Victim advocate available 24/7 on Minot AFB

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. Bell
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The Air Force Personnel Center and the Air Force Medical Operations Agency began funding this year, for the availability of a 24/7 Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate here at Minot Air Force Base.

The victim advocate program hit the ground running Jan. 1 and established a crisis hotline that went active on Feb. 1. The number goes straight to the DAVA, said Capt. Jeffrey Smith, 5th Medical Operations Squadron chief of the family advocacy clinic.

"If anyone needs help or just wants to ask a question, they can call the hotline and get a hold of someone immediately," Smith said.

As a way forward to prevent maltreatment, the new DAVA positions work within the base Family Advocacy Program, he added, stating that currently, the Air Force has 40 DAVAs located on 40 different installations.

DAVAs augment the comprehensive care that treatment managers provide to victims and their families, he continued. They provide crisis intervention services, safety planning, and can assist victims in the procurement of military and civilian protective orders. Accompanying victims to the emergency room, medical appointments and court proceedings are also in the scope of the DAVA.

In addition, they offer a safe place to land, a shoulder to cry on, a person to talk to when a victim is having a rough day, and a myriad of other supportive services for the victim, said Minot's DAVA.

Minot AFB currently leads Air Force Global Strike Command in cases of maltreatment, resulting from a 20 percent increase in AFGSC from fiscal years 2010 to 2011.

"Maltreatment is abuse, and AFGSC, compared to the rest of the Air Force, had a 63 percent higher rate of maltreatment in 2011," said Smith. "The family advocacy office deems domestic violence or maltreatment as the non-accidental use of physical force and emotional scarring, to include any type of physical or verbal altercation like shouting, pushing, punching and neglect."

He explained that in many cases of abuse or maltreatment, alcohol is a reoccurring variable.

"The Department of Defense is taking a much more victim-centered approach to the domestic violence issue in the Air Force and its fellow services, and this is one of the ways we can hopefully get more people to come in and seek help," said Smith. "There are different reporting options available to our victims and we hope this will empower more people to reach out."

Back in 2005, the DOD issued a directive-type memorandum ordering all branches of the military to establish a DAVA program for military personnel and their families.

The mission of the family advocacy office has not changed; it has just added an additional resource people can call upon, Smith explained.

The DAVA position will be able to assist as treatment managers to ensure their victims and families have more resources.

"Treatment managers would not be able to accompany a victim to court, the hospital, and medical appointments directly, however, the DAVA can accompany victims for support," explained the DAVA.

According to the program guidelines, DAVAs are required to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in Social Work and advocate training, so they are familiar with all elements of crisis intervention and working with victims.

Victims of domestic violence often don't know where to go or who to turn to and the DAVA can be that one go-to person for them to advocate for their needs and help them get care and services.

It is also possible to remain anonymous when calling the hotline to ask questions, inquire about services, or just talk.

"It is a way that all victims can get support and the right resources," said the DAVA.
Though most victims will be active duty or spouses of active duty personnel, any civilian dating a military member can receive initial services from the family advocacy center and the DAVA by being escorted on base by an installation first sergeant to receive intervention, the DAVA said.

"There is something to be said for having an advocate that understands the military process," Smith said.

It is good to have someone who knows the mission and the intricacies of military life in a position to advocate for and take care of our victims, he added.

The DAVA hotline number for Minot AFB is 557-9644.