CEASE now has a brick-and-mortar home in Maynardville, and the local touch is helping this agency reach some of the most at-risk citizens of Union County.

CEASE is a grant-funded agency that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault navigate the legal system and hopefully make their way to violence-free lives. Grant funding comes from many sources, including ETHRA, DHS, and VOCA, the Victims of Crime Act, in which a portion of offenders' fines goes to pay for victim services. While the group has been active in Union County for more than 20 years, a recent reorganization has helped CEASE advocates focus on communities. Now, each advocate has a home-base county. Ami McAfee is the domestic violence advocate for Union County, and Ashley Brooks is the sexual assault advocate.

On Sept. 1, McAfee and Brooks moved into a new office in the old jail building also occupied by attorney Travis Patterson, and they held a grand opening Oct. 26. Originally from Claiborne County and with a background in the Claiborne juvenile court clerk's office, McAfee said she chose to serve Union County because, "I just love Maynardville so much."

And since the move, CEASE has seen an increase in the number of victims they're serving. McAfee said last fiscal year they served 19 clients in Union County, and since July 2017 they've served 67. She said that's due to having local faces and local outreach. CEASE visits neighborhood watch meetings and community events. They've developed a relationship with local law enforcement, too.

"They hand out my cards like candy," said McAfee. "This county definitely has the best, most trained, informed and educated about domestic violence than other counties I've served."

But what does CEASE actually do? On the domestic violence side, McAfee serves as an advocate in court. She's not an attorney, but she'll stand with victims during legal hearings, help them prepare to take the stand, and connect them with resources to help them get to a safer living situation if that's appropriate. However, "just leaving" or pursuing legal action is not always the safest route for victims to take, and she counsels them through that, too.

"Most homicides caused by domestic problems happen after the victim leaves the home," McAfee said. "(The abuser) has nothing to lose at that point. The victims have got to wait until they've got a plan and know they can stand on their own feet."

For victims of sexual assault, CEASE provides exams from a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nurse. When a victim calls CEASE, they send a response team to help the victim make decisions about how to proceed.

Both of these roles at CEASE take a lot of time and willingness to go when a need arises.

"Domestic violence and sexual assault are not 9 to 5," said McAfee. "If someone needs us, we're going to go. I go home and worry about my clients more than you'd think."

But, what can you do to help stop sexual assault and domestic violence? McAfee said modeling healthy relationships is a great start.

"Modeling healthy relationships for adolescents and having open and honest conversations with our children and loved ones about what is OK and what is not OK in a relationship would go a long way," she said. "We cannot pretend this is not an issue. We have to speak up."

Referring people to CEASE if they disclose that they are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault is also helpful, as is revising your own notions about these crimes. Sometimes victims stay with their abusers to protect minor children or pets, and sometimes they return because they have nowhere else to go. Abuse can be mental and emotional as well as physical.

"Abuse is not always physical," said McAfee. "You don't have to have bruises and marks on you."

She encouraged anyone interested in helping CEASE or anyone who might need their services, to call or stop in.

"If someone needs help, they can always come here, and it's confidential, even if it's just to talk."

CEASE's Maynardville office is located at 4005 Maynardville Highway. For information, call 865-745-3002 or the 24-hour crisis hotline at 1-800-303-2220. Visit their website at www.ceaseabuse.com or find them on Facebook at facebook.com/cease.inc.