Provides general legal and cultural advocacy, emergency services, safety planning, secondary victim and survivor support, and community education for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

Pathways to Healing offered by Cowlitz Indian Tribe at Health and Human Services Vancouver

Programs that intercede on behalf of individuals to help them establish eligibility for or obtain needed services when they have been denied benefits or services for which they are eligible, when they need assistance to communicate their needs to a service provider or to otherwise effectively represent themselves, or when they have a complaint about a service. Individual advocacy attempts to reach equitable settlements without resorting to litigation and seeks to meet individual needs without attempting to change social institutions.

Individual Advocacy

Programs that provide immediate assistance for women and men who have experienced domestic abuse which may include steps to ensure the person's safety; short-term emotional support; assistance with shelter; legal information and advocacy; referrals for medical treatment; ongoing counseling and/or group support; and other related services. Hotline staff are generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text.

Domestic Violence Hotlines

Programs that attempt to reduce the incidence of physical, emotional and sexual abuse of individuals by their spouses or partners through a variety of educational interventions which may focus on the likely victims of abuse, potential perpetrators, people who work with families and/or the community at large.

Spouse/Intimate Partner Abuse Prevention

Programs that help adults become aware of the precautions they can take at home, in their cars and on the streets to avoid sexual assault, and the alternatives they have if they are confronted by an assailant. Sessions may focus on the needs of women, gay men, transgendered individuals or others who may be particularly vulnerable.

Adult Sexual Assault Prevention

Programs that provide information and advice, help with documents, legal counseling and/or representation and other forms of legal assistance which deal broadly with family law issues such as divorce and separation, child custody and access, and support payments rather than specializing in a particular issue that concerns relationships and rights within families.

Comprehensive Family Law Services

Programs, often offered by the schools, that attempt to protect children from molestation and other forms of sexual assault by family members, friends of the family, caretakers or strangers by teaching them about good and bad touches, that their body is their own, that it is all right to say "no" if someone wants to touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable, and which encourage them to tell someone if they are approached or assaulted.

Child Sexual Assault Prevention

Programs that attempt to reduce the incidence of date rape, verbal and physical abuse, threats of abuse and other forms of violence that occur between dating teens through a variety of educational interventions which may focus on potential victims and perpetrators; agency, school or health care personnel who work with them; or the community as a whole.  Activities may include classroom-based education, teacher workshops, parent workshops, peer leadership training, counseling groups for males who abuse or threaten a female peer, and community-based workshops for out-of-school youth. Programs may also be available for older people who are dating.