What is an Advocate?
An advocate is someone who can help survivors figure out their next steps. They can help navigate systems, and identify ways to stay safe and heal from abuse. Survivors determine what they’d like help or support around when working with an advocate.
Advocates can explain and help people navigate complex systems like child welfare, healthcare, criminal justice, and immigration systems. They can help make sure survivorsâ voices and needs are heard within those systems. An advocate can support survivors in keeping track of important dates, timelines, and/or documentation.
An advocate can help brainstorm ways to stay safe. For some people that might mean applying for a protective order or working with the courts, for others that might mean finding safe places to stay, reaching out for community support, or arranging for safe parenting time exchanges.
Most importantly, our advocates are confidential, meaning they won’t talk to any agency or person about someone they’re working with without their explicit consent. They are also there to provide emotional support as survivors navigate different systems, work to establish safety, or interact with the person who’s harmed them. Survivors deserve safety and have a whole community of people here to help.
Our advocates can meet survivors in the community where it is most convenient such as rural areas, schools, retirement homes, or at A Safe Place. Advocates are always available on our 24-hour Crisis and Support Line (888) 654-2288.
Comunity-Based Advocacy
We have confidential CWS advocates located throughout the community at places like Clackamas County Department of Human Services (DHS) at both the North Clackamas and Oregon City branches, and at Clackamas County Health Centers-Behavioral Health. Advocates based at DHS can help survivors connect to resources they qualify for such as self-sufficiency benefits like food assistance, TANF, and/or the domestic violence grant. Our advocates can help navigate the child welfare system and support survivors through an investigation.
Advocates based at Clackamas County Health Centers-Behavioral Health can help survivors plan for their safety, connect to resources, navigate the mental healthcare system, and provide emotional support.
Sexual Assault Support Services
Our advocates can help survivors understand options, safety plan, accompany survivors to the hospital or other healthcare appointments, and connect with counseling or support groups. If the sexual assault is affecting employment or the ability to go to school, we can also connect survivors with legal options.
Support for Elders
We can help elders who are being abused or neglected by family, a caregiver, or another trusted person in their lives. Confidential advocates can work closely with caseworkers from the Department of Human Services – Adult Protective Services (APS) to make sure elderly survivors’ voices are heard and their needs are met. Advocates can help identify and connect survivors with resources to keep them safe such as protective orders, financial protection and assistance, and medical care or housing.
Testimonials
âI like that I am taken seriously. And from the beginning I felt trusted and respected.â
âThe thing I appreciate most about the services I receive at CWS is that they make me feel safe and not judged. I am always afraid to show emotion (good or bad) because in my world emotions get used against you, but at CWS I am able to be freeâŠâ
âYou feel like for once in your life, someone understands and can help you.â
