Friday, July 18, 2008 12:29 PM EDT
Domestic Violence Resource Center honors Judy Beatrice
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 Judy Beatrice, center, recently celebrated 10 years of working for the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County with volunteers Ena Volpe Onofrio of Wakefield, left, and Elizabeth Colagiovanni of Saunderstown.
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NARRAGANSETT – Colleagues past and present gathered at the Narragansett home of Jim and Sue Stone on June 24 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Judy Beatrice’s work for the nonprofit Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County.
A resident of Wakefield, Beatrice was honored at the party with a “Certificate of Sunshine in recognition of her outstanding contributions toward ending domestic violence” awarded by the national Sunshine Lady Foundation.
Beatrice is truly a Renaissance woman who brings a variety of experiences to help those whose lives have been negatively affected by domestic violence, according to DVRCSC officials. She has worked with victims and perpetrators, males and females, friends and families, adults and children. Working 10 years at DVRCSC is a true testament of her commitment to a vision of “a future free from violence,” officials added.
While teaching elementary school and raising her three children in the 1970s, Beatrice often worked with children who had witnessed domestic violence, and she recognized the importance of understanding their home life to address their negative behavior. This interest in helping victims of domestic violence led her to volunteer in 1987 at Sympatico, a crisis intervention center that handled issues such as homelessness, domestic violence, and drug and alcohol abuse.
She worked as a paid counselor for Sympatico and later as a clinical supervisor for the Galilee Mission in Narragansett where she developed and supervised one of the first certified Batterer’s Intervention Program in the state of Rhode Island. The program was mandated by the state for convicted perpetrators of domestic violence. Beatrice continues to volunteer as a board member for the Galilee Mission.
In 1998, Beatrice shifted gears a bit by accepting a legal advocate position with the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County, then known as the Women’s Resource Center of South County. She guided thousands of domestic violence victims through the court system, provided advocacy and referral information.
“The numbers were astounding,” said Beatrice. “It was, and still is, the busiest program of the agency.”
Beatrice has a keen eye for noting gaps in services, and she created innovative solutions to these problems. Noting that almost one-third of court clients were men, she advocated for the establishment of a “men as victims” support group, the only one in Rhode Island. Because of her influence, the agency changed its name in 2004 to better reflect that not all of its clients are women.
She created a support group for friends and families of victims to learn effective ways to respond and support loved ones who are victims. Beatrice facilitated New Directions, a psycho-educational program for women who notice a pattern of abusive relationships in their lives.
In 2005, DVRCSC needed a new director of clinical services, an all-encompassing position that includes supervising and working for the court program, support groups, safe home shelter, transitional housing program and the education/outreach department.
“I realized that the most qualified person already worked here,” noted DVRCSC Executive Director Mary Roda. “I was so pleased that Judy accepted the position. She continues to add her expertise to case management, crisis intervention, and phone and drop-in consultation. Judy also works on the management team to establish goals and policies for the entire agency. We rely on her broad experience with all aspects of client services.”
“The destruction caused by domestic violence touches all of us in one way or another so it is crucial that we strive to provide better interventions for both victims and perpetrators,” explained Beatrice. “Our two highest priorities are to save lives and save children from becoming the victims and perpetrators of tomorrow.”
A resident of Wakefield, Beatrice was honored at the party with a “Certificate of Sunshine in recognition of her outstanding contributions toward ending domestic violence” awarded by the national Sunshine Lady Foundation.
Beatrice is truly a Renaissance woman who brings a variety of experiences to help those whose lives have been negatively affected by domestic violence, according to DVRCSC officials. She has worked with victims and perpetrators, males and females, friends and families, adults and children. Working 10 years at DVRCSC is a true testament of her commitment to a vision of “a future free from violence,” officials added.
While teaching elementary school and raising her three children in the 1970s, Beatrice often worked with children who had witnessed domestic violence, and she recognized the importance of understanding their home life to address their negative behavior. This interest in helping victims of domestic violence led her to volunteer in 1987 at Sympatico, a crisis intervention center that handled issues such as homelessness, domestic violence, and drug and alcohol abuse.
She worked as a paid counselor for Sympatico and later as a clinical supervisor for the Galilee Mission in Narragansett where she developed and supervised one of the first certified Batterer’s Intervention Program in the state of Rhode Island. The program was mandated by the state for convicted perpetrators of domestic violence. Beatrice continues to volunteer as a board member for the Galilee Mission.
In 1998, Beatrice shifted gears a bit by accepting a legal advocate position with the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County, then known as the Women’s Resource Center of South County. She guided thousands of domestic violence victims through the court system, provided advocacy and referral information.
“The numbers were astounding,” said Beatrice. “It was, and still is, the busiest program of the agency.”
Beatrice has a keen eye for noting gaps in services, and she created innovative solutions to these problems. Noting that almost one-third of court clients were men, she advocated for the establishment of a “men as victims” support group, the only one in Rhode Island. Because of her influence, the agency changed its name in 2004 to better reflect that not all of its clients are women.
She created a support group for friends and families of victims to learn effective ways to respond and support loved ones who are victims. Beatrice facilitated New Directions, a psycho-educational program for women who notice a pattern of abusive relationships in their lives.
In 2005, DVRCSC needed a new director of clinical services, an all-encompassing position that includes supervising and working for the court program, support groups, safe home shelter, transitional housing program and the education/outreach department.
“I realized that the most qualified person already worked here,” noted DVRCSC Executive Director Mary Roda. “I was so pleased that Judy accepted the position. She continues to add her expertise to case management, crisis intervention, and phone and drop-in consultation. Judy also works on the management team to establish goals and policies for the entire agency. We rely on her broad experience with all aspects of client services.”
“The destruction caused by domestic violence touches all of us in one way or another so it is crucial that we strive to provide better interventions for both victims and perpetrators,” explained Beatrice. “Our two highest priorities are to save lives and save children from becoming the victims and perpetrators of tomorrow.”
Pride wrote on Jul 19, 2008 1:16 AM:
" Judy most honorable accomplishment is recognizing men as victims of domestic violence. For too may years female batterers have been excused and children have been left fending for themselves when their mother is the abuser. Nobody seemed to care. Judy defied the ideology of domestic violence and in doing so she has protected children. She is to be commended for her honesty in dealing with the issue of violence in the home. "
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