MPR: Officials publicize domestic violence crisis line

Officials publicize domestic violence crisis line
By Tim Pugmire
Minnesota Public Radio
October 15, 2001
A new public awareness campaign is underway in Minnesota to get battered women to use the state's Domestic Violence Crisis Line.

Sheila Wellstone, wife of U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, announces a campaign to publicize the state's Domestic Violence Crisis hotline.
(MPR Photo/Tim Pugmire)

ADVOCATES ESTABLISHED THE TOLL-FREE PHONE NUMBER A YEAR AGO to connect women and children to shelters throughout the state. They now say only about 2 percent of the reported 132,000 victims of domestic violence used the service. Pat Prinzevalle, executive director of the Day One Center, says the crisis line is designed to help women who live in daily fear.

"In many cases, women escaping violence may not know where the shelter nearest to her home is located. She may not feel comfortable seeking assistance from shelter in her area, for fear of her abuser finding her location," says Prinzevalle.

The new corporate-sponsored publicity campaign will encourage more women to call the toll-free Minnesota Domestic Violence Crisis Line. The line helps connect victims to the nearest available shelter. Sheila Wellstone, the wife of U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, says Minnesota's one-call system is a model for the nation.

"All too often she has had to make call after call, tell her story over and over again, only to be told over and over again 'I'm sorry we don't have the space.' And all too often for these women, she will no longer make a call after just the one call if she is told there's no place to go," Wellstone says.

The campaign will use billboards, restroom posters and radio public service announcements to encourage battered women to use the crisis line.

The Minnesota Domestic Crisis Line phone number is 1-866-223-1111.

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