Small domestic abuse shelters throughout Iowa are scrambling to remain open amid changes by state officials that will mean a loss of funding. The state attorney general’s office last week notified 12 shelters…including the Family Crisis Support Network in Atlantic, which serves six counties in the area…that they no longer will receive state money. It’s part of an effort to more effectively spend the dwindling funding that’s available. The state will instead, devote the money to eight larger shelters, which can deliver more extensive services to victims. Wendy Richter, Executive Director of the FCSN in Atlantic, says the loss of roughly $240,000 in several funding streams from the Crime Victim Assistance Division is “Very disappointing,” but no decisions have been made on the future of the facility because that is not dictated by the State.  She says because they own their own shelter, so the decision will be made locally as to its future. If they keep it up and running, it would not specifically be geared toward domestic violence, but for now, nothing will change.

Richter says the FCSN’s Board of Directors will be meeting several times in the next few weeks to determine what the best options are. She says some of the options include continuing serving in the current capacity, including what should be done with the outreach offices in Red Oak and Harlan. Council Bluffs had earlier been approved to cover the service area that the FCSN serves, so if the organization wishes to continue serving in its current capacity, they will be going against State guidelines. Richter says tremendous community support in the past has enabled the shelter to remain open, and for them to set aside funds to continue operations through the end of the current fiscal year.

She says they were able to put funds into a “Rainy day account,” and they are viewing the cuts from the State as a “Rainy day” situation. She says if possible, they would like to use their own funds, plus any local support that is received, to maintain the shelter aspect of the facility. The State says shelters are a huge expense, and not want victims of domestic violence need. Richter agrees, to an extent. She says shelter is the least utilized aspect of family crisis services, because “No Contact” orders allow people to stay in their own homes and stay protected. She says it’s not until the situation becomes serious, that people come into the shelter. Richter says “The need is there,” but it is the most expensive service they offer, “Just because of all the red tape that goes along with having a shelter.”

Janelle Melohn, of the attorney general’s office, says the changes are needed to more effectively help victims at a time when federal funding passed through the state government has repeatedly dropped.

Iowa is about to send a new crop of job-hunting high school and college graduates into the marketplace, and some will find success much faster than others. Susan McBroom, a vocational rehabilitation counselor in Urbandale, says the quality of your resume will quickly determine your odds of going from a job-seeker to someone’s newest employee. McBroom discusses the most common resume error. “People are not matching the resume to the job that they’re applying for,” McBroom says. “It’s really important that they match their skill sets to the position they’re applying to. If they don’t know their skill set, there’s a resource called O’Net Online that they can find each job broken down to the specific skill set.”

The address for that website is: www.onetonline.org. While a one-page resume was once the rule, McBroom says a two-page resume is now standard, but she says don’t go beyond two pages. “It takes a recruiter about 15 seconds to look through a resume,” McBroom says. “What I tell new grads is to be sure that if you don’t have a long work history, put things in there that would be internships, big projects, things like that.”

About 90-percent of employers now hire electronically, so having an e-resume that can be attached to an email cover letter is a must. Resumes need to be kept simple, using plain lettering and nothing fancy. Despite the economic downturn of the past few years, McBroom is optimistic about the job market, adding, it’s excellent if you’re looking for positions in the medical field. “Anything in nursing, certified medical assistant, medication aid, psych aid, and the last two don’t require a four-year degree,” McBroom says. “The job market is getting better. The unemployment rate for ages 19 to 24 is about 12% but that does include new graduates so, it’s really important to have a perfect resume out there.”

Iowa’s jobless rate is about five-percent, well below the national jobless rate of about seven-and-a-half percent. Being aggressive is key. Many ads say “no calls” but she says to call anyway, a week after you send your resume, just to see if they got it or have any questions. While social media sites are popular, McBroom doesn’t recommend being on one unless it’s private and visible by only a limited number of people. If you’re on Facebook or Twitter, she says: “Be careful what you put out there. Employers do research social media. If possible, set your Facebook to private. Keep in mind, others may access information from it.”

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Medivac Ambulance have responded to the scene of a personal injury accident this morning near the Wal-Mart store. The Cass County Communications Center said the crash between a pickup and a van happened at around 8:55-a.m. on 7th Street, at the stop-lights in between the Wal-Mart and Atlantic Super 8 motel.

One person, described as a middle-aged female, suffered head injuries. She was not wearing a seat belt. Officials say her vehicle’s airbags did deploy upon impact. Additional details are currently not available.