(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - Women In Safe Homes (WISH) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women to participate in the national Advocacy Learning Center. The local team includes Beth Bogarde, Executive Director; Matt Tibbles, Education Services Manager; and Hailey Beard, Family Resource Advocate.

The Advocacy Learning Center (ALC) is offered by Praxis International and Manavi in partnership with the Office on Violence Against Women. The 18-month course is designed to strengthen how advocacy programs engage with survivors, address institutional responses to violence against women, and involve the community in ending violence. Team members travel to three in-person events and participate in numerous distance learning activities.

Women In Safe Homes (WISH) was selected as one of only 13 programs in the new class. They join 192 programs and 506 advocates who have participated in the ALC.

WISH Chosen as National Advocacy Learning Center by DOJ
Photo courtesy Google Maps.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that one in five women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime and one in three women will be a victim of domestic violence. The programs participating in the ALC are working to end sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, prostitution, and human trafficking. Women In Safe Homes (WISH) work includes emergency shelter and transportation for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children, provide crisis intervention and advocacy services that includes the operation of a 24 hour crisis hotline, individual, systems and legal advocacy, court and medical accompaniments and support/education groups for women, children, and men.

WISH also provides services to families in need to assist parents and their children with the goal of reunification and/or to strengthen the family unit. Family Services provides parent mentoring and advocacy services, which includes transport to and from housing, medical, court, mental health appointments and support with supervised visitations. Well-family activities are planned which enhance positive family skill- building.

The Education and Prevention Department provides positive relationships with youth and community schools and partnering agencies. The staff work in classrooms, gymnasiums, and outdoors to offer presentations, groups and activities at the high, middle, elementary schools, KRYF, and RYC. The curriculum they present includes dating violence/healthy relationships, how to recognize the danger signs, and how to get help. They also are instrumental in furthering the COMPASS program to mentor young boys in the community, Girls On The Run, Lead ON!!, Coaching Boys Into Men, and establishing internships for youth with Women In Safe Homes.

Everyone in the community has a role to play in ending violence against women.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

WISH
www.wishak.org

For more information about how you can help, contact Women In Safe Homes (WISH), 907-228-4099

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Ketchikan, Alaska

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