Giving Victims of Crime a Place to Begin

Every city has crime. All crimes have perpetrators. We know what happens when a perpetrator is prosecuted, but what happens to the victim? How do they
begin the process of rebuilding? If you live anywhere in Whatcom, Skagit, King, Island or Snohomish County, you start with Victim Support Services.

Victim Support Services (VSS) a bright and precious stone in the bedrock of our community, an organization that bears the proud patina that forty-three
years of hard work has earned them. They’re based out of Snohomish County, nestled modestly on Claremont St just off of Evergreen. VSS can also tout
the badge of being the oldest victim assistance organization in the state; even among the first in America.

VSS began as a grass-roots effort in the 1970s, championed by Lola Lindstad and Linda Barker, after the abduction and murder of Lola’s daughter. In the
year following, the two collected contact information of other local families who had young women or children disappear from the area and invited them
to a sit-down. Thirteen families came together, Linda and Lola shared why they’d been invited, and eventually the families opened their hearts and
shared their stories. The scene must have been heartbreaking, as emotions and experiences were bared beneath the auditorium lights of a local church.

As a product of the meeting, their efforts took root and are known today as the Victim Support Services. They provide a 24- hour crisis hotline, advocacy services, courtroom support, medical advocacy, information, and referrals. It is a free service which serves a wide spectrum of victimization.

Their roles, as staff and volunteers, are varied and change by the day. “When it comes to victimization, grief, or finding your ‘new normal’,” Michaela
Weber, Ph.D., Executive Director of VSS points out, there is no such thing as a tidy fix. “People get up everyday, dealing with what’s been done to
them, and that doesn’t necessarily go away or even get better.”

VSS has the honor of being among those called first when tragedies strike, be it a referral for an individual, school shootings, or even at the Oso Mudslide,
when grief rolled as thickly as the mud that smothered Steelhead Haven.

Because navigating the landscape of victimization – or, rather, the crater left behind by it – is different for everybody, the entire staff and the volunteers
who contribute to the lifeblood of the organization are all trained and certified to take your calls. VSS is experiencing a significant pinch when
it comes to qualified volunteers, but are definitely doing their best, and making sure all callers are treated with priority. “Even the accountant
answers the phone. The phone never rings more than three times.” Weber points this out with a smile, but she is fiercely proud of her organization,
and it shines through.

Training for staff/volunteers covers “crisis intervention, victim trauma, grief and loss, traumatic loss, the criminal and civil legal systems, cultural
competency and victims’ rights.” The capabilities of the organization at large include courtroom support, assistance with Victim Impact Statements,
support groups, navigating the bureaucracies of filing for Crime Victims Compensation (a program sponsored through L&I), and referrals for sexual
and domestic violence, to name a few. The best way to find out if they can help you or someone you know is to call. (See bottom of page for contact
information.)

VSS is primarily funded through the government; just about 84% of the funding comes down through government grants, but per Michaela, they’re hoping to
whittle that percentage down through private donations and sponsors.

This public outreach looks like canvassing door-to-door, events like vigils, golf tournaments and the annual luncheon The Voices of Victims, which is to
be held on March 28^th at the Angel of the Winds Arena in downtown. This year, the keynote speaker is Captain Chris Vanghele.

In case you need a refresher on the name, Cptn. Vanghele lead the entry team into the Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. He is more than
qualified to speak towards healing, both as an individual and member of a community, one marked by horrific loss and fantastical healing.

“We give people a place to begin… Nobody wakes up, gets dressed for work, kisses their kids goodbye […] and knows how to deal with an event
like a train derailment,” Weber says, referring to the Amtrak derailment in Dupont. Thankfully, nobody is expected to know these things, but she, the
staff and volunteers are.

And if they can’t directly assist?

“…Depending on the case/circumstance, we do partner with area agencies so that we stay current on information about other resources that are available
for clients. We are very focused on making strong partnerships with other community organizations, as well! This helps to identify victims of crime
-so we get referrals- and also to make sure they get appropriate and necessary services, i.e., when we refer out.”

She goes on to cite a recent collaboration with the Tulalip Tribe, whereby victims of non-violent crime now receive advocacy, a need that was identified
and met through collaboration and the sharing of information. “They have been providing advocates of their own for violent crimes, but no service for
non-violent crimes, so we recently partnered with [the Tribe] so that we can provide those services to that population.”

According to Weber, there’s an unmet need in communities after disasters occur which captured the attention of media or the nation. Afterwards, “local
areas are then flooded with altruism.” Which is a good thing, but once the disaster has left national focus it “leaves behind forgotten victims.” There’s
still a need to be met, once the schools re-open or tracks are rebuilt, which they can address through their network.

And VSS is here for all of them.

It is hard to conceive that there’s a single person who has not been impacted by crime; arson, identity theft, home invasion, scams that prey on the very
young or the very old, sexual predation, robbery, fraud, hate crimes, human trafficking, homicide. If you are among the blessed who has never needed
their services, perhaps you know somebody who does.

To learn more about Victim Support Services, check out victimsupportservices.org. From there, you can learn about the training process to volunteer, sponsor,
donate, or the more detailed history of their organization.

Take the time to share information about their undertaking, for the good that can be accomplished for you and yours, and to continue to spread the word
about Victim Support Services.

24 Hour Hotline – 1-888-288-9221

Snohomish County Office – 425.252.6081

King County Office – 425.271.0305

Whatcom County Office – 360.756.1780

Island County Office – 425.252.6081

Skagit County Office – 360.756.1780

Fax # – 425.259.1730

TTY – 425.259.0784

Special thanks to the staff at VSS for hosting myself and Stitch Mitchell at the Open House, and to Michaela Weber for her time during interviewing.