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Editor's Note: As the Laboratory's 2004 United Way campaign continues through Nov. 26, the Daily Newsbulletin will periodically publish news stories about the Lab's campaign and United Way agencies. As of last Thursday, about $540,000 has been raised in pledges and donations in this year's campaign.

Lab security specialist always on call for families in crisis

When security specialist Donna Martinez of Security Support (S-5) leaves her office at 5:30 p.m., she's not through working for the day. She heads home, but she also heads to her second job as a volunteer crisis counselor and victims' advocate. Every night and on weekends, Martinez is on call to assist with emergency calls that typically involve issues such as domestic violence and sexual assault.

For the past two years, she has worked for Los Alamos First Response, a nearly all-volunteer group working in coordination with other local organizations like the Los Alamos Police Department and Los Alamos Medical Center. Los Alamos First Response is part of the Crisis Center of Northern New Mexico, one of the agencies that receives funding from the Northern New Mexico/Los Alamos chapter of the United Way.

"Domestic violence is often kept under wraps," she said. "Unfortunately, there are always victims, even in Los Alamos. But our town is very unique because we have so many different cultures here and security clearances are often an issue."

Martinez said program staff responds to calls from throughout the area, including Española, but they try to focus on Los Alamos.

"If the call is the result of an incident of some kind, we first make sure the scene is safe and secure for the victim and for the responders, " she said. "Then we offer voluntary counseling, go through a 'safe plan' and guide them through their options.

"We find them a place to go if necessary and give them a packet of material on available services, she said, noting that a follow-up is done, usually the next day. Many cases involve numerous follow-ups."

Martinez said the work can be frustrating and demands a great deal of patience and understanding.

"Victims, who are usually female, will often be repeat victims," she said. "Because the perpetrator has often been abusing the victim for a long time, both emotionally and physically, the victim is often afraid and doesn't always know that there could be other options.

"They don't always get it the first time, or even the second time, " Martinez said. "Often the abuse has been going on for a long time before we are called, and the victim may call only after a particularly violent attack. And we're usually not talking about just one victim. There often are children who are witnessing the abuse."

Martinez is one of two women on call from 5:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. the following morning, Monday through Friday and day and night on the weekends. She said there is no such thing as a "typical" week at Los Alamos First Response.

"We can go for months without a call, and then get them back to back," she said.

Martinez became involved with First Response after answering their call for volunteers. New recruits receive between 20 and 40 hours of training, which is ongoing. Currently, the organization is again seeking individuals who are interested in working as victims' advocates. Martinez said they are looking for people with particular personality traits.

"We have to be very careful who we recruit," she said. "Volunteers must be able to separate emotionally and not be drawn into the victim's dilemma. You have to stay focused on what needs to be done."

For more information or to volunteer for Los Alamos First Response, contact Jennifer Hanson at 672-2208 or Donna Martinez at 5-7467.

-- Kay Roybal

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