Shasta Women's Refuge Timeline
1979 – 2009

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION

In the late 1970’s Gretchen Peterson, a 72 year old widow, offered her very modest home as the first safe house in Shasta County. For five years, Mrs. Peterson voluntarily sheltered women and their children in her home. In 1978, the local chapter of the American Association of University Women formed a task force to study the problem of domestic violence in Shasta County and non-profit incorporation papers were filed with the State of California. In 1979, Shasta County Women’s Refuge (SCWR) incorporated and began operation as a domestic violence crisis intervention program. In 1982, the shelter, Peterson House, was purchased with the assistance of federal, state and local funds, and in 1987, expanded to its present capacity.

Shasta County Women’s Refuge (SCWR) emergency shelter, Peterson House, provides safety and supportive services to adult women and their children who are victims of domestic violence. The shelter is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year and is staffed around the clock by Housing Assistant/Client Advocates who have successfully completed 66 hours of training in domestic violence and sexual assault and crisis intervention. The shelter location is confidential, yet it is close to local resources and services. SCWR has provided shelter to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault since its incorporation in 1979. Safe Houses were used until 1982 when Peterson House was purchased with the assistance of federal, state, and local funds. The shelter serves all geographic areas of Shasta County, including the Intermountain Area. Transportation to the emergency shelter in Redding is provided by SCWR staff or volunteers when necessary.

SCWR’s mission is, “to help end domestic violence and sexual assault in Shasta County.” We are committed to providing victims of domestic violence and sexual assault with the resources needed for safety, healing and prevention of further victimization, and to working within our community promoting and participating in intervention, education and advocacy to prevent family and sexual violence. We believe our mission will only be accomplished when society no longer tolerates domestic violence and sexual assault.

SCWR staff and volunteers provide a variety of services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children. We service approximately 3000 women, men and children annually. The services offered include:

• Crisis counseling: individual and group.
• Business center in Redding accessible to walk-in clients.
• 24-hour crisis line.
• Community Education and Outreach office.
• Emergency shelter available 365 days per year.
• Emergency food and clothing.
• Emergency response to calls from law enforcement and hospitals.
• Emergency transportation.
• Criminal/Family Court and Social Service advocacy.
• Legal assistance with protective and child custody orders.
• Community resource and referral information.
• Household establishment assistance.
• Client education through the Personal Empowerment Program.
• Children, Too! Program for children in shelter
• Youth Services Education and Outreach.
• The Respect Program provides education and outreach to batterers and potential batterers.

SCWR provides these services to all adults and their children caught in the cycle of domestic violence and/or who are victims of sexual assault. The overwhelming majority of SCWR clients are low income according to federal guidelines. Over the past twenty-six years, SCWR volunteers and staff have served over 33,000 victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their families.

1979

• October 19th SCWR is incorporated.
• Gretchen Peterson’s home is the first safe house in Shasta County.

1980

• Completed first year of crisis intervention service to over 800 families.
• Upper Hand, a batterer’s counseling program, is one of Women’s Refuge services.

1982

• The emergency shelter is purchased with the assistance of federal, state and local funds. It is named Peterson House in honor of Gretchen Peterson. Six hundred thirty-one women and children are provided shelter during the year.

1983

• Board minutes report that, in 3-1/2 years, over 3,000 women and children have stayed in SCWR’s safe houses and emergency shelter.
• California’s Office of Criminal Justice Planning (OCJP) funds the Women’s Refuge Rape Crisis Counseling Program.

1986

• OCJP funds the Women’s Refuge Domestic Violence Program.

1987

• A dorm wing is added to Peterson House increasing bed capacity to 24.
• The first Crab Feed is held, beginning an annual tradition.

1990

• Construction begins on the Benton Drive Business Office.

1991

• SCWR’s Endowment Fund is established.

1992

• TeenNET, an educational program about domestic violence and sexual assault designed for 7th to 12th grade students, is established.

1994

• The Personal Empowerment Program, designed to provide self-sufficiency classes and groups for women in shelter and transitional housing, gets underway.
• SCWR’s 15th Anniversary is celebrated with a gala wine tasting at The Golf Club at Tierra Oaks, becoming an annual anniversary celebration.

1995

• A $90,000 shelter remodel is completed with funding from the State of California and City of Redding.
• SCWR is named Outstanding Nonprofit Agency by the Association of Nonprofit Professionals.

1996

• The Respect program, a collaborative effort amongst Shasta County agencies to reduce family violence, is funded by California’s Department of Social Services.
• Casa de la Paz transitional housing/self-sufficiency program opens. Funding is provided by a grant from California’s Department of Health Services Battered Womens Shelter Program.
• The first “Take Back the Night!” event is held featuring speakers who have survived a violent crime and concluding with a candlelight march.

1997

• Education and Outreach Program expands and opens an office on Park Marina Drive.
• Respect launches the Shasta County Clothesline Project.
• SCWR’s youth education program, YouthNET, is introduced into the 5th and 6th grades, focusing on the issue of bullying.

1998

• A $110,000 grant from OCJP funds the Child and Teen Counseling Program.
• A $50,000 grant from OCJP supports efforts to organize a Sexual Assault Response Team in Shasta County.
• The Intermountain Area Outreach Program office opens in Burney thanks to a grant from OCJP.
• SCWR’s thrift store, Previously Cherished, is closed after many years of providing clothing and household items to SCWR clients. People of Progress agrees to step in and provide this service to our clients.

1999

• A 12-unit townhouse is purchased for transitional housing.
• Sexual Assault Response Team is formed with Shasta Regional Hospital and law enforcement; a multi-disciplinary project to enhance the quality of sexual assault investigations and provide professional and quality care to victims.
• Domestic Violence Task Force is formed in Intermountain Area.
• 20th Anniversary Cornucopia held at Turtle Bay.

2000

• Respect Program receives DHS grant to continue education and outreach programs.
• Women’s Refuge becomes part of the CalWorks Behavioral Health Team.
• Teen Advisory Group (TAG) is formed.
• A Horse Therapy Program is introduced for survivors.

2001

• Cycle for Hope Bike-a-Thon fundraiser is held.
• SAFENET program adds two Violence Prevention Educators.
• New SART room added at Shasta Regional Hospital

2002

• Mercy Foundation North grants $18,000 to update information management systems.
• The 15th Annual Crab Feed “ran out of crab” and held the first table decorating contest.
• 4th Annual Respect Conference held
• 2nd Annual Break the Cycle Century is held.
• Mary Stegall retires after 10 years as executive director.

2003

• Susan Evans replaces Mary Stegall as Executive Director
• Client Services hosts Greeters.
• Record Searchlight named “Sponsor of the Year”
• B.J. Macey named “Volunteer of the Year”

2004

• SCWR responds to lean times by cutting staff, combining offices, closing the Burney office and relocating the shelter.
• Casa De La Paz transitional housing is closed in June.
• Margaret John replaces Susan Evans as Executive Director.
• 900 guests attended the 18th Annual Crab Feed
• Newsletter discontinued because of budgetary concerns.

2005

• 26th Anniversary of SWR
• Newsletter returns in the fall
• $61, 000 raised at Cornucopia event held at Turtle Bay Museum
• Burney Inter Mountain Area hosts 2nd Annual “High Cars, Low Bars” Fundraiser
• First “Window Between Worlds” Art Show is held at Redding’s Barnwood Gallery
• Casa de la Paz holds reunion.
• 118 rapes reported in Shasta County.
• Jerry & Betty Wagar of Ochoa & Sheehan donate $10,000 to purchase crab

2006

• Cornucopia held at the McConnell Foundation’s Lema Ranch
• Jerry & Betty Wagar of Ochoa & Sheehan donate $10,000 to purchase crab; subcontractor’s donate $5,700
• 8th Annual Respect Conference held.
• Ice Cream Social held to honor volunteers & donors at Lake Redding Park.
• Barbara Klasson named “Volunteer of the Year”

2007

• “County” officially dropped from Shasta Women’s Refuge name to clarify stand alone organization, not a part of Shasta County’s government.
• New SWR logo introduced and paid for by a grant from the Shasta County Anti Tobacco Fund
• First Dancing with the Stars fundraiser held in cooperation with Shasta Family YMCA. Patrick John and Kathy Babcock named “Champions.”
• Pediatric clinic established at shelter.
• 9th Annual Respect Conference held.
• Past SWR Board of Directors member and long time supporter Kathy Jenkins dies unexpectedly in July.

2008

• SWR responds to 10% cut in Department of Health Services funding by ending RESPECT and Personal Empowerment Program and laying off staff.
• Celebrity Waiter fundraising event held at C.R. Gibbs.
• CHP Officer Scott Johnson picks SWR as charity in “Live on it to Win it” fundraiser.
• First “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” fundraiser nets $30 K (106 walkers)
• Second Annual Dancing with the Stars is held. Tracy Edwards and Matt Armstrong named “Champions.”
• Cornucopia event returns and is held at the Gaia Hotel.
• Diamonds Christmas Concert sponsored by Kool April Nites benefits SWR.

2009

• SWR’s 30th Anniversary year launches with most successful crab feed yet.
• Anniversary logo developed.
• Second “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” fundraiser nets $30 K and 129 walkers.
• Third Annual Dancing with the Stars fundraiser is held. Melissa Hunt and Parker Burr named “Champions.”
• July 28th Governor Schwarzenegger eliminates funding for domestic violence women’s shelters in California.