The Support Center

Abuser's Choose their Behavior!

The Support Center has been serving victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and General Crimes for over 30 years now, and it is the only accredited and qualified Sexual Assault Program and Crime Victims Service Center in Okanogan county. The Support Center works exclusively with primary and secondary victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and other Crimes or abuse.

Services Available...

Crisis Intervention

24/7 Crisis Line • All calls are answered by people who are trained to deal with crisis situations caused by Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and any other crime. Suicide calls, and referrals for other crisis. 911 is meant for all emergencies; emergency personnel is encouraged to call for assistance with Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault/abuse and other crimes type of emergencies. Emergency shelter is available to keep Domestic Violence survivors safe and advocates are trained to assist with medical, legal, and social services aspects of dealing with these calls.

Individual & Group Counseling

Advocates are trained to counsel individuals to work with the feelings and situations that occur after Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and any other crime. Many resources are pooled at The Support Center and can be accessed by the advocates for their clients. Group counseling for survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault occurs on a weekly basis.

Emergency Transportation

All employees and volunteers answering the crisis line are required to have reliable transportation for emergency situations where they can meet the client in a safe place to be picked up and be moved to the shelter, hospital, or another safe destination. The drivers are all properly licensed and carry insurance. This information and documentation is kept up to date in their employee/volunteer file. The drivers also are trained to transport clients only when they can safely do so, such as requiring the seat belts to be securely buckled and that car seat requirements for infants or small children are met at all times.

Emergency Food & Shelter

The Support Center offers a 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week, service of a safe house for clients. It has special security features and the assurance of quick Police protection should a perpetrator menace the client. A client who meets the criteria for use of the shelter is given an orientation for the family living situation of the shelter and is able to easily access all of the resources for finding new housing quickly. The shelter is stocked with many food items and it is monitored by the Shelter Services Coordinator who can purchase certain items for the client, such as fresh vegetables, milk meat, and other perishable food products, as per a written request of the client.

Sometimes a client may not need the shelter, but based on the immediate need, is allowed a couple of grocery bags of food to sustain him/her until they can make it again on their own.

Referrals to other Agencies

Many agencies work directly with The Support Center enabling clients to access their benefits. Some of these agencies include the Department of Social & Health Services, Okanogan Behavioral Health, Law Enforcement, Community Action Council, Housing Authority, and many other places to empower a client back to independence.

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Outreach Services

The Support Center Advocates cover Okanogan County. Nearly every week during the school year, will find the advocates working with students and adults in Tonasket, Oroville, Twisp and Winthrop, Omak, Okanogan, Brewster, Nespelem, Coulee Dam, and Grand Coulee.

Education/Prevention, and Support Groups are offered in the schools along with individual counseling. Other services offered to schools include the curriculum: “Talking about Touching” for the elementary grades, and “Steps to Respect” for the middle school. With prior arrangement, advocates may provide training for teachers on the topic of “Mandated Reporting” and what steps to take when a disclosure is made.

Medical & Legal Advocacy

All people who answer the Crisis Line are trained to assist with medical examinations for evidence, be it for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault/Abuse and other crimes. The advocate/volunteer can provide support to the client. A set of clean new clothes will be available for the client’s use, since the client’s original clothing may be confiscated for evidence. The advocate is carefully educated in reference to the rape exam; special attention is paid to the chain of transfer of evidence. This term is used to insure that the evidence collected is always monitored by an authority person to maintain the evidence’s integrity for use in the court system for prosecution.

A legal advocate is on staff with precise knowledge in most areas of legal procedures commonly used by clients of The Support Center. This person serves a resource to the other employees who have their own expertise in certain areas of the different court procedures. For example, most of our advocates assist their clients with many Protection Orders, increasing their expertise and proficiency in obtaining Protection Orders. Furthermore, some of our advocates aid clients with the filing of divorce papers, with or without child custody. This, in turn, requires additional paperwork for the parenting plan. The legal advocate at The Support Center is particularly well informed about the Colville Tribal Court System.

Other Related Services:

>Emotional Support

>Prevention Education Training

>Systems Advocacy

The Support Center

Wish List...

Services

Services Available...

Crisis Intervention

Individual & Group Counseling

Emergency Transportation

Emergency Food & Shelter

Referrals to other Agencies

Outreach Services

Medical & Legal Advocacy

Other Related Services: