Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Group offers shelter, more

Cheryl Cooper has an important tie with Courage House. Cooper herself utilized the services of the womens shelter before becoming director.

Courage House is a non-profit organization that provides emergency shelter to women and children who are victims of domestic violence. But simply helping a woman escape from the situation isnt enough. Cooper said that one of the things she discovered after becoming involved with the organization was that some women returned, time after time. She set out to find out why and what to do to help.

What she found is that ups and downs in the economy and other predictable patterns are indicators of increased domestic abuse. Put simply, when money is tight, families are more stressed and more likely to have instances of domestic abuse. There are other reasons for domestic abuse and the fact that some women continually return to an abusive situation is another serious issue.

With these facts in mind, Cooper began looking for some additional ways to help the families impacted. Courage House now offers outreach and education programs. The outreach is designed to help women establish themselves in a new life. Help with housing and emotional support are at the top of the list on the outreach program. Teaching women and children how to extract themselves from abusive situations is at the heart of the educational program.

Cooper said children often stand up to the abuser. That means that children are in danger of being harmed but are also in danger of harming another. Cooper said many boys of abusive homes murder or seriously injure the abuser. When that happens, the young men are likely to spend years in jail  eliminating any possibility of a productive life of their own.

Cooper said emergency shelters are a fairly recent addition to social reforms. Only in existence since the 1970s, shelters are the only option for some women and children. Courage House is located in Clark County and serves five surrounding counties. The organization has a building in Prescott, at 102 E. Elm, next to the Nevada County Picayune. The building is used as a storage building for items available for families in the area. Volunteers hold garage sales there each month during Trade Days with the proceeds going to Courage House. Donations are accepted and may be dropped at the Picayune if the Courage House is not open. Volunteers to help organize, hold garage sales and to handle other tasks in Nevada and surrounding counties are also needed.

Cooper said one of the most important things needed by Courage House is local funding. She said that the organization operates on state and federal funding and grants. She said these funds are simply not enough to continually provide the services being offered. In addition, the shelter is in need of upgrades and repairs.

For more information, to volunteer or make a donation, contact the Courage House at 246-3122, or write to P.O. Box 924, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.