Editorial: Dooley Family Safety Center rescued by new funds
BY World's Editorials Writers
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
2/06/13 at 7:04 AM
At best, the Ann Patterson Dooley Family Safety Center's future looked unpromising a year ago. The one-stop shop for victims of domestic violence seeking safe haven had lost a $750,000 federal grant upon which it relied.
To continue past July the center needed a new strategy and new funding. It achieved both, according to a Tuesday story by Tulsa World writer Mike Averill. By this fall the center will be able to increase the number of clients it serves daily from 20 to 150.
The center redefined itself to become a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. That required it to end its administrative ties with Domestic Violence Intervention Services, which had provided human resources, financial and other administrative services.
Under the leadership of Director Suzann Stewart and an innovative board, the center put together $180,000 in funding from the city, foundation support and donations from individuals and corporations. A new, two-year federal grant of $650,000 will be used to create the Rapid Intervention Team project to offer additional client safety and security by targeting the most violent offenders and working to get them off the street.
This fall, the center will move to an expanded facility at the Tulsa Police Department's municipal courts building. It will continue partnerships with nine agencies including DVIS/Call Rape, the Tulsa Police Department's family violence unit, the Tulsa County Sheriff's family violence unit, the district attorney's office, the Tulsa County District Court, Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry, RSVP Court Watch, Safety Shepherds and YWCA Tulsa.
There are not many Cinderella stories for nonprofits that lose essential funding. But the center, which provides life-saving services, beat the odds and will continue protecting those who have nowhere else to turn. From a public safety standpoint, Tulsa is very fortunate that this resource did not fade away.
Original Print Headline: Safe at last
