New Victims’ Advocate Carries on YWCA’s Work

DAYTON – An advocate is someone who offers public support for someone else, and victims often need this support more than most people.

Victims of domestic violence and sexual assault (both male and female) face the additional burdens of sometimes humiliating medical procedures, bewildering and painful court proceedings, and an uncertain future.

So in 2003, the Walla Walla YWCA, an organization founded on advocacy, opened an office in Columbia County and brought to Dayton a local victims’ advocate – Ann Passmore.

Developing the Program

For 11 years, Passmore has served the community by supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. She has guided them through medical procedures, mentored them in the process of filing protection orders, and helped them plan for their present and future safety.

In 2007, the victims’ advocate position in Dayton became a full-time job for Passmore.

“She had already moved to Dayton and was wellloved and known in the community,” said Anne-Marie Zell Schwerin, executive director of YWCA Walla Walla. “She wanted to get to know the community and let them get to know her. It was important to her that she find out what the community needed and not be seen as ‘the person from the big city coming up to Dayton to tell them what they needed.’ She wanted this to be a long and lasting relationship.”

And it has been a long, lasting relationship, both Passmore and Zell Schwerin stated. Passmore has developed a network of support for local victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through the Dayton hospital, the clinics, Blue Mountain Counseling, public health, and the sheriff’s office.

“Referrals come to us -LESS-THAN-0096-at YWCA-GREATER-THAN-0096- from friends, neighbors, mental health providers, law enforcement, the prosecutor’s office, the hospital, clinics,” Passmore said. “I think a lot of what I did in my tenure was building relationships with community resources. Networking is something that Dayton does very well. We all have extremely limited resources, but we don’t try to duplicate services.”

On September 22, Passmore retired from her position with the YWCA. She had worked with the organization since the 1980s. When Zell Schwerin first took the executive director position, Passmore was her executive officer in Walla Walla. Passmore gave that up, however, to return to social work as the victims’ advocate in Dayton.

“She had always said she was going to retire one day,” Zell Schwerin said. “We were so sad when she announced the date. Ann is so wise and experienced, and she was absolutely instrumental in bringing the victims’ advocate program to Dayton.”

Passmore hasn’t left advocacy completely, however. Shortly after announcing her retirement from the YWCA, she accepted a new position with the Columbia County Prosecutor’s Office. As part-time Victim Witness Advocate, Passmore will be able to continue helping victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in the county as they try to navigate the law and courts system.

“When I retired, I was really going to retire,” Passmore said. “Now I feel renewed and ready to do this. I’m very excited about it.”

New Dayton Advocate

Zell Schwerin and her colleagues worried they wouldn’t find a suitable, local replacement for Passmore with the YWCA. Then they met Mary Byrd, another Dayton resident with a passion for helping victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Zell Schwerin knew this was meant to be. She hired Byrd as Passmore’s replacement several months ago, and Passmore has worked with Byrd to help acclimate her to the organization and the local position.

“She is very passionate about this work, and it is really very nice to see,” Passmore said.

Byrd relocated from Alaska in 2004. She was employed for 18 years as a social worker for various agencies while in that northern state. She worked in a shelter for victims of domestic violence, created and directed a Family Support Reunification and Preservation program, supported families with Child Protective Services and domestic violence issues, taught parenting classes, and finally worked for the state as a CPS investigator, investigating claims of abuse and then supervising the investigative teams until 10 years ago.

Since moving to Dayton, Byrd has not done social work. She has been employed in various community roles, most recently as manager of the Dayton Historic Depot.

“I’ve been wanting to go back to working directly with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault,” Byrd said. When she heard of the opening with the YWCA, she – as well as Zell Schwerin and Passmore – was thrilled.

“This will likely be the last job I have, and I want to end my career doing something I feel really strongly about,” Byrd said. “Helping these victims is what really propelled me into social work in the first place. This is what I need to be doing.”

SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT

YWCA Victim’s Advocate (Mary Byrd) Office: Columbia County Health Department 270 E. Main Street, Dayton 24/7 Crisis Line: (509) 382-9922 Confidentiality is guaranteed

YWCA SERVICES

Visit: www.ywcaww.org/services/ Call: (509) 382-9922 Safe, temporary shelters for women and children escaping domestic violence Medical and legal advocacy Confidential counseling and support groups 24/7 crisis line Safety planning Tips on searching for help online without detection