Posts Tagged ‘support’
2019 VSS Furry Friends Calendar
The VSS Furry Friends Calendar is back again this year, and better than ever! The calendar is filled with pictures of the VSS stakeholder’s (staff, board members, volunteers, etc.) pets. As well, the calendar has VSS events and National Days relating to victims of crime. This calendar is part of our 2018 Year-End-Campaign. What does…
Read More#GivingTuesday
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, #GIVINGTUESDAY! With only 7 days left before #GivingTuesday, which is on November 27th this year, the team here at Victim Support Services is readying themselves to set this years’ donations goal. What is #GivingTuesday? “#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated…
Read MoreThanksgiving Grief
Written by: Janet Quiroga, Hotline Coordinator Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season. It is a time for gathering with loved ones, to give thanks and enjoy good food. Although to those who have lost a loved one, Thanksgiving can be the total opposite. It can make them question what there is to be…
Read MoreA Report on Our Special Training Grant
In late March 2018, Victim Support Services was the recipient of a special grant from Washington state that covered training to community members and professionals around the state who work with crime victims. The grant lasted 6 months – beginning April 1 and ending on September 30. For the six month period, VSS provided continuing…
Read MoreOUR NEGATIVE SELF TALK
Written by: Julie Thomas, Director of Victim Services and Training I often encounter people in the course of my work who tell me “I am my own worst enemy”. It is so easy for us to believe the worst about ourselves, to put ourselves down, to litter our days’ thoughts with negative self-talk. Somewhere in our…
Read MoreThe Symptoms of Chronic Stress, Part 2
Written by: Julie Thomas, Director of Victim Services and Training What is stress anyway? Is it bad, is it good? Stress is simply the non-specific response of the body to anything in life which causes people to have to adjust or alter attention, behavior and/or demands of energy. It is a survival mechanism. Stress, when properly managed, is constructive…
Read MoreGrieving Youth Returning to School
Written by: Katy Percini, MA, LMFT, Mental Health Therapist Heading back to school after the summer break can be an exciting time for many students. For others, returning to school can cause anxiety, depression, and stress. When a child is grieving the death of a loved one, returning to school can be even more difficult.…
Read MoreIn Memorium: Scott Tompkins
Our community lost a great friend, a stellar detective, and a champion for crime victims when Detective Scott Tompkins succumbed to a sudden illness this past weekend (9/9/18). Scott was a long-serving member of the King County Sheriff’s Office, hired in 1991, and contributed his time to Victim Support Services as a board member for…
Read MoreDon’t Worry, Be Happy….Part 1 of the Symptoms of Stress
Written by: Julie Thomas, Director of Victim Services and Training Are you a worrier? That is a question I ask participants in my Emotional Wellness classes that I teach for VSS. Inevitably many slowly raise their hands, some blurt out, “Oh Yes!” “Are you kidding?” “Lifelong worrier.” Worrying in this day and age almost seems to…
Read MoreFourth of July: Triggers
Written by: Kimi Nolte, MPH, MSW, Lead Victim Services Coordinator On the fourth of July, most people look forward to the BBQs, firework displays and spending time with their loved ones. However, the holidays can be difficult for a number of reasons, especially if you and your family experienced a traumatic loss. Today, we’d like…
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