Although the Advocates of Help End Abuse for Life (HEAL) do their most important work and make their most important contributions to the community within the walls of The Nest, progressive advocacy happens in many places. An advocate, someone who is truly drawn to helping victims of domestic violence, does not only seek to help others through dark times, but also lives for the day when their services are no longer needed because there are no more victims. It is much like the old saying, “they would love to work themselves out of a job.”
To that end, HEAL’s board and staff members traveled last week to Santa Fe for the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Lincoln County Day and legislative reception. Julie Gilliland, Brendan Gochenour, Rick Hutchison, Coleen Widell, Susanne Francis, June Shaunnessey, Michael Hoppal and Zia Miner represented HEAL. They met with local elected officials and state legislators Representative Zach Cook, Senator Phil Griego and Senator Bill Burt to voice support for legislation that will lead to the changes necessary to end domestic violence.
Unfortunately, that night, HEAL received word that the House Appropriations Committee had released numbers significantly lower than what HEAL was requesting. The following morning, the group met with Lincoln County’s legislators again to discuss what HEAL and The Nest are doing to end domestic violence and explain the significance of funding.
Between 2008 and 2012, domestic violence funding was sharply reduced statewide, resulting in a budget cut of over 30%. While funding has slightly increased, shelters and other programs across the state are operating on a budget that is still $3.4 million less than 2008. When meeting with legislators, HEAL proposed a three-year plan that asks for sustained funding with an additional $1 million per year to return domestic violence services to its previous state.
According to Coleen Widell, Executive Director of HEAL, “The impact of this under-funding in Lincoln County and statewide has been significant. The first programs we had to cut were the very programs that research shows to be effective: prevention and outreach. Other shelters reduced or eliminated services such as counseling, various therapy programs and enhanced programs for child victims. Several shelters laid off Advocates who were charged with providing basic services to the victims in their communities or left vacant positions unfilled. In the end, the availability of service for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and stalking have been gravely impacted. All the while, during this economic downturn and budget cuts, the need for services continues to rise.”
All staff and board members of HEAL and The Nest would like to extend gratitude to Representative Cook, Senator Griego and Senator Burt for their ongoing efforts to help make New Mexico a safer place.
Pictured are HEAL board and staff members at the Roundhouse in Santa FE: Julie Gilliland, Michael Hoppal, Brendan Gochenour, Zia Miner, Coleen Widell, June Shaunnessey, Susanne Francis and Rick Hutchison.
