Providing a family with a safe home and wrap around supportive services…

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A mother and her two children were trapped and isolated in their home. Her husband was physically and emotionally abusive, and although she believed she was shielding her children from the abuse, the turning point came when her seven-year-old daughter witnessed her being strangled.

Overwhelmed and scared for herself, and even more terrified for the emotional scars on her children, she decided they had to leave. She reached out to CAPSA’s crisis phone line and, over several calls, worked with a caseworker to craft a plan for a safe departure. They fled their home during a brief window when her husband was out on an errand.

Upon arriving at CAPSA’s emergency shelter, her first request was to sleep, revealing, “I haven’t slept in months, fearing what he might do next.” During their stay, she met daily with her caseworker to devise a tailored action plan, with employment and housing as primary goals.

CAPSA’s youth advocates also stepped in, focusing on her children’s emotional healing. Their support continued beyond shelter, with home visits and support groups.

Securing a job at a call center, she began applying for rentals. It was then she discovered her partner had taken out credit cards in her name, damaging her credit. Devastated and fearing she’d never find a home, her caseworker arranged for her to move into a home in Independence Place, a CAPSA-owned neighborhood.

Imagine the joy and hope she felt walking her children into their own home – a truly safe home. As part of CAPSA’s transitional housing program, they received ongoing support from housing caseworkers, including home visits and support/educational groups.

Both she and her eldest child benefited from CAPSA’s clinical therapy. At her call center job, a customer with a deep voice once triggered a panic attack. She later shared that CAPSA’s therapy “helped me learn how to recognize my trauma and use grounding techniques to center myself.” For her seven-year-old daughter, therapy was a healing sanctuary where she was able to process her fears and her own trauma.

The legal journey, from divorce to creditor negotiations, was both challenging and costly. Thankfully, CAPSA’s COACH funds helped cover some expenses, allowing her to finalize her divorce just over a year after leaving.

After 1.5 transformative years in CAPSA’s shelter and then neighborhood, the family was ready and financially stable enough to move into their own place. In gratitude, she expressed, “I am so grateful for CAPSA and wish to move out early, so this home will be available for the next family like mine.”

When you donate to CAPSA, you provide a family with a safe home and wrap around supportive services to be successful.

Here is a breakdown of how your donation supported this family:

  • Crisis Phone Line (4 calls): $52.00
  • Emergency Shelter: $7,655.38
  • Youth Advocates: $2,094.69
  • Transitional Housing: $16,228.84
  • Clinical Therapy: $3,176.60
  • COACH Funds (Legal Fees): $2,500.00

Total Cost for Crisis and supportive services for this family was $31,717.51.

Domestic violence is not just physical

Many individuals struggle to understand that domestic violence isn’t always physical.

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One woman, perpetually walking on eggshells within her marriage, didn’t think CAPSA could assist her. “Because, he never hit me,” she said. His abuse was more insidious — belittling her, criticizing her appearance, giving her the silent treatment, and then blaming her for his behavior.

Her perspective began to change during a company-sponsored CAPSA training on domestic violence. She learned about various forms of abuse, including emotional, psychological, and financial. She still questioned whether CAPSA’s services could help her but began to wonder.

The catalyst for her decision to contact CAPSA was a harsh verbal tirade from her husband, who was angry that dinner wasn’t ready. She had a long day at work and had arrived home late.

At that moment, she decided to call CAPSA’s crisis line. Initially withholding her name due to apprehension, she found an empathetic and non-judgmental listener in a CAPSA caseworker.

Over several calls, a cautious trust was established, and she began to meet with her caseworker.

Initially, she wanted to remain in the marriage but sought ways to feel empowered. She appreciated that the caseworker respected her choices, including her decision to stay in the relationship. To help her become more empowered, her caseworker referred her to CAPSA’s clinical therapy program.

Her therapist shared, “During a breakthrough session, she decided to seek a divorce, recognizing her own strength and the need for independence. This was a significant milestone.”

With the continued support of her CAPSA caseworker, she was able to find a new place to live and initiate the divorce process.

Reflecting on her journey, the caseworker stated, “Helping someone reclaim their autonomy and freedom is why we do what we do at CAPSA.”

When you donate to CAPSA, you fund programs that break the cycle of domestic violence.

Here is a breakdown of how your donation supported this survivor.

    • CAPSA’s Business Training – $250
    • Crisis Phone Line (3 calls) – $36
    • Casework – $401
    • Clinical Therapy – $1588
    • COACH Funds – $1,250

Total Cost for crisis and supportive services for this survivor was $3,525. Thank you for your support!

CAPSA Educators Share Stories of Why Healthy Relationships Curriculum is Important

As our educators spend time teaching in schools, they see the direct impact of the lessons they’re teaching and how students are responding to them. A couple of our educators have shared some stories and experiences where they feel their efforts in teaching about healthy relationships is paying off.  

Shellie, Education Director  

“I love teaching Healthy Relationships! There is nothing better than having a moving discussion with youth where they are able to identify the behaviors that they themselves and those around them display. Teaching healthy relationships allows students to recognize how they can continue to have healthy behavior and to adjust behavior that could be potentially harmful. In teaching healthy relationships, we get the opportunity to prevent potential future victims, but also future perpetrators.  

An experience I had many years ago still burns clearly in my mind. After teaching a class at a local school, one of the students I had interacted with over a number of presentations approached me to share that she was concerned that she had never been in love. I was aware that this student was in a committed relationship from previous comments she had made and I asked her why she felt that way. She told me that she and her boyfriend had never had a screaming and yelling fight that they needed to have a passionate make up after. This student didn’t have great examples of relationships at home, so she had turned to songs and movies that displayed “love” such as The Notebook, or the Taylor Swifts Song, The Way I Loved You, to define what love looked like. Media had set the expectation that these unhealthy behaviors were the goal to be reached in a relationship. This was a prime example of the need for healthy relationships curriculum to be taught for youth.” 

Lindsey, Educator  

“The healthy relationships curriculum is important because it, in my opinion, is one of the best foundational skills youth and everyone really can learn and grow into in order to feel safe, respected, have equal power and control in their relationships–which we know prevents violence. They learn to recognize warning signs of unhealthy relationships and the building blocks to a healthy relationship. Obviously, a person can know all of these skills and still unfortunately find themselves in unhealthy and abusive relationships, but hopefully they will be able to recognize when they are in it and the resources to help them get out of that relationship and that it isn’t their fault.    

I really love seeing the “aha” moments when I teach healthy relationships because “love” is often portrayed as this toxic, unhealthy obsession and persistence with a person. We see it in movies and music and books, if nothing else, this curriculum helps them be more aware as they are interacting with others and in relationships with others.” 

Ashley, Educator 

“One reason teaching about healthy relationships is important is because most kids and youth are unfortunately surrounded by unhealthy relationships or relationship behaviors- whether this is at home, amongst peers, in the media, or all of the above. Abusive and unhealthy behaviors are too often normalized in our society. By letting kids know these behaviors are not “normal” and teaching them the characteristics of a healthy relationship we help them realize that they deserve a healthy relationship themselves. They are better able to recognize red flags and warning signs and to look for the characteristics that make up a healthy relationship. Healthy relationships then lead to less abuse and violence in our communities.” 

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How the Lethality Assessment Protocol Helps Survivors

What is the Lethality Assessment Protocol?

 The Lethality Assessment is an 11-item questionnaire that is used for intimate partner violence. When officers respond to a domestic violence call, they use this assessment to determine if someone is in immediate, life-threatening danger. If so, they then refer this person to CAPSA where we can offer them immediate shelter and resources.  

CAPSA’s Partnership with Local Law Enforcement

 Research done by Jacqueline Campbell found that only 4% of DV murder victims nationwide had ever accessed domestic violence program services. Because of this, CAPSA, Cache County Sherriff’s Office and Logan City Police Department piloted LAP for Utah with Utah Domestic Violence Coalition in 2015. Now, 13 other community based DV agencies have partnered with over 60 law enforcement Agencies with additional jurisdictions joining every year.  

CAPSA partners with local law enforcement to ensure that survivors who are in dangerous situations are referred immediately to CAPSA. The screening of certain risk factors allows us to predict lethality and take the necessary steps to help survivors in these situations. 

How the Lethality Assessment Protocol Helped a Survivor

 Law enforcement recently referred a victim of domestic violence to Capsa through the Lethality Assessment Protocol. The officer had concern that there was more going on in the situation than was disclosed and expressed his concern for the victim’s safety. After learning about confidentiality and building rapport with her caseworker, she ended up disclosing much more serious abuse than she had initially shared with the officer. She had concerns about what would happen with her kids and her financial situation if her spouse was to be arrested. The caseworker was able to work through an action plan to address those concerns and provided her with the option of making another police report. With the support of the caseworker and the officer she was able to see the dangerousness of her situation and receive support to start a life free from abuse. 

Thank You for Giving the Gift of Hope

Thank you for your gift of hope

Thank you to everyone who has given the gift of hope to survivors this year. Your generosity and kindness are truly appreciated by those who are seeking safety and support during a difficult time in their lives.

CAPSA offers essential resources for survivors of domestic abuse, providing a safe and supportive environment for individuals and families to heal and rebuild their lives. CAPSA offers a range of services, including temporary housing, counseling, and more.

Your generosity aides CAPSA in helping survivors

CAPSA requires a dedicated team of professionals and volunteers, as well as financial resources to cover the cost of operations. That’s where you come in. Your donations, whether monetary or in the form of necessary supplies, make a real difference in the lives of those seeking refuge here.

Your gift of hope is a reminder that there is help available, and that there are people who care and are willing to offer support. It gives survivors the strength and resilience they need to overcome their circumstances and move forward with their lives.

St. Nicks Shop

Because of your generosity, CAPSA is able to provide a St. Nicks Shop for our clients and their children where they can pick out toys for Christmas. Often times survivors are focused on the next step in front of them, and during the holidays we strive to provide as much magic as possible for survivors and their families.

So, thank you once again for your generosity and compassion. Your contribution is truly appreciated and will make a lasting impact on the lives of those seeking safety and support at CAPSA.

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is domestic violence awareness month. Raising awareness around domestic violence isn’t an easy topic, but CAPSA exists to provide hope. We help survivors in all types of situations find success and healing.  

We want to share some success stories that highlight how CAPSA is able to help all individuals in all kinds of situations.  

1 in 7 men in Utah will experience domestic violence.

  *Names changed to support privacy & confidentiality 

Throughout their relationship, Dan’s girlfriend would often ask him to do a lot of things he didn’t want to do, and when he said no, she would threaten to report his past illegal activity. He was also afraid of the physical harm she could cause. Dan had heard of CAPSA through a sign in the men’s bathroom at his work. He never really thought twice about it because for the majority of his life he thought abusive situations really only happened to women. One day he decided to take a card from the bathroom. Later that day he called CAPSA to see how we could help. 

Because Dan reached out to CAPSA, he was able to come in and meet with our caseworkers in a safe and confidential space. They reassured him that he was in fact in an abusive situation and that what was happening to him was wrong. CAPSA’s caseworkers and therapists advocated for him and helped him through his situation. Dan realized that men also deserve to be treated with respect and that these situations can happen to men as well.  

Men do experience Domestic Violence, CAPSA is here to help.  

1 in 5 Utah children will hear or witness domestic abuse.

*Names changed to support privacy & confidentiality 

Two young kids had witnessed much of their parents’ fighting from a young age. Jack was only 7 but he could remember the yelling from when he was really little. Their mom, had tried to hide the abuse from her kids to the best of her ability, but when it got really bad, she knew they could tell what was going on. Sarah knew she couldn’t let them continue to hear the things her husband was saying to her. She had always been financially tied to him, which is what had kept her from seeking help before. 

Sarah was able to contact CAPSA and stay in our emergency shelter with her kids. She received financial assistance which helped her to secure an apartment for her family while she utilized our therapy programs and furthered her education.  

Families are impacted by domestic violence, CAPSA is here to help. 

 

CAPSA Services are Free and Confidential

 If you or anyone you know is experiencing abuse, CAPSA can provide free and confidential services. Call 435-753-2500 to speak with a trained advocate. 

Housing Program Success Story

Madeline’s Story

Madeline’s story is one that is common among survivors fleeing abusive situations.  

*Name changed to protect identity  

After experiencing years of physical, emotional, and sometimes sexual abuse at the hands of her partner, Madeline woke in the early hours of a Winter morning and knew this was her chance to get her and her two-year-old son out of this horrific situation. She grabbed her wallet, keys, slipped on a coat, and made sure her son was dressed for the Cache Valley Winter weather. After calling our hotline, Madeline made it safely to our shelter and was immediately assisted by our staff and caseworkers. To this day she still remembers the terrifying feeling that accompanied her. The feeling of not knowing how she was going to be able to support her and her young son. After meeting with caseworkers, she said she was able to establish an action plan and apply for CAPSA’s traditional housing program that would allow her to have a place to stay while she rebuilt her credit and worked towards a stable financial situation. The relief that came when she was able to move into one of our units, secure a job, and put food on the table is something she will never forget. She was able to rebuild her life using our housing services and is now living on her own, and able to care for her and her son with full confidence in herself and her abilities.  

 

 

CAPSA Services are Free and Confidential

 If you or anyone you know is experiencing abuse, CAPSA can provide free and confidential services. Call 435-753-2500 to speak with a trained advocate.