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A Refuge In Dayton

YWCA Advocate Passmore Provides A Safe Place In Dayton During Hard Situations

DAYTON - Violence at home can be a devastating and terrifying experience, which is why YWCA Ad- vocate Ann Passmore sits in her discrete office at Dayton General Hospital reminding those in tough situations that they have options.

Passmore serves all of Columbia County as an advocate from the YWCA for men and women who are in danger from domestic violence or sexual assault.

The Dayton extension of the YWCA was founded in October 2004 and Passmore took over the branch in the fall of 2007.

Passmore said there are several ways a person could end up referred to the YWCA and they don't all re- quire a police report. While law enforcement referrals are often the reason a person may end up working with Passmore, doctors, crisis line calls, family and friends often refer people to the YWCA office as well. The important thing, Passmore said, is that if a person thinks he or she may be in a bad situation, they can come to the YWCA.

"Victims don't have to have a police report to come in," Passmore said. "The criminal side is one part, but not all of it."

Everything is confidential in Passmore's office and her services are offered free of charge to help make assis- tance more accessible.

"This is a really busy hos- pital center," Passmore said. "So folks who come in for my services aren't conspicu- ous hellip; that's the main reason why we're here (in Dayton General Hospital)."

While the Dayton office does not provide the full range of services like the Walla Walla YWCA does, the agencies work very closely with one another so victims have access to what- ever they might need.

Passmore said her work is versatile and her services for people in tough situations accommodate whatever they might need. Wherever she is needed, she goes - crime scenes, the emergency room, doctor's visits, court, any- where a victim might need or request support. Passmore said she knows she is talking about difficult things with people, but she also knows her work helps change lives.

"It's the work I love to do," Passmore said. "Yes, there is stress, but I feel people should have access to a safe space."

And Passmore helps pro- vide that safety. She said a big challenge is when people realize they need to decide how to proceed with a situation they need a lot of support.

"Services are highly individualized," Passmore said. "Everybody has a different plan."

Passmore's services aren't limited to Columbia County, though. Anyone in need of an advocate can come to her from anywhere. The only limitation that requires people to find an ad- vocate in their own county, Passmore said, is filing pa- pers for charges, restraining orders or anything else that would be county-specific.

YWCA Executive Direc- tor Anne-Marie Schwerin said Passmore is a passion- ate advocate for the YWCA mission.

"It was just a dream come true to work together," Schwerin said. "When the opportunity came to expand out (to Dayton), we couldn't have done it without (Pass- more)."

Schwerin said she and Passmore volunteered to- gether in the 1980s and when Schwerin took the position as executive director in 2001, Passmore became the associate director.

"(Passmore) has so many strengths," Schwerin said. "She can work at the detail level and the big picture level."

Schwerin said the process of getting out of a difficult situation can often be challenging. From law enforce- ment, to prosecution, to court, the advocates have to work to make the program as seamless as possible.

"We don't want the sys- tem to cause further victimization," Schwerin said. "(Passmore) is just super in coordinating services hellip; She is just amazing."

For more information about the YWCA, how to donate to the program and the work Passmore does, visit YWCAWW.org. Do- mestic Violence Awareness Month is in October and Sexual Violence Awareness Month is in April.