JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Calling domestic violence the "secret sickness of our society," Gov. Bob Holden on Friday signed an executive order establishing a task force to maximize services for battered women and children.

In light of lean budgets, Holden said state agencies and private shelters must do more to stretch every dollar.

"The goal of the task force will be to ensure the money we do have available for helping the victims of domestic violence reaches the largest number of people," Holden said.

The governor said existing services are often poorly coordinated between state agencies.

Holden said more than 4,500 women and 5,100 children received assistance from Missouri domestic violence shelters in 1999.

"But another 5,000 Missouri women and children who sought shelter from abuse were told there was no room," Holden said. "And only 46 of our state's 114 counties actually have shelters and support services for the victims of domestic violence."

Citing a national study, Holden said only one-seventh of domestic violence acts are reported.

Mary Ann Allen of Poplar Bluff, Mo., is a member of the 10-member task force. Allen is executive director of Haven House, a shelter serving women and children in Butler, Carter, Ripley, Stoddard and Wayne counties.

"I've been painfully aware for several years that there are so many gaps in service, so many difficulties in being able to access some of that state money," Allen said after Holden announced formation of the task force during a news conference in his office.

"I think that we can get together and find some ways to streamline that and get more money to the not-for-profit agencies that can really be doing some good work," Allen said.

Task force membership includes other women's advocates and the directors of six state departments -- health, corrections, public safety, social services, administration, and elementary and secondary education.

Missouri first lady Lori Hauser Holden will serve as an ex officio member.

"Domestic violence cannot be tolerated," she said. "Through the findings of this task force, Missouri will be able to work smarter in using the existing dollars it has to help more people with this problem."

The task force will issue a preliminary report on Dec. 1, with a final version due in August 2002.

$1 million more

The governor approved $1 million in additional spending for domestic violence services in the current budget, bringing the amount Missouri spends in that area to $3.8 million. Additional funding comes from federal grant programs administered by the state.

Holden last month vetoed another $2 million earmarked toward fighting domestic violence because of what he said was poorly worded legislation that prevented the money from actually being spent.

The governor said domestic violence programs aren't subject to his call for state agencies to withhold an additional 15 percent of their budgets, which was prompted by lower-than- anticipated revenue projections.

Rural problems

Allen, who has worked with abused women for 14 years, said securing funding is particularly tough for rural programs.

"Southeast Missouri is not unlike other rural areas," Allen said. "We don't have the kinds of private funding that are available in metropolitan areas. We rely heavily on every little grant source we have."