Building Bridges: Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
Susan Schechter dedicated her life’s work to improving conditions for women and children by researching, advocating and writing about the effects of domestic violence on women and children. Her co-authorship of the “Greenbook”, Effective Intervention in Domestic Violence & Child Maltreatment Cases: Guidelines for Policy and Practice, was a revolution of sorts. People started paying attention. Realistic conversations began happening. The culture of blame and denial started to shift into a culture of action.
Reform-minded thinkers were on the move in Kossuth County during that time. With support from an IWF grant in 1998, the Family Crisis Center of North Iowa was established to provide shelter, crisis support - and just as importantly - community education and intervention/recovery services.
In the text, Schechter challenges us to accept a “new and compelling set of facts: 1) adult domestic violence and child maltreatment occur together and 2) new responses are required of everyone, if violence within families is to stop”.
The Iowa Women’s Foundation Susan Schechter Memorial Fund, established by her friends and family in 2004, honors and provides a means of continuing this vital work.
