Still a presence in the community

To the Editor:

Some rumors are running around and we just want to clarify to everyone that Lincoln County Crisis Solutions is continuing to provide all the services we have been providing for the past two years - including taking crisis calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse victims and their dependents with emergency shelter, transportation, food, clothing, child care, assistance with orders of protection, court escorts, support groups, referrals to other services, etc. We also continue to provide speakers for education on domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse. At no time has Lincoln County Crisis Solutions had a break in providing services to victims or the community.

We understand from Sander's County Coalition for Families that they have received some funding from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services to provide domestic violence services to Lincoln County. We are unsure what services Sander's County will be providing or when but want to assure you that Lincoln County Crisis Solutions is still here and will continue to provide services regardless of whatever they will be providing. We are working with the state to get the domestic violence funding returned to Lincoln County Crisis Solutions in future grant cycles but have received funding from other sources to continue our services.

We appreciate your past referrals of victims to our program and hope you will continue to refer them to our crisis line at 293-3223 or toll free at 1-877-493-7139 for calls outside the Libby calling area. We are committed to helping domestic violence/sexual assault victims and again ask your support in helping them and us through this transition period to make sure no victims go without the services they need. We want to publicly thank citizens and groups throughout Lincoln County for their generous donations of clothing, household items, food, donated services, offers to conduct fundraisers and money that have been flowing in especially since the funding controversy has come up in the media. If you have donations, questions or want to volunteer to help please call the office at 293-3951.

Barbara Guthneck

Executive Director

Lincoln County Crisis Solutions