People Helping People is seeking a few volunteers to serve as domestic violence prevention advocates. The program, ADCAP (Advocates for Domestic & Child Abuse Prevention), is now more than 9 years old and has served hundreds of Santa Ynez Valley residents over that period.

Many cities and counties have domestic violence prevention programs and even shelters. According to Dean Palius, executive director of PHP, what makes this local program unique is its reliance on volunteers and its exceptional performance record.

ADCAP statistics supplied to Santa Barbara County for the past eight complete fiscal years show that the ADCAP program has produced dramatic results. Over those years, repeat incidents of violence involving the same family have averaged less than 5 percent a year.

Since its inception in 1999, ADCAP's Emergency Response Team (ERT) has been staffed by volunteers. These volunteers are on call from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., seven days a week to respond to domestic violence crime scenes. PHP staff members handle daytime calls. There are approximately 100 calls per year.

According to Palius, the ERT advocate volunteers are the heart and soul of the program.

“These volunteers have literally donated thousands of hours to help change the lives of families,” Palius said. “They are dedicated to the principle that no man or woman and their family members should live in fear or suffer emotional and physical abuse,” he added.

ADCAP advocates work in partnership with the Sheriff's Department. When a deputy responds to the scene of a domestic violence crime, they call their dispatch center to page an ADCAP advocate. Advocates are given the names of the victims and their location, the original crime scene or perhaps the hospital or sheriff's station, and the advocate reports to that location.

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Advocates meet with the victims and may offer immediate help to medical attention or shelter. They provide emotional support and information regarding the cycle of violence and the many negative effects on the family, especially children. They may discuss alternatives to provide a safe haven for the family. The objective of the advocate is to let the family know that they are not alone; help is available.

Amy Ratliff, coordinator of ADCAP services, said that ADCAP advocates have had an amazing impact on the lives of local residents.

“These volunteers literally save lives and save many hours of Sheriff's deputies repeatedly responding to recurring domestic violence. In fact, they have impacted the safety of deputies because domestic violence crime scenes are among the most dangerous.”

Ratliff said that there are many in the community that would like to believe that domestic violence just doesn't happen here.

“This just isn't the case,” she said. “The ADCAP program has served an average of 100 families per year for all of its nine years. During that time, Sheriff's deputies have responded to crime scenes where victims have been beaten to unconsciousness with a baseball bat, threatened with shot guns and swords, and choked into submission. Luckily ADCAP advocates have been there to help these victims and their children pick up the pieces and obtain safety.”

PHP's ADCAP advocates respond to a domestic violence crime scene only after it is secured by law enforcement. These advocates have successfully completed 40 hours of classroom training prescribed by the state of California for certification to work in a domestic violence prevention program. In addition, PHP requires 32 hours of on-the-job training before advocates are permitted to make a solo crime scene response.

Pam Pilcher, a PHP Board members and ADCAP advocate, said her participation in the program has been extremely rewarding.

“I am often amazed at the changes families can make when they know help is available right here in the valley,” she said. “We listen to their story and let them know that they are not alone. Through PHP, we make services available that allow them to get the help they need to change direction and lead a violence-free life for themselves and their children.”

On Monday, June 2, a four-week (40-hour) classroom training program will begin leading to domestic violence advocate certification. PHP's ADCAP program is looking for a few volunteers with an interest in becoming program advocates to attend this upcoming training. After receiving their certification, volunteers will then be scheduled for on-the-job training before joining the ongoing Emergency Response Team rotating schedule.

For information or a ADCAP volunteer application, call Norma at 686-7352.