Medical group civilian earns Purple Ribbon Award Published May 11, 2015 By Staff Sgt. Rachelle Blake 55th Wing Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- A member of Team Offutt was recently selected by the Douglas County Domestic Violence Council as the 2015 Purple Ribbon Award winner. According to DVC, every year they recognize an individual, business, corporation or non-profit that has provided outstanding resources or support to victims of domestic violence. This year they selected Jennifer Reynolds, 55th Medical Operations Squadron domestic abuse victim advocate. "She definitely deserves this honor," said Dale Sundermann, 55th MDOS Family Advocacy Outreach Program manager. "Jenn is great for Offutt because her connections and relationships enable her to make good things happen for good people going through a tough time. She is always asking questions and wanting to do more for her clients and the Offutt population as a whole. It often involves more time, energy and resources than the Job requires, but it is always worth it." Reynolds has been in her position at Offutt for more than three years and chose this career path because of her own personal experience. "I am a survivor myself and I had advocates and other supporting people who told me 'this is not your fault,' 'no one deserves to be abused,' and 'I am here for you when and if you need me,'" Reynolds said. "That is what I want to pay forward to others who are going through this." According to her coworkers, she has paid it forward twofold. "She is a compassionate person with a huge desire to help others," Sundermann said. "In just the last few months there have been several times, through the course of conversation, I discovered she had been up most the night assisting a person whose relationship is troubled. Jenn keeps her cool and gets people connected with resources in the community quickly because she is so connected with the community." She is not only an advocate for those affected by domestic violence, but those who have been abused by an immediate partner. "I try to help individuals...wherever they are currently in their relationship, who are possibly thinking about leaving or those who have already left," Reynolds said. "I accompany individuals to court, medical appointments, help with safety planning, assist with obtaining orders of protection, connect them with local community and military resources, and collaborate with the Family Advocacy team and treatment managers who will contact an offender's commander if a Military Protective Order is needed due to maltreatment. I am available for individuals 24/7 via crisis intervention on the DAVA after hour's phone." Before joining Team Offutt, Reynolds worked for the DVC as their training and education coordinator, and provided advocacy to individuals who would call or come in. "I continue to have a good working relationship with the personnel," Reynolds said. "I assist with the domestic abuse medical elective and for the past five years, I, along with a county attorney, have visited various high schools and talked to students about teen dating violence and sexual assault. I am also on their community response team, which meets quarterly to provide information and insight into anything that we at Family Advocacy have going on." Although the transition from doing her job in the civilian world to the military world has been an adjustment, she said she has thoroughly enjoyed it. "I have enjoyed working as the domestic abuse victim advocate and learning more and more about the military culture," Reynolds said. "I want to help with this program, make it the best it can be, and see it continue to grow in hopes that one day we will no longer have to worry about domestic violence or intimate partner sexual abuse." Reynolds said the best parts of her job are seeing someone understand they do not deserve to be abused and people are here to help. "'If it makes a difference for just one person for one moment, it is all worth it,'" Sundermann said. "I hear people say things like this all the time because it seems like the right thing to say, but their words ring hallow when you witness someone like Jennifer. She doesn't say it in words, but screams it with her actions. I feel blessed to have the privilege to work with her and call her a friend." To reach Reynolds, the Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate crisis line is (402) 881-3154.