If there is a silver lining in the clouds of violence that hang over society, Tori Miller hasn't seen enough.

Violence is still there and it's growing. Fortunately, there is an agency trying to make a difference.

On the 25th anniversary of the Crime Victims Resource Center, in the midst of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the CVRC director said, "I think we're doing well, but we could be doing better. In fact, I know we can do more."

Miller's attitude not withstanding, the CVRC does a lot and its maturation from a lone director-counselor to the multi-faceted agency it is today is admirable.

"A core group of concerned individuals came together," Miller said of the CVRC's origins. "They wanted to meet the needs of citizens and they came from all walks of life. Men and women, married and single, law enforcement, prosecution, the medical community, mental health, everybody was involved."

A grant from the Minnesota Department of Corrections provided start-up funds in 1977. Jamie Tiedemann was the first of six directors the agency has had. She had a part-time secretary, too. Volunteers would come later.

Today, the CVRC has three staff working in the area of victims services. Two others work with the children's visitation center.

Lana Hollerud-Zabel is a domestic victims intervention advocate. Jessica Bell is the sexual assault victims coordinator. Miller also serves as a general crime victims advocate. Bell also handles recruitment of the valuable volunteers needed by the CVRC.

Nicole Barber and Tessa Maly work at the Children's Visitation Center.

Of course, victims were always there and there are more today. From 208 cases in that first year, the CVRC has now handled 257 domestic abuse cases in the first eight months of 2002 alone. By the end of the year, when sexual assault cases are added into the domestic abuse total, the CVRC will see over a thousand cases in the year.

Originally, the Freeborn-Mower Mental Health Center coordinated victims' services. When the old Austin Medical Clinic merged with St. Olaf Hospital in 1985, the victims' services found a new home at 101 14th St. NW and a new

sponsor: Austin Medical Center – Mayo Health System.

Miller joined the agency in 1996.

The 24-hour crisis line is only one of the services offered. There are also counseling, safety planning, emergency safe-home or shelter, support groups, emergency transportation, support during police reporting and hospital examination, assistance with obtaining Orders for Protection and Harassment Restraining Orders and assistance with the criminal justice system, including monitoring court cases and notification of victims rights.

There are also more victims to support and serve today. New victims and old crimes with new names.

Not only are they victims of accidents involving intoxicated drivers, assault, burglary, child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual abuse and theft. Today, the crimes of elder abuse are also recognized. Harassment in schools, the work place and any other place is a fact of life. Terroristic threats happen and stalking is a menace. Date rape happens.

"I think the numbers have grown because there are more people seeking help. If that means there is more crime, than that's what it is. All I know is that we are helping more people than ever before," Miller said.

The majority of the agency's funding comes from the Minnesota Center for Crime Victims Services through grants and the rest comes from the United Way of Mower County and the Mower County Board of Commissioners.

AMC-Mayo Health System is a generous sponsor, providing

a headquarters, office staff and other infrastructure to operate the agency.

"I think the focus 25 years ago was battered women," Miller said. "We still serve victims of domestic violence, but we have expanded our range and scope. We are not just a women's agency."

Miller credits aggressive efforts to promote awareness and education with the agency's higher profile in Mower County.

Also, peace officers now make victims aware of the existence of the CVRC immediately. "Word of mouth" also brings people to the center.

"Victims will tell other victims or people they believe might become victims and we go to work for them," Miller said.

The growing cultural diversity of Mower County has presented new and different challenges for the CVRC.

"You have to have a real understanding of different cultures and different roles men and women have in those cultures," Miller said.

The volunteers, who take telephone calls after hours, weekends and holidays are an invaluable resource to the center. They undergo rigorous training and background investigations to ensure their professionalism. Also, they are bound by strict confidentiality all the time.

"We need more of them. We need volunteers desperately," Miller said.

There is also a need for a permanent safe-home shelter in Mower County.

But Miller believes people are the CVRC's greatest resource at the agency's 25th anniversary.

"More people are coming to us for help for more reasons than ever before," she said. "We give people options. We don't make decision for them."

There are frustrations, of course. Not everyone appreciates help.

However, Miller said counseling a victim through a crisis situation is its own greatest reward.

Occasionally, there is a card or a hug of thanks; maybe, a telephone message saying, "I couldn't have done it without you."

But most of the time, the process of helping an individual is a solitary experience.

Miller said she relishes "knowing we were just there for somebody to lean on when they needed somebody in their lives."

For more information, call the CVRC at 438-6680.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com