The Branch County Coalition Against Domestic Violence (BCCADV) serves more than just women; under the umbrella of the Coalition also falls the Altrusa Teen Share, along with Laura’s Place Transitional Housing. Teen Share is a unique program providing safe, stable and supportive housing for youth ages 17 to 20 years old and the Coalition warmly welcomes the new team leader and case manager for Teen Share, Kris Karowski.

She comes to the Teen Share from Boysville Holy Cross Children’s Services in Clinton, Michigan and carries a temporary Limited License Psychologist certification. This allows Karowski to do counseling with the residents at the center, a certification many small organizations don’t have. This facility where she worked for five years is a residential treatment facility for adjudicated, teenage males who are either in the sexual offenders, learning disabled or general population groups.

Her current duties at Teen Share will include assessing the eligibility of homeless teenagers as to whether, or not he/she qualifies for the Altrusa Teen Share program. Once the teen is admitted into the program, for the first 30 days that the teen is in the Crisis Shelter she will meet with them twice a week. After the teen fills-out an application and is accepted into the Independent Living Program, she meets with the teen once a month. In the meetings she’ll discuss with the resident the progress on their goals.

Karwowski will also supervise the RA’s (Residential Aides) that live in the efficiency apartments, as well as any volunteers, interns, or practicum students.

As a graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High located in Wyandotte, MI and Eastern Michigan University, she has her BS degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She has also attained her Masters of Art degree at the Michigan School of Professional Psychology, as well as her temporary Limited Licensed Psychologist (LLP) certification, which she’s working on acquiring the remaining 500 out of 2000 hours toward the LLP. Karwoski is also certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.

“I am looking forward to utilizing a balanced perspective while facilitating one-on-one therapy with non-residential clients, and homeless teenagers in hopes of building rapport, trust, and respect in order to encourage each person’s full potential,” said Karwoski. She currently lives in Maybee, Michigan with her husband and four dogs and six cats who were all rescued. Her hobbies include boating, bicycling, and canoeing.

Kris Karwoski can be reached by calling Altrusa Teen Share at 278-5094. The BCCADV has a wide range of services for the community to take advantage of including 24 hour crisis line for domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking survivors, Legal Advocacy Program for domestic violence survivors involved with the criminal or child protective services system, and the Circle of Care program for families with school age children who are homeless.

Donations from area individuals and organization make it possible for the BCCADV to offer safe refuge, encouragement, support services, food and clothing to victims fleeing domestic violence.

The BCCADV headquarters is located at 220 N. Michigan Ave. in the Naomi Davis Shelterhouse. For more information about BCCADV, call 517. 278.7432, 24 hours a day.