan and Arizona.
‘It was never a crime for many years for a husband to rape his wife,? she explained, noting it was considered a ‘right,? not rape.
On the legislative front, Morrison said HAVEN is currently advocating the reauthorization of the federal Violence Against Women Act, which expired Sept. 30. Both the Senate and House has passed resolutions calling for its reauthorization, however, differences in approved language sent bills to committee.
The act is a ‘really significant piece of federal legislation addresses violence against women? by providing funding for domestic violence programs, police departments, prosecutor’s offices and court systems for special training and direct services, all of which designed to get everyone ‘on the same page? and ‘working together to make a difference in the lives of victims.?
Morrison described the act as the ‘force behind us all working together.?
From personal counseling to overseeing HAVEN’s operations to lobbying for legislation, Morrison has succeeded in ‘being a voice for those who don’t feel they have a voice.?
Let’s hope everyone hears her loud and clear.