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By: Alaina Sermersheim  The Health & Fitness Fair was held Tuesday, August 27th during Harrison Hill Elementary School's 2019 Back to School Night. Over 30 community organizations gathered in the cafeteria to connect with students, parents, staff, and teachers. I connected with staff and families about services at Beacon of Hope Crisis Center, volunteering and talked with families about our Foster Pet Program. Many individuals mentioned how unique the Foster Pet Program is and talk of the program spread quickly. Throughout the night, other families found us to request more information. We are always looking for loving families to join our program, to learn more click here.
Candy and coloring pages were a nice surprise for the kids stopping by our table. This kept them entertained as I spoke with their parents and teachers about healthy relationships, family violence and free services for victims. I also answered questions and provided resources to those looking to educate themselves further. This event was a great opportunity to gain visibility while connecting with families that may need our services. Thank you again to Harrison Hill Elementary School for inviting us to participate in this fantastic event! By: Sandra K. Ziebold
Representing our nonprofit was Beacon of Hope Crisis Center board member and 100+ Women Who Care member, Jackie Bowman Ponder (pictured here). Thank you 100+Women Who Care Johnson County, for your support. Notable Facts Beacon of Hope Crisis Center served 131 new victims of domestic violence and sexual assault crimes during the month of July 2019. 45 of those victims were from Johnson County. 100+ Women Who Care Johnson County is a giving circle initiative created to support nonprofit organizations who help make our county a better place to live, work and play. Beacon of Hope Crisis Center has a Johnson County satellite office location in partnership with Franciscan Health. 100+ Women Who Care Johnson County is comprised of women who want to make a difference in Johnson County by making a financial commitment to support worthy nonprofits who serve Johnson County. They invite all like-minded women to join them on this mission. Beacon of Hope Crisis Center is working in partnership with Bargersville Veterinary Clinic located in Johnson County to expand our foster pet program. 100+ Women Who Care Johnson County grant recipients may not receive a benefit grant from the 100+ Women group again for two years. Eligibility renews every two years so, when an organization receives a grant, they cannot be nominated again until the two years has passed. They maintain a complete list for Members reference.
 By: Savannah Tipton  Society has typically associated feelings of grief to the death of a loved on. We can understand that someone may have difficulty processing the death despite the circumstance (illness, accidents, etc.). When we expand the definition of grief to include other things that are lost, society gives less acknowledgement or validation. Survivors of domestic violence may experience grief over lost self-esteem, loss of their home and the life they knew, or even the future they once planned for. They may experience this grief during and after the relationship has ended. There are many reasons survivors do not disclose abuse (humiliation, fear, guilt, shame) and this can further complicate feelings of grief. Survivors need access to support as they start their healing journey. Some may find support from friends and family while others turn to professionals.
To better understand the connection between grief and domestic violence, we must first look to all that a survivor of domestic violence may lose or leave behind after being victimized (see below). Together we can become more educated and give survivors validation to grieve or mourn all that they have lost. Advocates are available to validate feelings of grief and connect clients to supportive services and free counseling. Confidential Crisis Line: (317) 731-6140 Losses Which Are Grieved
By: Marty Burtt Beacon of Hope Crisis Center’s Foster Pet Program eliminates a very common barrier for domestic violence and/or sexual assault victims. Research has shown that 48% of battered women will delay leaving their abuser because they fear what will happen to their pet(s) after they leave. Pets are a common tool used by abusers to control the victim by threatening, harming, or killing the pet. Our Foster Pet Program gives domestic violence and/or sexual assault victims a temporary, safe home for their furry family members while they work on becoming self-sufficient.
Our volunteer foster families have the unique opportunity to provide much needed help to victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. Instead of having to choose between leaving their beloved pet with their abuser, or surrender the pet to a shelter, victims can apply for our program and know that their pet is being loved and cared for until it can come back home. Being a foster family offers the companionship of having a pet, without the lifelong commitment. Every year, 68% of abused women report violence towards their pet from their abuser. Our foster families can give love and affection to pets that have experienced their own trauma. If you are interested in learning more about the program or signing up to become a foster family, please click here. By: Marty Burtt  Beacon of Hope Crisis Center’s Foster Pet Program is a unique service that we are proud to be able to offer to our clients. Family pets offer a sense of stability, comfort, and unconditional love that creates a special bond between a family and their pet. In homes with domestic violence and/or sexual assault, the family pet is at a high risk of being abused and/or neglected. Over 71% of battered women reported that their batterers had harmed, killed, or threatened animals to coerce, control, and humiliate them*. Additionally, numerous surveys have reported that 25% to 40% of battered women report they delayed their decision to seek safety out of fear for their animals’ welfare**. Our Foster Pet Program helps protect pets in homes where violence is happening by placing them in a temporary, safe home until it is safe for them to be back with their family.
Our Foster Pet Program gives victims peace of mind in knowing that their pet/s is safe. Our Foster Pet Program Coordinator (FPPC) gets weekly updates from the foster family on the pet/s and how the pet/s is doing and then provides that update to the victim. The FPPC is in consistent communication with everyone involved with the pet/s. We are always excited when victims have secured a safe home and can safely be reunited with their pet/s. This program is available to any victim of domestic violence and/or sexual assault that is fleeing their abuser, as well as victims that are receiving services from other agencies. Beacon of Hope Crisis Center has recently launched the Central Indiana Pet Abuse Link Task Force to help keep Indiana pets safe. The Pet Abuse Link Task Force is comprised of individuals within the community that share our passion for keeping pets safe. Learn more about our Foster Pet Program here. *Ascione, Weber & Wood, 1997 **McIntosh, 2002 By: Shelby Bubnick  Every 98 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted.* The prevalence of sexual assault is alarming, and it affects more than the primary victim. Sexual assault can also affect the friends, family, and community of the survivor. If your loved one has been sexually assaulted, it is normal to feel upset, or at a loss for words. In some cases, you may be the first person the survivor has told. This may put pressure on you as you search for the right things to say and do. Consider the following when responding to a loved one that is disclosing they have been sexually assaulted.
Advocates at Beacon of Hope Crisis Center are trained to assist victims of sexual assault by providing support and education. Learn more here. If you would like to speak with an advocate, please call our crisis line (317)731-6140. By: Shelby Bubnick  After experiencing trauma, you may be healing from injuries or feeling emotionally drained. It is essential to keep your body healthy and active during this time. Whether it happened recently or many years ago, there are many ways you can cope with short-term and long-term effects of trauma. Reactions to trauma can be psychological, emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioral. Common reactions to trauma are listed below.
Psychological and Emotional
Coping with trauma can be hard to do on your own, do not hesitate to seek professional help. To speak with an advocate and learn more about services at Beacon of Hope Crisis Center please call our crisis line (317) 731-6140. By: Sandra K. Ziebold  Congratulations to our Indianapolis Brackets For Good nonprofit match-up competitor, Brookside Community Development Corporation (Brookside CDC), on winning Round 2 of the #BFG18 tournament. Thank you for being such a great opponent in the tournament. We immensely thank every donor for helping. We displayed a valiant effort but admit Brookside CDC overtook us in the game. Our team here at Beacon of Hope Crisis Center absolutely wanted to win but we are now thrilled to encourage support for Brookside CDC as they advance to a win in Round 3. What I liked best about this match-up is that the Brookside community received a double win in Round 2! The double win is that both of our organizations serve the Brookside neighborhood and both of our organizations benefited from numerous donations! Every organization competing in Brackets For Good wants to advance and keep raising much needed funds. At the same time as we are disappointed that we lost Round 2 we truly couldn't be more thrilled about Brookside Community Development Corporation advancing in the tournament. Brookside CDC is all about play-based childhood trauma reversal initiatives, societal reentry, and focusing on ending generational poverty to create opportunities of renewal and transformation for the residents of Brookside. Please rally behind them Indianapolis, let's help them win Round 3! 46201 is where a large number of the clients we serve at Beacon of Hope Crisis Center reside. Center Township is one of the reasons why we relocated and expanded our agency, ensuring we were accessible by way of a bus-line. We serve all of Central Indiana and our data shows Marion county and Center Township at the top in our service numbers. Beacon of Hope Crisis Center is focused on helping to reduce our overall homicide rates by serving victims of domestic violence and intervening before situations escalate. I encourage everyone reading this to follow us and learn more about the positive difference Beacon of Hope Crisis Center is making in Central Indiana for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Please continue to consider us in your portfolio of charities when making individual and mission gifts. Good luck to Brookside CDC in Round 3! Track Their Progress Here Ways to follow and contact Beacon of Hope Crisis Center: NEWS RELEASE  Take A Bite Out of Domestic Violence at Stacked Pickle Southport on Sunday March 4th Indianapolis domestic violence and sexual assault center partners with local restaurant for competition (INDIANAPOLIS, IN—February 27, 2018)—Are you hungry, Indianapolis? Beginning March 2nd, the community of Indianapolis has the opportunity to participate in Brackets For Good, a competition that allows individuals to support their favorite causes and organizations through an online bracket-style tournament. One of the many participants this year is Beacon of Hope Crisis Center (BOHCC), a services and referral nonprofit organization that empowers victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in central Indiana. Alongside this organization participating in Brackets For Good is a corporate partner, Stacked Pickle, supporting their cause by hosting events and encouraging the surrounding communities to donate. “BOHCC served 904 victims this past year and as we continue to grow, it’s increasingly important to not only talk about these tough issues, but to also get our community involved. Being a part of Brackets For Good allows us to have a voice in the community and to share all of the exciting things happening,” said Sandra K. Ziebold, CEO / Executive Director of Beacon of Hope Crisis Center. This year, Beacon of Hope Crisis Center has partnered with Stacked Pickle Southport. Kicking off this exciting partnership there will be a ‘Dine to Donate’ event held on Sunday, March 4th as well as another event loaded with creative fun on the evening of Wednesday, March 7th at the Southport location. "Stacked Pickle Southport is happy to team up with Beacon of Hope Crisis Center. We are always looking for different ways to impact the local community and give back to the guests of our community. We’re hoping that this partnership will facilitate awareness of Beacon of Hope's services and raise money for their inspiring work,” said Michael Earnest, General Manager of Stacked Pickle Southport. Getting involved is easy! By visiting indianapolis.bfg.org, starting March 2nd you can instantly select Beacon of Hope Crisis Center and give online. With each dollar donated, one point will be distributed in support of Beacon of Hope Crisis Center. Thank you for joining Stacked Pickle and so many others wanting to make a positive difference in our community by supporting Beacon of Hope Crisis Center in the 2018 Brackets For Good Tournament! About Beacon of Hope Crisis Center 501(c)3 Beacon of Hope Crisis Center a Christ-centered organization empowering victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to become self-sufficient by providing safety, support and education. Since 2009 Beacon of Hope, through its Crisis Intervention, Victim Advocacy, Counseling, "Teen Talk" Outreach and Education, Criminal Justice, Economic Sustainability and Foster Pet Programs has offered victims of domestic violence assistance in overcoming barriers that hold them in abusive situations. Beacon of Hope is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located in Indianapolis, Indiana. More information about Beacon of Hope can be found at beaconofhopeindy.org. About Stacked Pickle Established in 2010, Stacked Pickle offers their guests a casual dining experience, as well as a full menu and plenty of events throughout Indianapolis. Locally owned and operated by former Indianapolis Colts player, Gary Brackett, Stacked Pickle has been voted Indy’s #1 neighborhood and sports bar. For more information on Stacked Pickle, visit stackedpickle.com.
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About this blog
This blog is about our domestic and sexual violence crisis center, Beacon of Hope. We hope you find it full of helpful information, motivation, creativity, serious facts and positivity. We hope that it will help you know what is happening in our center, in our community and with our events. We hope you follow our blog in support of our organization and our mission. Archives
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