History

Serving North Central Iowa since 1977

Our Vision

Crisis Intervention Service promotes a society free from violence and oppression through social change, effective community partnerships and awareness.

Our Mission

The mission of Crisis Intervention Service is to provide persons affected by domestic violence, sexual assault and homicide with professional, confidential, 24-hour services including safety and support and to prevent violence in our communities through education.

1977	The NIAD Center for Human Development (NCHD) grew out of an expressed need by women in North Central Iowa.  NCHD began as a drop-in center, focusing on the needs of displaced homemakers, particularly rural women.  After the first few months of service, it became evident that the agency would be well utilized as a center for all concerns.
1978	NCHD was asked by a community task force to develop and implement a crisis intervention service to assist victims of domestic violence.  The name of the original service agency was The Door Opener.  The project expanded to include an eight-county service area.
1982	The agency changed its name to Crisis Intervention Service.  Crisis Intervention Service (CIS) is the only ongoing NCHD project.
1991	CIS opened a shelter for battered women and their children staffed entirely by volunteers.  A full-time Child Advocate and part-time Shelter Manager were hired.
1995	CIS hired a full-time Sexual Assault Advocate and successfully merged with the Sexual Assault Center.  A capital campaign to raise funds to purchase and remodel a new shelter was launched.
1996	CIS was awarded a $136,500.00 Community Development Block Grant for the shelter project; CIS acquired property to remodel and use as a shelter and offices.  A second Domestic Abuse Advocate is hired to focus on services to rural counties.
1997	CIS moved into newly remodeled shelter and offices.  A new domestic violence/sexual assault program opens in Kossuth County (Family Crisis Center of North Iowa).  CIS decreased service area to seven counties.
1999	CIS opened satellite offices in Floyd (Charles City), Franklin (Hampton) and Winnebago counties (Forest City).
2005	CIS expanded their service area to include Kossuth County.  CIS opened an outreach office in Kossuth (Algona) and Mitchell (Osage) counties.
2006	CIS conducted their first of four Safety & Accountability Audits that examined how the coordinated community response to domestic violence impacted the lives of adults and children in North Iowa.
2010	CIS was accepted into the Praxis International Advocacy Learning Center.  The Advocacy Learning Center is an 18-month experiential course created to examine the vision, identify the principals and knowledge, and practice the skills and qualities that make advocacy a powerful force in the movement to end violence against women.
2012	The State of Iowa announces plans to restructure victim services within the state.
2013	CIS begins to provide domestic violence and sexual assault services in Butler, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Webster & Wright counties. CIS expands services to individuals, families and communities impacted by homicide and vehicular homicide in Allamakee, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Hancock, Howard, Mitchell, Winnebago, Winneshiek & Worth counties. CIS expands housing the spectrum of housing options available for victims and survivors by offering emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, transitional housing and flexible financial assistance to assist with safety and self-sufficiency.