FACT, helps victims of crime
By Donna Gavin
Emerald Contributor
Returning Vietnam veterans challenged modi
cal and scx:tat cure workers with a host of symp
toms now defined as l‘ost Traumatic Stress Disor
der Since then, violence within families, neigh
borhoods and cities threaten to match the human
toll associated with war.
Like the Vietnam vets, crime victims may un
consciously submerge their reaction to the trauma
until stress builds to acute levels long after the
event.
PTSD, the body's emotional response to a trau
matic event, is now recognized as a treatable con
dition in both children and adult victims ol crime
and abuse.
Christian Family Services has recently devel
oped a program called FACT, Families Affect
ed By Crime and Trauma, to help crime anil
abuse victims cope with PTSD
Dr Debra Alexander, clinical director of
F A C T . has 10 years experience treating victims
of violent crime in New York and California and
is author of several books used in the treatment of
PTSD.
Because crime denies a victim any chance to
prepare for the event, the resulting stress can re
tard a child's development and immobilize un
adult According to fact sheets written by Alexan
der, PTSD Includes "three predictable" phases
that must be experienced if the victim's treatment
will he successful:
• Impact," the Initial phase, includes shock,
disbelief and denial Confusion, forgetfulness and
indications of having lost control cun lead to peo
[lie's feelings that they are going crazy
• "Recoil." the next phase, is marked by anger,
self-doubt and "what-if" questions that might
lead to recurrent nightmares and other distur
bances.
• “Recognition," the third phase, brings un un
derstanding of the event and tho re-ordering of
thoughts and feelings that can halt the turmoil
and allow acceptance and healing
Alexander said adults and children react differ
ently to trauma. One family member s ITSD can
spread like ripples in a pond to include and be
compounded by others in the family who may
not have experienced the stressful event
Adults, busy with their own trauma, might not
recognize a child's signals of distress Adults ol
ten find it difficult to believe ih.it children "ap
prehend disturbing events in complex wuy.s "
And yet, rese.irr h has shown that exposure to vio
lence can cause c h.inges In a t hild's brain stem
A client's treatment plan might employ play
therapv, or individual, group or faintly therapy
with a treatment period usuallv taking from ft)
weeks to two years
The agency, which is licensed bv the state of
Oregon, works vvilh each client to set specific
goals and to plan and regularly review the course
of their treatment
Chants may receive assistance with the basic
hourly fee through private insurance, victims' as
sistance. or arrangements made on a sliding lee
scale
F.A.C.T clients comprise victims of sexual
abuse, child abuse and violent crimes of all types
The agency receives support from contributions
that provide scholarships to needy clients
Alexander said there is always a waiting list for
the scholarships, and most of them are children
Anyone desiring to help victims of abuse and
crime cun best do so through donations to the
scholarship fund
The professional staff of Christian Family Ser
vices includes Linda OooTDIondy, a licensed t lin
ical social worker, with a background in critical
incidence de-brtofing. and tontine Corr. a coun
selor who works with all uges
Lawrence Ilixler, a retired professor of ps\i hoi
ogy and counseling at Northwest Christian Col
lege, started the agency In 1964 to (ill a need lor
practical education that would also help people
Over the years, the agency has changed counsel
ing focus several limes hut has never been affiliat
ed with any religious group or denomination
Christian Family Services is still helping peo
ple The agency recently moved to 229-1 Oukmuni
Way in tlugone The staff and I to. i rtf of directors
of Christian Family Services, who are drawn from
the community, are committed to serving chil
dren and families regardless of race. < reed, mari
tal status, family relationships or religion
Lxeculive Director Kathryn Wilson looks after
program development, fiscal development and
fund raising Initially u consult lor the agency.
Wilson said she was willing to undergo the hiring
process to become a part of the stalf Ikiciiuso
"they caught my heart Their work is great work
ptwfcj of u^t.M Shnam
Neal Skorpan (left), Michael Russell and Kraig Norris are just a
lew of the University cartoonists featured in tho compilation
Panals
Comics immortalized
in cartoonists’ ‘Panels’
Move ovur Curry Trudeau.
For yeurs. University cartoonists havo unswered tho cull
orul turned out panels, strips unit caricatures for i ampux pub
lications like tho On yon Unify lutiomld, Student Insurgent.
Oregon Commentator and Oregon Voh v
Now, for tho first Unto ever, tho disparate urllslic works of
12 University cartoonists bus Ix'on pul under one cover —
Panels UO Cartooning IMt-Vjf.
Michael Russell, u 1992 University graduate and creator of
the comic strip Hudson Van ( un n. edited and designed tho
book
"1 had nowhere to put nty cartoons," Russell said "I suw u
compilation of cartoons und decided to get a bunch of urtlxls
together.
"It was successful l>eyo»d my wildest dreams."- Russell
said. "Everybody I uskod wunlod to bo In the book."
Besides Kusstdl, txmlrlbuling cartoonist* include Conner,
Teresa Knoy.ok, Kmig Norris. Bryan Pritchett. Dennis Rod
rnond. Wuyne Shellabarger, Neal Skorpen, A.C Solid, juimin
Truoblixwf, Adrian Wallace and Vernon C Wallingford III.
Tho strips come from all sides of the political spectrum but
have one thing in common — a jab at hugeous li fusty lo.
Panels is available In Portland at Powell's Bookstore, and
In Eugene at the University Bookstore, Smith Family Books,
Emerald City Comics und Marketplace Books for S?
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