Stein retires, wishes she could have worked herself out of job

One of the founding “mothers” of Crisis Connection plans on retiring after 33 years with the local organization.

Beth Stein served for 26 years as executive director.

Stein helped form the group of volunteers in 1983 that eventually started the hotline that became the Crisis Connection. At the time, they were all volunteers trying to find out if there was an issue with domestic violence in the area and how to handle it.

In 1987, the group incorporated under the name Crisis Connection. Stein became the first staff member in 1989.

“I worked with clients for many, many years, because I was the only staff person – the rest were all volunteers,” Stein said of those years with the organization. “Many clients that brought both laughter and tears.”

She said that one of the most gratifying moments was her work to change the response to domestic violence from simply providing shelter to the myriad of services and counseling the group now offers.

She said that the realization that there isn’t one fix for everything was a monumental shift in how to approach crisis situations. And, Crisis Connection’s position is to be there to help each victim figure out the process needed for them to heal.

Despite being part of the necessary organization, Stein explained she would have rather worked herself out of a job; to have done enough to eradicate domestic violence.

“I have worked with a lot of amazing people in the 33 years, both volunteers and paid staff, just amazing people,” she said, but she is ready to hand off the reigns of Crisis Connection to someone else.

That person is Paula Rasche.

“I’m very, very excited that she has taken this opportunity in her life to do this,” Stein said.

Rasche said she’s excited about the position, but is also a little intimidated to have to follow Stein as executive director.

“She’s done an awesome job of partnering with good people and they built a good foundation,” Rasche said of Stein. “There’s good connections in all of the counties and communities we serve. Good rapport with law enforcement and prosecutors. We have an awesome staff.”

She expects Stein’s hard work will help make the transition easier.

Rasche has lived in Dubois County since 1997 and prior to moving here worked with the Albion Fellows Bacon Center – a similar organization based in Evansville. She and Stein meet several years ago through their work with the two organizations.

Before being hired by Crisis Connection, Rasche held human resource positions with Kimball, Masterbrand and the Jasper Group. She also spent some time at Tri-Cap.

An open house will be held for Beth Stein on Thursday, May 5, 2016 at the Monkey Hollow Bistro inside the Wollenmann House in Ferdinand from 7 to 9 pm. The organization is asking attendees to consider making a donation to Crisis Connection of a $1 for every year Stein has served.

Crisis Connection, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault through primary prevention education, victim advocacy, confidential crisis intervention and community collaboration. They offer a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-245-4580. Administrative offices are in Jasper with satellite offices in Tell City, Rockport and Washington serving Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Martin, Orange, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties.