Thanks to contributions from the Park County community, Crisis Intervention Services (CIS) has reopened its Cody office, though the organization continues to work with a smaller staff.

During the last few months, the CIS office in Cody was open by appointment only amid a tightened budget. CIS says it experienced $64,000 in funding cuts on July 1, which led the organization to reduce its staff from five employees to four and shut off its phone lines in Cody.

“The COVID-19 pandemic hit all non-profit agencies like CIS hard, especially as it came at the same time as Wyoming’s economy took a turn for the worse,” said Lisa Peterman, the organization’s executive director.

CIS is a private organization that helps victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault and their children cope with the initial crisis and aftermath of these violent crimes. It has received help to offset some of the budget cuts. It received three separate Wyoming Community Foundation grants totaling $13,700, $2,500 in grants from the Christ Episcopal Church “Bargain Box” as well as from the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation, Peterman said. The organization’s 2020 Craft Fair was canceled due to COVID concerns and restrictions on public events, but anonymous donors still contributed $11,330 — and last month’s 2021 Crisis Intervention Craft Fair garnered $10,200. And tournaments at the Powell Golf Club in 2020 and 2021 raised another $29,700.

“Our fundraisers continue to do well,” Peterman said.

Because of the generous donations, she said the organization was able to reopen its Cody office at 1220 13th St., with a new phone number of 1-307-272-4754.

The Powell office — located at 335 N. Gilbert St. and reachable at 307-754-7959 — will remain CIS’ main office and house the organization’s 24-hour crisis line. Most of the organization’s services are provided in Powell, where CIS has a nine-bed shelter and ADA-compliant spaces for support group meetings and supervised visitation and custody exchanges.

“By default it’s just become the main office,” Peterman said of the Powell location.

The four CIS staffers travel throughout Park County to provide services to clients and provide public education programs, which means the Powell and Cody facilities are not always open to the public during regular business hours.

“Appointments will still be encouraged at both offices, as we are still unable to fully staff both facilities,” said Peterman. 

The organization does, however, remain available to assist victims at any time of day. The 24-hour crisis line may be reached by calling 1-877-864-9688.

CIS currently has two staffers based at the Powell office and another in Cody, with Peterman splitting time between the two locations. 

Alaina Doely of Powell, who’s been with CIS since April 2014, was promoted to assistant director last month. 

“CIS at its core, has always been about empowering our clients to succeed. However, I see empowerment of our staff as an extension of our overall goals,” Peterman said. “Alaina [Doely] is a dedicated and valuable member of our team at CIS. I am excited to see her excel in her career goals.”

CIS began providing services in Park County in January 1982. For more information, visit www.cis-park.org.