Domestic Abuse Among the Affluent Getting Noticed, Women~SV Award Shows

Women~SV, an organization founded just a year ago to address a gap in domestic violence services for women in the northern part of Santa Clara county, is being recognized for its contributions.

The Santa Clara County Psychological Association (SCCPA) gives the Agency Award each year to an agency whose contributions have significantly enhanced the well-being of the community at large, and includes in its mission the task of serving an underserved population, said Jeffrey S. Kline, past president of the SCCPA.

"Until I met Ruth, I did not realize how great the need was for her services in our affluent community," said Kline, who practices in Menlo Park. Kline has sat in on the organization's domestic violence support groups, accompanied Patrick to a conference, and allowed her to use his office on many occasions. 

"The love and care Ruth shows toward the women who come to her, who have no where else to turn, is inspiring." 

Through Patrick's work, Kline came to know how women from affluent households may appear to be better off and have the resources to combat domestic abuse, but in reality, they are often at disadvantage because their abusers have money, power, influence, positive public image, and technical savvy to make it very difficult for a woman to leave safely, get a fair settlement, or keep custody of her children.

Because of the tremendous social stigma attached to domestic violence in our area, and because of the fear of consequences, Los Altos Police Chief Tuck Tounis told Patrick he believed that domestic violence was under-reported in this area, Kline wrote. Ruth's work in the past year supports that belief, he continued. In 2011 there were 11 police reports filed, compared with the 50 clients that Ruth has served since launching her program in March of 2012.

And, it appears she has been busy. Using a $20,000 grant from the Los Altos Community Foundation and its resources, Patrick has created a handbook for women in domestic abuse situations, which include strategies and recommendations to exit, resources, and educational reference material. She created an interactive website version of her directory (www.losaltoscf.org/womensv), made presentations at the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, at Deborah's Palm Resource Center in Palo Alto and at the Los Altos Rotary. She organized a local event for One Billion Rising, and has done trainings for bar associations, university clinics, the YWCA and the Community Health Awareness Council. She has been working to create collaboration between neighboring agencies and officials, she started a weekly support group, and more.

"Ruth will go anywhere, and talk to anyone, to help women in trouble," Kline said. "Ruth always says 'yes.'"

Patrick and Women~SV will receive the award on April 26. At that time, the SCCPA also awards Psychologist of the Year to a member, and its Alice Handley-Isakson, Ph.D. Award in Forensic Psychology to a psychologist who has made a significant contribution to the application of psychology in the legal arena.