In 1985, Clackamas Women’s Services (CWS) grew out of neighbors opening their homes and sharing what they had in hopes of building a safer community for families. Since then, we’ve grown beyond shelter to offer a wide range of services for anyone experiencing domestic and sexual violence, from initial crisis to long-term healing. We continue the legacy of working with survivors, community members, emergency responders, partner organizations, and businesses to build communities that honor and support survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Mission
Breaking the isolation of domestic and sexual violence.
Who We Serve
We provide compassionate and expert support to survivors of all gender identifications, sexual orientations, ages, or immigration status who are currently experiencing or healing from these types of violence:
- Domestic Violence
- Sexual Violence
- Stalking
- Child Abuse
- Elder Abuse
- Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking
We work with survivors experiencing violence to plan for their safety, as well as heal from past trauma. All services offered to the community are free of charge and confidential. Since we know violence can often cause displacement, people do not have to reside in Clackamas County for us to connect. Reach us at our 24-hour Crisis and Support Line (888) 654-2288.
Our Values
Honor and Celebrate Survivors
We believe that all people have innate value, worth, and an important role to play in our community. We work to demonstrate this fact to those who have been convinced otherwise by people who have hurt them.
Establish Safety
We believe safety is the foundation upon which wellness is built and that it is a right every human deserves. Domestic and sexual violence shake one’s sense of safety in the world. We seek to help program participants live and thrive in safety once again.
Build Community
We believe that isolation is one of the most harmful and long-lasting impacts of domestic and sexual violence. Isolation breeds a sense of otherness and shame and cuts survivors off from their resources, support, and communities. We seek to rebuild what that violence has destroyed.
Center Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We recognize oppression as the primary cause of community violence and that lack of power in society leaves people vulnerable to abuse. The only way to prevent domestic and sexual violence is by addressing the root causes and rebalancing societal power.
Create Social Change
We understand that though violence against women has been timeless, that it is not an innate condition of our world. We believe the motivations and behaviors that lead to violence are learned and can be unlearned.
Practice Trauma-Informed Care
We recognize the vast long-reaching impacts trauma can have on individuals and communities. We work to be responsive to the individual needs of survivors as they cope with the trauma of interpersonal violence, and provide information to the community to help build connection.
Notable Moments in Agency History
1980 – Founding organization “The Women’s Center,” based on Clackamas Community College begins operation of a 24-hour crisis line mainly staffed by volunteers.
1980-82 – ”The Women’s Center” asks for neighbors and community members to open their homes as ‘safe homes’ to provide shelter to domestic violence survivors instead of sending them to shelters in the Portland area.
1982 – ”The Women’s Center” receives an $88K community block grant to open a shelter in Clackamas County.
1985 – Clackamas Women’s Services (CWS) is incorporated as a nonprofit organization.
1989 – Staffed by volunteers from the community, CWS begins to offer support groups in rural areas Sandy and Canby.
1997 – CWS receives federal funding to begin offering transitional housing.
1999 – CWS advocates for the passage of HB 2330, which creates the crime of “domestic violence.”
2001 – CWS community education program begins providing “Chance for Change” program teaching about teen dating violence and sexual assault in local area high schools.
2002 – CWS begins construction on a second shelter location called “Haven House.”
2002 – CWS receives United Way funding to launch the Domestic Violence Enhanced Response Team (DVERT) in collaboration with CCSO, District Attorney, Victim’s Assistance, and Community Corrections.
2003 – To better serve survivors in rural areas, CWS opens an outreach office in Estacada, in addition to locations already open in Welches and Sandy.
2004 – In partnership with the DHS, CWS stations a Family Violence Specialist at DHS to help advocate for survivors through child welfare and self-sufficiency systems.
2007 – Shelter program begins implementing the “Rights and Responsibilities” model, later renamed to “The Village Model.”
2009 – CWS launches the Beyond Shelter Initiative, which offered extended transitional housing support to survivors including Section 8 Vouchers, Rapid Rehousing, Permanent Supportive Housing, and Prevention.
2009 – Friends of Teresa Beiser, who was killed by her estranged husband, organize 1st annual Lancette Memorial Ride to benefit CWS.
2010 – CWS expands to serve twice the families at the original shelter location.
2011 – With federal funding through the Office of Violence Against Women, CWS begins Abuse in Later Life project to increase access to resources for people experiencing domestic violence later in life.
2012 – The Lethality Assessment Protocol, a collaborative response system to lethal domestic violence, is rolled out to jurisdictions throughout Clackamas County.
2013 – CWS leads in the effort to open A Safe Place Family Justice Center, a collaborative project to provide wrap-around support to domestic and sexual violence survivors and their families.
2015 – CWS launches Camp HOPE Oregon for kids experiencing family violence.
2016 – CWS breaks ground on a new shelter building.
2017 – CWS expands the Children’s Program to grow services for children and families.
2017 – The first Promotoras cohort graduates in Oregon City and begins outreach and advocacy within the Latinx community.
2017 – CWS is the first in the state of Oregon to open a drop-in office based at a community college in partnership with the Clackamas Community College Title IX office.
2018 – Alongside survivors, healthcare providers, and representatives from the criminal justice system, CWS advocates for the passage of SB 1562 A to make Strangulation a felony, rather than a misdemeanor.
2018 – The second Promotoras cohort graduates, based in Molalla.
2019 – CWS launches “Communities for Safe Kids,” child sexual abuse prevention programming for kindergarten-6th grade students.
2019 – To better serve survivors seeking legal representation, CWS launches the Legal Empowerment Incubator Program (LEAP).
2019 – First supervised visitation program begins in Clackamas County with a partnership between CWS, the county, and Family SkillBuilders.
2019 – CWS advocates with partner agencies for the creation of the Survivors Housing Fund (SHF) to stabilize housing for people experiencing domestic violence.
2020 – CWS launches confidential chat and text options for survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020 – In partnership with DA-Victim’s Assistance Office, CWS expands hospital response.
2020 – CWS was part of a national cohort with our partners for a two-year Vicarious Trauma Response Initiative.
2020 – CWS begins a co-located program at a Behavioral Health office.
2021 – With partner agency Safety Compass, CWS launched a housing program specific to survivors of trafficking.
2022 – CWS was selected to distribute ARPA funds for Clackamas County.
2022 – CWS added co-located youth advocates in school-based health centers in Clackamas County.
2023 – CWS distributes funds on behalf of Clackamas County under EO 23-02 to seven community-based organizations with the goal of housing 170 households.
2023 – The third Promotoras cohort graduates.
