Blumberg honored, Hope card unveiled

PABLO - Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock honored local domestic violence victims advocate Jenifer Blumberg for her work last Wednesday in a special ceremony at the Tribal Complex. Bullock also helped announce the arrival of the Hope card, a new tool for those possessing a permanent order of protection against an offender.

Bullock named Blumberg the Victims' Advocate of the Year. Blumberg is the executive director of DOVES (Domestic Violence Education and Services) and the grants manager for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Victims' Assistance program.

"Victims' advocates have one of the most demanding positions in law enforcement," Bullock said. "They are rarely recognized for the work that they do. It is a great honor to recognize such a person."

Blumberg was grateful for the award, and admitted it is a major acknowledgment of her work that she did not expect to receive.

"I am completely shocked and surprised and honored and it really means a lot," she said. "I also have a great staff at both organizations and they give great assistance."

A group of more than 30 people, including Tribal Council members, local law enforcement officials, victims' advocates and others, gathered in the Tribal Council chambers for the award presentation and unveiling of the card, a pilot program available only in the state of Montana. The card, about the size of a driver's license, contains the information of the respondent, including physical characteristics and a photo. The back of the card describes the petitioner, other people protected by the order and where in the state the order originated. The cards are free to obtain, and the petitioner can get multiple copies so one can be kept at a school or daycare center for children protected by the restraining order.

The CSKT is only the third place in the country to have a machine to make the cards. The idea originated on the Crow Reservation, where Bureau of Indian Affairs John Olivera thought it up in 2004. But program specialist for the Office of Consumer Protection and Victim Services Joan Eliel said the card became more of a reality two years ago, and quickly progressed.

"I think it will really help law enforcement," she said. "Anything that helps them helps everyone, and makes it more convenient."

Bullock, whose position as attorney general makes him the head law enforcement agent in the state, said the card will "over time, literally save lives."

"It's exciting because it's a home grown idea that Montana, CSKT and the Crow tribe are the first in the country to implement," he said. "[Domestic violence] is something we've been struggling with for decades, and with a Hope card and picture, it can make great strides to change things."

Local law enforcement officials have high hopes for the identification card as well.

"It'll definitely assist the officers on the street," Asst. Polson police chief John Stevens said. "They'll be able to determine there is an order of protection in place a lot quicker and it will help speed up the process of investigation."

While the CSKT owns and operates the machine to make the cards, chief tribal judge Winona Tanner said non-tribal members who would like a card can contact the court. Getting it locally will lessen the wait time someone will have if they order it from the state, which they can by visiting the Montana Department of Justice website.

"We will work with local jurisdictions to get them cards," Tanner said. "Our goal is to keep our community safe."

Tribal Council chairman Bud Moran applauded the cooperation of organizations around the state in getting the card implemented.

"The biggest accomplishment was doing things together," he said. "There are lots of problems, but if we face them together, we can get the best solution."