A WALK IN MY SHOES

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‘A WALK IN MY SHOES’

By Kim Jones Sneed/SPECIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL
Saturday, June 7, 2008 10:29 PM CDT
Jenny is a 21-year-old woman with children ages four and 22 months.As a result of domestic abuse, she has a black eye, broken fingersand a cut on her left hand.
Jenny was once a resident of CASA, a women’s shelter in PineBluff that is committed to ending domestic violence. She wasportrayed by a reporter who took part in “Walk in MyShoes,” a training session hosted by CASA Friday evening.

Iry Rice, vice president of CASA’s Board of Directors,portrayed a pregnant woman named Delma. He really got into the roleby asking questions as if he were actually Delma.

Capt. Rod Shelby with the Jefferson County Sheriff’sDepartment became Cheryl, a 37-year-old woman who had been hit witha cast iron skillet and had a 12-year-old daughter.

“This is the first time we have done training in thismanner,” said Karen Palmer, director of CASA. “Thepurpose of this training is to let everybody feel what it’slike to be a person experiencing domestic abuse.”
Presenters included CASA staff, current and former residents of theshelter, the Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence, theVictim Witness Program and the Jefferson County Adult EducationCenter.

FBI data indicates that every 18 seconds, a woman is beaten by herhusband or lover. Sixty percent of children from violent homesbecome abusive adults. On average, four women are murdered everyday by their male partner in the nation.

“There’s really no pattern to the abusers. The abuseincreases during holidays and the summer,” said EvelynRomine, a women’s advocate at CASA.

“Women die everyday from domestic abuse,” said Palmer.“If he says he’s going to kill you, be assured that heis.”

Katha Agee, another former resident, told the group that she is“one of those success stories.”

In 2006, she arrived to CASA from the hospital. Her perpetratorrendered her unconscious after hitting her with a log. She stayedat CASA for nearly five months, initially weighing 165 pounds. Thegroup laughed when she shared that she gained 40 pounds from eatingso well.

“I was able to relax my mind so I could think about what lifeis about. I was motivated to do better. You make friendshere,” Agee said.

CASA offers free and confidential services such as a support groupfor victims of domestic violence on Tuesdays from 6-7 p.m. Themeetings are open to women living in the shelter and to any womanwho has been abused. Child care is provided.

In addition, counseling services are available and a 24-hourhotline that is open seven days a week. That hotline number is(870) 535-0287.
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