LOWER VALLEY CRISIS & SUPPORT SERVICES 600 North Ave Sunnyside, WA Ph: (509) Fax: (509) Toll Free Hour crisis line

Interviewee Julia Hart, is the Executive Director for the Lower Valley Crisis Center, when speaking with her she mentioned she never thought she would become an advocate for domestic violence, and or work for an advocacy agency.

Services offered  Rape, incest, child sexual abuse, domestic violence etc….  Education, prevention and intervention etc….  Help with protection orders, permanent orders (DV)  Hotline 24 hours a day seven days a week which provides crisis intervention.  Therapy, counseling, and crisis intervention  Advocacy and education  All services are bilingual (Spanish & English)  Safe house (a safe place for you and your children)  Safety plan (plan of what to do when you decide enough is enough)  Services provided are free (counseling, therapy, referrals, doctor’s visits etc….)  Transportation to long term facilities if needed.

Job duties/ typical day  Taking calls from the crisis line  Making referrals (counseling, therapy etc….)  Helping people to find out whether they are in a domestic violence situation.  Provide support groups  Networking within school districts, hospitals, and police departments.  Going to court, doctor’s office, DSHS, safe house with survivor’s etc….  Communicating with advocates, employees, and volunteers on prevention and intervention strategies.

Likes and dislikes of the job Likes: Helping men and women who have been victims, giving them a window of hope. Julia stated no one should have to live like that. Dislikes: That we have to deal with inhumanity to man.

What would you change about your job? She did not want to change anything to do with her job, although she said she wishes we didn’t have to have agencies for these types of issues.

Causes of child abuse, neglect, and domestic violence Roots are deeper than we think, domestic violence is learned.

Elements of Intervention & Prevention  Support groups (survivors of DV)  Advocacy (DV, individual groups or safe house setting)  Presentations (schools, church, and hospitals)  Address issues in schools (DV, rape, incest, sexual assault)  Church  Education  Recognizing the violence

Future Social Worker’s should know  Child abuse: roots of child abuse and neglect are deep.  Neglect: children seek attention because of something that is happening at home.