Finding Our Voice, Sharing Our Vision

Ending Violence Against Women and Children

ABOUT US

LOUISE BAUSCHARD founded Voices Set Free in 1997. A nationally recognized battered women's rights advocate, Louise has over 25 years of experience working as a community activist and counselor, specializing in areas related to the tragedies of battered women caught in the justice system as both victim and offender. Louise has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey, Phil Donahue, and Sally Jesse Raphael television programs as an expert on domestic violence. Through her long-term commitment to the plight of battered women, she has developed and implemented innovative programs and services, recruited and trained volunteers and staff, raised funds through grants, foundations and donations, and developed community social change task groups.

Louise is co-author of the book Voices Set Free: Battered Women Speak From Prison, an in-depth look into the lives of twenty women who have been sentenced to life in prison for the deaths of their abusive spouses. She is a licensed social worker and a graduate of Washington University School of Social Work in St. Louis. She is the recipient of the 2002 Heart of Social Work Award by the Portland State University Graduate School of Social Work.

Louise is currently the Coordinator of Volunteer Services at Washington County (Oregon) Community Corrections. She supervises and coordinates volunteers, graduate student interns, and practicum/work study students. She also coordinated a volunteer research and resource program, and chaired a system-wide protocol response to domestic violence for victims, offenders and children.

She is also the chairperson for a fundraising committee with local battered women programs. The committee raised funds upon behalf of Washington County employees to benefit the Washington County Community Action Organization. She has written a variety of successful grants, one of which initiated a Family Violence Intervention Program in Washington County, Oregon. She sits on the Boards of American Domestic Violence Crisis Line, South Asian Women's Empowerment and Resource Alliance, and the Domestic Violence Intervention Council.

If you would like to read an interview with Louise, click here.

If you would like to read an article written by Louise, click here.

CHARLENE ROGERS, LCSW, Co-Executive Director, has 20+ years experience in Social Work providing Mental Health Care in the Corrections System; Child Protective Services; counseling adults, children and families; parenting classes and foster home certifications.

Charlene helps organize and teach many classes and workshops that have been offered to university students and professionals from the criminal justice, mental health and social service fields.

SUSAN DAY, AA, Co-Executive Director is a survivor of domestic abuse and the criminal justice system. She spent 22 years in prison for the death of her abuser. Graduated from various programs including Breaking Barriers and New Beginnings. She has made a successful transition back into society and has taken a strong leadership role in many ventures. Susan recently applied for a Soros Fellowship to build a transitional program for women called Lifeline. Plans are presently in motion to collaborate the efforts of Susan Day, Shawna Stonum and Barbara Zurstadt to write a resource book for women coming out of prison to help them find the resources they will need to successfully re-enter society after prison.