CSU Global’s Community Relations Grant goes to Guardian Angel Community Services

We’d like to thank Sheila Schmitz, Ph.D., for nominating and recognizing this organization and the work they do for children and adults. In the following blog, Sheila talks about her connection to GACS, the work they do, and identifies red flags to be aware of for domestic violence.

As the former CEO of Guardian Angel Community Services (GACS), I can attest to the countless people whose lives are changed by the services they receive in this program. GACS is a nonprofit community services organization that serves over 6,500 people through direct service, and over 21,000 through advocacy, community outreach, and prevention education on an annual basis.

The mission of GACS is to help empower people to improve the quality of their lives. Through 7 core programs, GACS provides services to adults, children, foster families, survivors, and individuals who have committed acts of violence. These programs provide educational classes, transitional housing, 24-hour hotlines, counseling, and advocacy for those affected by abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The organization has operated since 1897 and currently serves people in both Will and Grundy counties in Illinois.

This year, GACS is a proud recipient of the Community Relations Grant provided by CSU Global. It’s fitting that GACS is receiving these funds in the month of October which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. My former co-workers at GACS are proud to be recipients of this grant and intend to use the grant money to provide support to victims of domestic violence through sponsorship of the 5K Angels Against Abuse Walk/Run.

According to the National Coalition against Domestic Violence (NCADV), nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. Even more startling, the NCADV reports that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime.

I was often asked how to recognize when someone is being abused. Although there is not a “typical” personality for an abuser, there are certainly red flags that someone might be abusive. NCADV lists these as follows:

• Extreme jealousy
• Possessiveness
• Unpredictability
• A bad temper
• Cruelty to animals
• Verbal abuse
• Extremely controlling behavior
• Antiquated beliefs about roles of women and men in relationships
• Forced sex or disregard of their partner’s unwillingness to have sex
• Sabotage of birth control methods or refusal to honor agreed upon methods
• Blaming the victim for anything bad that happens
• Sabotage or obstruction of the victim’s ability to work or attend school
• Controls all the finances
• Abuse of other family members, children or pets
• Accusations of the victim flirting with others or having an affair
• Control of what the victim wears and how they act
• Demeaning the victim either privately or publicly
• Embarrassment or humiliation of the victim in front of others
• Harassment of the victim at work

Anonymous and confidential help is available for any victim of domestic violence free of charge simply by contacting the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).

Thank you again to CSU Global for recognizing the work of GACS with your generous Community Relations Grant.