New victims' rights advocate excited to serve UI

New victims' rights advocate excited to serve UI

Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse has operated in the Palouse region for more than 25 years. Now, the advocacy group has created its first liaison to the University of Idaho campus.
Emilie McLarnan, whose official title is ATVP campus outreach advocate, is that liaison, and the message she is trying to spread is that students should feel free to contact her for support. McLarnan provides advocacy-based counseling, which she describes as confidential, non-discriminatory, non-judgmental, supportive listening to help victims of violent crimes make the best decisions they can under their circumstances.
“We help victims make the best decisions and then connect them to the appropriate resources,” she said.

McLarnan, who finished her master’s in social work at Ohio State in June 2006, is no stranger to the field of domestic violence and sexual assault counseling. She’s worked in the field for more than five years, and her last job was for a crisis hotline in Ohio. The move to Moscow served to close the gap in a long-distance relationship, and the advocacy job was the perfect reason to travel.
“I’d been considering a move here for a while,” McLarnan said. “There was a really intriguing position listed on the ATVP site.”
That posting, her new position, was made possible through a grant providing money for preventing violence against women on the UI campus. She replied to the job posting and went through a phone interview. Five days later, she was able to meet for an in-person interview at a conference in Columbus, Ohio.
“They were willing to take a chance on a person from across the country,” McLarnan said.

For McLarnan, the move is something of a return to her roots.
“I’m from a small college town originally,” she said. “It’s kind of a familiar atmosphere.”
She’s taken to ATVP, which formed in 1980 and has since expanded to offices and staff in Moscow, Pullman, Colfax and the Whitman County offices. Among the free services available through ATVP are a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency support, confidential shelter, legal and medical advocacy, individual and group support, information and referral, and community education. The problem, McLarnan said, is getting students to use them.
The grant, administered by UI’s Violence Prevention Program, pays for McLarnan’s job, but she’s not technically a UI employee. That means students worried about confidentiality can be assured she doesn’t have to tell UI staff anything.
“Students can contact me for help and they don’t have to call the hotline,” she said. “It is completely confidential so not even the university will find out about what’s going on in your life.”

McLarnan also said the ATVP is looking for students who would like to volunteer to be crisis hotline advocates.
“Student volunteers are the backbone of the ATVP’s volunteer services.”

Need a hand?

There are several ways to contact the ATVP:
Online: http://community.palouse.net/atvp or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
By phone: (208) 883-HELP
McLarnan: 885-2095 or visit TLC Room 232
To volunteer: Call (208) 882-2490

Upcoming events:

ATVP will hold training for new hotline volunteers at the end of March. For details, call 882-2490.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month will be in April. ATVP staff will participate in Take Back the Night and host several educational events and presentations.
Crime Victims' Rights week will be April 22-28, and will also feature educational programs.
 

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