Happy 2019!
 The Family Center staff hope all of our supporters had a wonderful holiday season!
The New Year is a time many resolve to make changes -- lifestyle, work, or any other area of their lives they want to change.
For victims of domestic violence, waiting until the New Year to make a positive change is not usually an option.
When a victim is in a situation where they have to leave -- it often happens in that moment. Not when the weather is warmer. Not when it's not snowing. Not when it's more convenient.
Now. Today. Tonight. Grab what you can and leave.
When that choice is made, The Family Center is here. Every day, all day. Holidays. Winter storms. Rainy nights. Always.
And because of the support of donors, grants, and fundraisers, The Family Center CAN provide that safe shelter and advocacy support at NO COST. A victim can leave their abusive situation, and go to a safe and secure shelter -- The Family Center -- where they can start to heal and begin writing that new, healthier chapter of their life.
Thank you for helping these victims begin writing the chapters of their new life!
|
|
Introducing ... our NEW website!!
 It's (almost) here!!
The Family Center's new website will soon be up and running!
Stop by www.familyctr.org and check it out.
There is a contact page, dedicated event pages (check out Men in the Kitchen!), photos, lots of information regarding domestic and sexual violence, a donations page (including an easy button to make monetary donations), and more!
We're very excited to have this new site up and running, and would like to thank Eva Donohoo of Bubbler Creative LLC for her talent and expertise in designing the site.
Take a few minutes to check it out and let us know what you think.
|
|
Men in the Kitchen 2019
 The 14th annual Men in the Kitchen is set for March 2, 2019 at Bull's Eye Country Club.
Ticket information will soon be available on The Family Center's NEW website at www.familyctr.org. Ticket cost remains the same as last year -- $100.
We'd like to thank our GOLD sponsors: Cranberry Creek Cranberries, Ho-Chunk Gaming Nekoosa; and VERSO. SILVER sponsors: Solarus, Aspirus, Pelner-Williams Plumbing, Paper City Savings, and Mark Toyota; and our BRONZE sponsors, Renaissance Learning, and Elm Lake Cranberry.
The Family Center thanks these sponsors for their ongoing support! Please call 715-421-1559 if you are interested in a sponsorship or in being a chef!
|
|
Ice is nice!
 Head out to a Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings hockey game and help support The Family Center!
The Riverkings will host Hudson Havoc on Friday, Feb. 1, at the South Wood County Recreation Center, 2711 16th St S. The puck drops at 7 p.m.
The Riverkings hockey team is a Junior Hockey Team within the Minnesota Junior Hockey League. The team is made up of players from all around the country, who are coached by Marty Quarters.
Game tickets are:
Adults - $8 (groups of 10 or more are $6 each)
Seniors - $5
Children (under 18) and Active Military - $2
SWC Youth / Rapids Hockey - Free
The Family Center will be there with information, and be part of some of the events that evening. And, of course, Rowdy, the Riverkings mascot, will be on hand to have some fun with the crowd, along with the Synchronized Skating Team, which will provide intermission entertainment.
Stop by and help support the Riverkings AND The Family Center. It'll be fun!
|
|
Welcome new staff!
 The Family Center would like to introduce a few new staff members:
Candace is a familiar face to many at The Family Center, as she used to work up in shelter on nights and weekends. Now, Candace is one of our Supervised Visitation Services Coordinators and provides case management to victims of abuse and their children who utilize the visitation services through the Family Center Visitation Program. She helps make sure appropriate referrals are made to community agencies to assist victims of abuse;
Jess also is a familiar face to many at The Family Center -- she worked up in shelter on nights and weekends. Now Jess is The Family Center's Sexual Assault Victim Services Coordinator. Jess is responsible for the sexual assault service implementation and delivery for South Wood County and for the personal advocacy of victims/survivors and their families.
Tasha is The Family Center's Children and Youth Services Coordinator. Tasha addresses the needs of children in shelter, including safety planning; providing outreach to youth and children in the community; collaborating with agencies that work with youth, and providing parenting techniques and information to victims of abuse and their family.
While each advocate specializes in a certain area, ALL advocates are trained and available for those dealing with domestic/sexual violence. Please do not hesitate to call with a question or to get more information,
The Family Center crisis line -- answered anytime day or night, holidays and weekends -- is 715-421-1511. Remember, all services are confidential and provided at no cost.
|
|
From domesticshelters.org
 According to domesticshelters.org, society is constantly telling boys and young men not to express their emotions in order to preserve a view of what it is to be masculine -- strong, tough, and stoic. The problem is, of course, that boys have the same emotions girls do, so telling them not to express them is not only unfair, but futile.
So what can you do to turn the tables?
Read what domesticshelters.org has to say about this topic!
Another good topic for discussion: How to keep your cool  as a first-time single parent.
After leaving abuse, survivors might find themselves in the role of single parent for the first time. While plenty of advice can be found for navigating this new world, it’s usually given under the pretense that you also aren’t simultaneously dealing with trauma, or will advise you to just “suck it up” and get along with your ex.
For survivors, this may not be an option. Read more here!
|
|
The Family Center Mission Statement
"The Family Center,
guided by survivor voices,
works through education and
community involvement
to eliminate violence and provide safety for all people victimized by abuse."
|
|
|
|
