Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
MEMBERS OF the Iron County Coordinated Community Response Team pose for a photo at the Iron County Courthouse in Hurley recently. The team consists of numerous agencies and departments in Iron County to help combat domestic and sexual violence. Team members include, first row (sitting), Sarah Eder, social worker for children and family for the Iron County Human Services; second row, from left, Julann Ritter, public health nurse for the Iron County Health Department; Donna Klawitter, undersheriff for the Iron County Sheriff's Department; Lori Prenderville, victim witness coordinator for the Iron County District Attorney's office; Deanna Kennedy, executive director of DOVE; Brandy Craig, social worker in adult services for the human services department, and Tony Furyk, Iron County sheriff; third row, Marty Lipske, district attorney; Star Kolesar, Wisconsin sexual assault victim advocate for DOVE, and Malinda Peterson, Wisconsin case manager and team chair. Missing from photo are Carolyn Kolson-Janov, director of the human services department; Dan Johns, guardian ad litem and attorney; Brett Fulks, from the Iron County Probation and Probate office, and Zona Wick, director of the health department.
HURLEY - Since 2005, numerous agencies across Iron County have come together to respond to cases of domestic and sexual violence.
The Iron County Coordinated Community Response Team is a partnership of six agencies or departments in Iron County. According to Malinda Peterson, team chair, the group started after three individuals in the county died as a result of domestic violence.
"These deaths signified the realities of the issues on how our community responded to domestic violence cases, which prompted the attention to form a coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence," Peterson said. "Today, the Iron County CCRT continues to unite and thrive through the collaboration of fundamental agencies in law enforcement, community systems and criminal justice to implement a systematic approach to safeguard victims' rights, their safety and hold offenders accountable."
Organizations or departments represented on the team include the Iron County Sheriff's Department, Iron County Health Department, Iron County Human Services Department, Iron County District Attorney's office, DOVE and Iron County Probation and Parole office.
According to Peterson, what makes the group successful in its effort to help domestic and sexual violence victims in the area is mutual respect.
"Each team member respects the notion that one agency alone cannot solve the issues generated by domestic and sexual violence within the community," Peterson said. "Together, we unite our information, resources and expertise to respond to these crimes, uphold the principles and rights of victims, their safety and ensure offenders are liable for their actions."
Peterson joined the group in 2008, and in addition to her role as team chair, she is also the Wisconsin case manager for DOVE.
"I am grateful to have the privilege to work with such a heightened level of professionals who sustain a true passion for combating domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse," she said. "We face resistance, conflicts, oppositions and challenges, but we withstand the battles, never surrender and eternally remember the commencement and fundamental purpose of our team."
For more information on the Iron County CCRT, or to become a member, call Peterson at 715-329-1134.
