Siuslaw Outreach Services 1576 W. 12th Street Florence, OR 97439 Ethel Bassett, Executive Director 541-997-2816 (office) 541-997-4444 (crisis) 1-877-997-FOUR (toll free) sawc@winfinity.com

"Siuslaw Area Women's Center (SAWC) was founded in March 1986 by a group of women volunteers to meet the critical needs of rural, western Lane County residents. The agency's first project was an empowerment support group for women. It was created for domestic violence and sexual assault victims, and intended to be an instrument assisting women to regain self-confidence and self-sufficiency as they transitioned into safe homes.

"The mission statement of SAWC, now called Siuslaw Outreach Services, is to assist "women and their families to lead safe, dignified and secure lives by offering a range of services from basic necessities to self-empowerment". The Center's Board of Directors and Staff are committed to observing cultural awareness; diversity training for staff, volunteers and Board members; outreach to underserved populations; and affirmative action guidelines for volunteers, Board and staff. The agency has a goal of ending oppressive behaviors through education, advocacy, legislative change and provision for the basic human needs of individuals and families while they work toward self-empowerment.

"SOS is contacted directly by victims of domestic violence who are in crisis and who need to leave an abusive home immediately; by victims who are not ready to leave abusive homes but who do have a goal of exiting and need safety planning; by family and friends of victims who want to learn about available resources, what they can do for victims and how to do things; by emergency room medical personnel who treat victims needing additional services and advocacy; and by law enforcement responding to calls for assistance who refer victims to an advocate for emergency needs, legal and medical advocacy and follow up services.

"SOS assists male and female domestic and sexual abuse victims and their children, and has special programs to provide services to seniors and disabled persons, bilingual or monolingual persons, and for same-gender victims. Resources include a 24/7 crisis line, 24/7 in-person advocate response, on-scene response by a Community police liaison, emergency shelter, free clothing, food, transportation assistance, medical and legal advocacy, medical prescription assistance, an on-site attorney one day/week, telephonic Orders of Protection, DV education groups, support groups, transitional housing programs, a drop in advocacy center, an outreach office in Mapleton, and a Hispanic Advisory Committee. SOS offers free DV presentations for groups and organizations, and educational presentations in schools for youths. SOS facilitates a weekly batterer's re-education groups for offenders, coordinating with the Courts, Parole & Probation, and other batterer's intervention group facilitators.

"Staff all live in this community, and have seen the effects of the work they do in the reduction in the incidences and lethality of abuse victims. They have contributed to the coordination of a community response, and have the support of the community in efforts to eradicate DV. Staff also receive the active support of the City, the hospital, the Court and the local Police and this helps to maintain morale.

"One advocate says, "It is never dull around here. Every day there are new people to meet, stories to hear and each case demands a separate course of action. We're not a governmental agency, bound by their rules and regulations, so we can tailor solutions to individual needs: helping a survivor return to college by paying a school debt; helping a survivor with transportation by helping with vehicle registration fees; or navigating the paperwork with a survivor as she finds housing, work and other resources.""

~ Ethel Bassett, June 2003