4.8. SR 10-20-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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(612) 441-0792 (612) 682-6424 1-800-439-2642 Elk River Office Buffalo Office Outside the Metro Shcrburne County Wright County dialing area October 14, 1997 Mayor Duitsman and City Council Members City of Elk River 13065 Orono Parkway P.O. Box 490 Elk River, MN 55330 Dear Mayor and City Council Members, Earlier this year representatives of Rivers of Hope came before you to explain the services we provide to this city and the surrounding communities and our need for funding for operational expenses. We received $5000 from the City of Elk River to be used towards our Youth Advocacy Program which provides violence prevention and early intervention services for Junior and Senior High students. That funding was most helpful. We have been asked this year to expand our services to the Elk River Area Learning Center. We are coming to you now in order for you to take our services and our needs into consideration during your process of budget setting for 1998. The work we do at Rivers of Hope is unique in that we provide a myriad of services at no charge to victims of domestic violence. The basic service we offer is advocacy which requires qualified and specifically trained staff to work one on one with the hundreds of people who come to us for help every quarter. We also work with law enforcement, social services, the Sherburne County Attorney's office, local schools and others to coordinate this community's response to domestic violence. We know this city is committed to improving the quality of life for its young people, especially in the light of the alarming rise in youth violence. We know also that violence breeds violence and all the parks, teen centers, sports arenas, and special activities in the world cannot undo the violence perpetrated on family members within too many homes in Elk River. Children who witness domestic violence within their homes are at a higher risk of juvenile delinquency, including crimes such as burglary, arson, prostitution, running away, drug use and assaults. They also experience a 6 times greater likelihood of attempted suicide, a 24% greater likelihood of committing sexual assault crimes, they are 74% more likely to commit crimes against a person and have a 50% greater likelihood of drug and alcohol abuse. Rivers of Hope can and does have an effect on these kinds of statistics in Elk River. We can only carry on this important work however, with the support of our communities. Continued support from the cities we serve will assist our organization in continuing to provide quality services to community residents who have been victimized by domestic violence. To Build a Community Free of Domestic Violence Through Advocacy and Education