Crinan leaves legacy of compassion
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She just loves people. That was about as simple as Jean Crinan could put it when discussing her time at the Mount Graham Safe House in Safford.
After 15 years of dedication, Crinan announced her retirement as executive director from the Safe House in a letter to the board of directors March 26.
Initially started as a task force out of her own home in 1993, the Safe House opened its doors to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse in December 1995.
Crinan recalled a conversation many years earlier she had with Sherry Hughes, an emergency room nurse, which was one she said she’ll never forget.
“(Hughes) said, ‘I get so tired of patching (victims) up all night and sending them back home, and then having them come back (to the hospital). We desperately need a place for them to go,’” Crinan said.
Many people in the community were involved with the birth of the Safe House, but no individual put in more effort than J.T. Cotter.
“Out of all the hundreds of people who made this possible, one person stands out,” Crinan said. “From the dream to today, during the ups and downs, every step of the way to progress — J.T. Cotter.”
Cotter is a founder of the Safe House and the SAVE (Stand Against Violence Everywhere) organization. He served as president at the Safe House for five years and serves on the board of directors.
Different ambitions tugged Crinan in various directions over the years, and her love of journalism was evident over a 25-year career in the newspaper industry.
She worked at a paper in Illinois and was owner and publisher of the Copper Era in Clifton.
A desire for equal rights for women was always something Crinan was passionate about. That passion evolved into wanting rights for victims of abuse. The scars caused by abuse go much further than just physical ones, Crinan said.
“The victims lose their souls,” she said.
Many of the victims who come to the Safe House have to be convinced the abuse is not normal and not right because they often just accept it, she said.
Although it is a shelter for women, seven men have been clients at the Safe House over the years.
Crinan said people need to realize that abusers normally don’t have isolated violent outbursts.
“Once a batterer, they rarely change unless they get help,” she said. “The whole thing is power and control.”
Victims are different when it comes to how long they need shelter and a chance to get away from an abusive environment.
Some people need one night, while others need months. Transitional apartments are available for those who need a longer stay.
The Safe House has two staffed satellite advocate offices – one in San Carlos and another in Morenci – that are open at all hours in addition to a 24-hour crisis line for victims.
Crinan worked the job for the first several years without pay.
“She has done an outstanding job,” Cotter said. One of Crinan’s best skills was communicating with the state, according to Cotter.
“She used to say for every dollar that was donated by Graham County she could get $4 from the state to match it,” he said.
Cotter is hopeful about the future of the Safe House and SAVE.
“My dream is that both will continue to prosper and help our community even more,” he said.
Crinan already misses several aspects of her job. Mostly she misses the interaction with people and clients and public speaking. Although many people peg her as the sole reason for the success of the Safe House, Crinan says it would never have been possible with the efforts of just one person.
“It takes a whole community to help a woman and her children go from a violent background into a normal happy, healthy environment,” she said.
