Do we need a women's center?
Not if we lived in an ideal world where loving couples live happily ever after, where all children are reared with love and kindness, where people regardless of gender are respected and where no one lays a hand on another person.
But that's not always true in the real world in which we live: there's spousal abuse, children are molested, women are attacked and, as we learn from the media institutions such as schools and the workplace are not immune from sexual harassment and violence.
Many of these circumstances are found in cities as well as in small communities " yes, also in Alpine County. While we might like to reform human nature it is necessary to be aware of human failings and to provide protection and help for families, children and individuals. That is the purpose of the Alpine County Women's Center that is staffed by Jennifer Kline and located near the junction of Highways 88 and 89 in the building that also houses Woodfords Station.
Kline sees her role as an advocate for local survivors of child and spousal abuse and sexual assault and encourages people who encounter such situations to come to the Women's Center. It's open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. She can be telephoned at 694-1853 or the 24-hour crisis line can be contacted at (888) 750-6444. Kline responds to cases uncovered by law enforcement, the District Attorney, the courts, the probation department, the medical providers and Child Protective Services. She notes that the Washo Tribe has a domestic response team for situations affecting its members.
Alpine County's Women's Center is funded by grants from nonprofit groups and from state and federal sources and is administered through the South Lake Tahoe Women's Center.
Kline hopes grant money will be found to provide a part-time assistant for her in the Alpine Center.
The services she provides to Alpine residents include counseling, referral to other agencies and insuring safety for individuals and children in families where there has been abuse, and for victims of sexual assault.
She also deals with circumstances that require safe housing, food, clothes and financial or other aid.
Among her many tasks she cites a request to an employer not to penalize a worker who has to appear in court because of family abuse. Another example is help for a woman suddenly on her own who had to learn how to drive and pump gas at the service station, tasks most of us take for granted. Her primary goal is to make survivors self-sufficient and independent.
Kline brings years of experience to her work in Alpine County. For seven years she was a court advocate in South Lake Tahoe, dealing with restraining orders, child custody and visitation matters, with particular concern about safety and healthy relationships for children.
Coursework at the South Lake Tahoe Community College included crises counseling, supplemented by ongoing training in conferences and workshops on counseling techniques, advocacy and new legislation.
In addition to her many responsibilities Kline provides information about the Center's services and makes presentations in the community, most recently at the Diamond Valley Elementary School. She lives in Carson City and has been in charge of the Alpine County Women's Center since April 2008.
