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Cowlitz County proclaims Crime Victims Rights Week and Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Summary
The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners approved two proclamations recognizing Crime Victims Rights Week (April 6–12, 2025) and April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and accepted remarks from local victim-advocacy staff.
The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners on April 2025 unanimously approved two proclamations recognizing Crime Victims Rights Week and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The proclamations were read and presented by Tasha, a crime victims advocate with the Emergency Support Shelter, who described the shelter's services and local demand. "The Emergency Support Shelter was established in 1978 as Cowlitz County's first domestic violence assistance program," she said, and outlined programs including emergency shelter, confidential advocacy, legal advocacy and the HOPE project for sexual-assault survivors. She said the victim-advocacy program served about 250 people last year and the HOPE project served more than 320 individuals in Cowlitz County.
The proclamations officially designate the week of April 6–12, 2025 as Crime Victims Rights Week in Cowlitz County and April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. A commissioner moved to approve both proclamations and the motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.
Nut graf: County staff and local advocates said the proclamations are intended to raise awareness of victim services and to highlight the county's victim-advocacy programs, including crisis response in emergency departments and ongoing legal and support services.
In presenting program details, Tasha described services the CVAP program provides, including safety planning, assistance with crime victim compensation and court accompaniment. She also described HOPE's goal of ensuring a trained advocate is available at local emergency rooms within 20 minutes for people reporting sexual assault. "Together we act, united we change," she said.
The board signed the proclamations and staff said signed copies would be provided to the Emergency Support Shelter. No formal follow-up directives or budget actions were recorded in the meeting minutes related to these proclamations.
Ending: County staff told the commissioners they would route signed proclamations to the shelter for distribution and recordkeeping.
