Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy Mull.
Kathy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I began my college career like many others, not exactly sure what I wanted to do. Teaching seemed like an admirable profession; therefore, I began to work on getting an education degree. While pursuing my degree, I began volunteering with the sexual assault program on-campus and became very excited about the possibilities. It also connected for me the number of women I knew who had experienced abuse. I remembered all the conversations I had in high school with my classmates but no safe space to have the larger community conversation. I decided then I wanted to work with domestic violence survivors. I started taking Women’s Studies courses and grew into the field of social work. Fast forward to today. I am a licensed social worker with a Master’s in Social Work and one of only 290 individuals to graduate from Praxis International with an advanced certificate in victim’s advocacy.
My first job post-college was a part-time domestic violence advocate. I have spent most of my career working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence and assisting those in crisis from suicidal ideations to mental health crises to homelessness. I now have the privilege and honor to be the Executive Director of The Cocoon, Wood County’s domestic and sexual violence agency.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This work has always been challenging. Although, these last two years have been the most difficult of my career. We have been faced with navigating a pandemic, increased levels and incidences of domestic and sexual violence in our communities, more survivors reaching out for services, increased levels of violence being reported, such as strangulation and serious physical assaults, declining grant revenue for programs like ours and increased visibility to the struggles of survivors from media reports to survivor-based movements. We still continue to combat the stigma of domestic and sexual violence including blaming survivors and excusing perpetrator behaviors.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Cocoon – Our Mission and Vision
The Cocoon exists to provide safety, healing, and justice across the lifespan for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, their children, and all of those affected by abuse. We work to educate and increase awareness about abuse and commit to building a compassionate and safe community.
The Cocoon will be a trusted partner, community leader, and transforming voice in Wood County and surrounding areas. We are committed to ending domestic and sexual violence, empowering those affected by abuse, and envisioning safety, justice, nonviolence, and equity for all people through social change.
Who We Are
After four back-to-back domestic violence homicides carried out in front of children in Wood County, the community came together to create a safe space for survivors, and The Cocoon was born. In 2005, The Cocoon opened its doors in an apartment complex. Since 2005, The Cocoon has grown from strictly an emergency shelter facility able to serve up to 12 survivors to a fully comprehensive domestic and sexual violence agency which can now house up to 24 survivors as well as offer services and programming to resident and non-resident survivors no matter where they are in their journey of healing.
The Cocoon is Wood County’s only comprehensive domestic and sexual violence program providing services 24/7. The Cocoon responds to an average of 6,000 calls per year and serves approximately 700 survivors and their children, of whom 10% access our emergency shelter. The additional 90% of our impact happens outside of our doors assisting survivors living and working within our community. Our services reach every corner of Wood County and are provided at no cost to the survivor throughout their lifetime. The Cocoon serves women, men, and children and is one of the few agencies of its kind in the country to be able to house family pets.
The Cocoon offers holistic support, services, and programming to survivors of domestic and sexual violence which include:
Domestic Violence Advocacy Sexual Violence Advocacy/Prevention Shelter Advocacy
Legal Access Program Legal Access Program Emergency Housing
Children’s Programming Children’s Programming Food Assistance
Crisis Support Services Crisis Support Services Basic Needs Assistance
Transportation Services Transportation Services Children’s Programming
Economic Empowerment Economic Empowerment Safe Pets Program
Case Management Case Management Case Management
Safety Planning Services Medical Advocacy Safety Planning Services
Support Groups Title IX Navigation Alternative Housing Assistance
Basic Needs Assistance Campus-based Advocacy Crisis Support Services
Basic Needs Assistance Legal Access Programming
Prevention and Education Programming
developed for schools and groups
The Cocoon provides prevention and education within the Wood County community on ways to stop violence before it happens. Our Prevention and Education Specialist are available to present to any organization who is interested in learning more about The Cocoon and ways to play an active role in preventing domestic and sexual violence from occurring in our communities.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The Cocoon relies on our community to help ensure that our services remain available and provided at no cost to survivors and their families. The demand for services is only increasing in our community and across the nation. To continue to provide cutting-edge services, we need community and corporate support. Make a monthly, quarterly, or annual financial gift to support:
• Life-saving services for survivors
• Critical programs of healing, support, and safety for adults, children, and pets
• Projects that create awareness and education to stop violence before it happens
Include The Cocoon in your estate plans. Gifts may be made using cash, property, securities, bequests, or trusts.
Sponsor and purchase tickets to The Cocoon’s annual fundraising events.
You, your family, or your business can make a lasting difference in the lives of survivors of sexual and domestic violence in Wood County.
In addition, The Cocoon is always looking for volunteers to support programs and services.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thecocoon.org
- Instagram: TheCocoon_WoodCo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cocoonwoodcounty/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/The__Cocoon
