The mission of Voices of a Safe Place Family Justice Center of Clackamas County is to help survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and/or elder abuse find community with others, while providing continued healing, leadership, and empowerment opportunities. This includes developing and supporting survivor leaders in Clackamas County to help identify gaps in domestic violence and sexual assault responses and services and lead community outreach and education efforts.
About Voices
The VOICES Committee is a group of survivors who:
- Volunteer their time to celebrate their strength and survival
- Use their voices to help others through advocacy, education, and empowerment
- Offer a unique perspective to A Safe Place’s programming and expanding access to support.
The first VOICES committee was launched at the San Diego Family Justice Center in 2003 by director Gael Strack. At the time, members of VOICES were recruited to serve as advisory committee members for the family justice center, assist with trainings, provide feedback on services, and speak at various public events to bring awareness to services.
A Safe Place Family Justice Center (ASP-FJC) opened in December 2013 as our community’s collective response to adults and children experiencing domestic and sexual violence in Clackamas County. The national VOICES movement gained momentum, ASP-FJC established its own VOICES Committee in 2017 to amplify survivor voices and guide its work.
The VOICES Committee meets once a month currently Tuesday evenings 6:00-7:30 PM. Meetings are currently held in a hybrid format, allowing members to attend either in-person or virtually. To remain an active member, we ask that participants commit to attending at least 9 meetings per year and have had a connection to Clackamas County.
The VOICES Committee may offer the following engagement opportunities:
Advocacy
This may include policy advocacy, and/or advocating for the Family Justice Center at local government meetings. Some examples include:
- Attend City Council or County Commissioner meetings to advocate for an increase in funding when local budgets are being determined.
- Advocating on behalf of, or in opposition to, a bill that impacts survivors.
Public Speaking
Survivors may choose to share their stories to reclaim their voice, raise awareness, and help others feel less alone. By speaking out, they contribute to breaking the silence, challenging stigma, and fostering healing, both for themselves and for others who may be suffering in silence.
ASP-FJC receives requests from community partners for survivors to share their story for the following types of events:
- Annual Galas and fundraising events
- Videos to raise awareness of support and services
- Community education programs
Community Awareness & Outreach
ASP-FJC partners focus on raising awareness through outreach events across the county. VOICES members play a vital role by participating in tabling opportunities to promote the services and support available at the Family Justice Center.
Additionally, ASP-FJC partners host various events and activities during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, and other times throughout the year. These initiatives provide ongoing opportunities to support our mission and engage the community in raising awareness and supporting survivors.
Expanding Pathways to Support
VOICES members are an essential part in supporting ASP-FJC by providing valuable input and feedback on services for survivors. They may contribute to the development of new policies and procedures, participate in focus groups, serve on advisory councils, and assist with program assessments—all helping to ensure services are survivor-centered and responsive to community needs.
If you’re interested in learning more about VOICES, please complete the application on the next page and submit it to the Emails provided. Information provided to us will be kept confidential.
Membership Information
The Voices committee is for individuals who:
- Can attend monthly meetings
- Identify as survivors of domestic violence
- Are 18 years or older
- Either have a connection to Clackamas County or have received services from A Safe Place Family Justice Center
We value diversity in our group and actively seek members representing all gender identities, sexual orientations, races and ethnicities, and differing abilities and experiences.
If you are interested in joining, please click here for a Voices application.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about Voices, please contact voices@cwsor.org or one of our co-facilitators.
Christy Ahlquist, Victim Services Coordinator
A Safe Place Family Justice Center
503-557-5875
cahlquist@co.clackamas.or.us
Erin Ritchie, Training & Outreach Manager
Clackamas Women’s Services
971-271-4298
erinr@cwsor.org
A Safe Place Family Justice Center
503-655-8600
Click Below For Our Stories
Kelle
Christina
Eden
I am an “older” mother of one, an accountant/office manager, and a nationally trained diversity workshop leader. I hold an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing, am ABD in an EdD in Post-Secondary Education, and was the bassist and co-founder of an art rock band that I recently discovered has joined 90s Portland cult band status. I am also a Domestic Abuse survivor.
My abuser wooed me claiming to love my artiness, my outspokenness, my intellectual inclinations, and my professional success. He then proceeded to tear down every ounce of self esteem I had and belittle everything that made me “me.” His goal seemed to be absolute control by whatever means and no matter how much I changed, I always needed to change and give more. Once a confident, creative, social person performing on stage, leading day long diversity workshops, presenting at national conferences, I would wait until my husband was in the shower in the morning to make his French-pressed coffee for fear he would see me do it “wrong.”
What began as emotional and psychological abuse escalated to include physical abuse at times, and it all escalated after the birth of our child who was included in his tight clamp of controlling abuse.
Getting out is just the first step. That is a hard truth, and well-meaning non-DV survivors often struggle to understand, but despite the struggles I have endured and continue to endure to keep my child safer in a system that has limitations, I believe being out is far better than staying. With hindsight into the many difficulties, if I had to do it over again, I would still leave, but I would do some things differently this time. I didn’t realize what a huge community of survivors there is and what an amazing source of knowledge and support they hold.
There are many people who have faced this before you. Seek us out. You will have a supportive community.
I would like to see the family court system recognizing all forms of domestic violence and understanding how often the controlling abuser includes their children in DV. Biology and money do not make a fit parent. Healthy and safe behavior makes a fit parent.
I am a voice for those who have not found theirs yet. I am a voice of hope and compassion.
Being thrown up against the wall with his forearm pushing into my throat while he called me names, screamed profanities at me, and spit in my face doesn’t compare to the time he took our daughter. I didn’t know where she was and he wouldn’t tell me. He said she wasn’t coming home until I told him everything he wanted to know about the person I was dating. It was ok for him to move on, but it was never going to be ok for me. Over 20 years I was mentally, emotionally, verbally, and physically abused. I was intimidated, threatened, stalked, gas lighted, manipulated, and controlled.
I wish people understood how terrifying it is to leave an abusive relationship. I literally made a will and came to grips with the thought he was going to kill me. I decided that I wasn’t going to stay. I didn’t want my daughter growing up thinking ANYBODY should be treated the way he treated me.
I am now free, but still on guard. I am strong, kind, and loving. I believe I lived through the abuse so I can be hope for someone that feels hopeless, strong for someone that feels weak, and a VOICE for someone that hasn’t found theirs yet.
I’m a Business Manager, Amazon Best-Selling Author, Mother of Three, Military Wife, Weapons Specialist, Archer, Sword Fighter, Equestrian, 4.0 Student at the University, Advocate For Animal Rights, Illustrator, Public Speaker… and a Survivor of Domestic Abuse.
I didn’t realize I was being abuse because I had been gradually acclimated to the hostile environment and because my abuse didn’t look like the stereotypical black eye. I wish others knew that there are many forms of abuse that are devastating including religious/spiritual abuse, narcissistic abuse, psychological abuse, legal abuse, post-separation abuse, animal abuse, financial abuse, domestic servitude, and more.
My advice to someone going through any form of domestic abuse is to know that things do get better once you are out. Sometimes they get worse before they get better, but they do get better.
The social change I would like to see is that the family court system recognize all forms of abuse containing the power and control dynamic meant to subject and terrorize one partner. I would like to see an end to all custody battles in which there was domestic abuse. Fit parents should not have to live in fear of being outmaneuvered and out-lawyered in court, resulting in losing custody of their children to their abuser who has a proven violent or criminal history.