Welcome, MaryKate!

Victim Support Services is pleased to welcome one of our newest members to the team, MaryKate!

MaryKate is our Training Coordinator who will be assisting the Training and Education department, by coordinating trainings that we offer to crime victim advocates in the state of Washington. VSS will be providing a series of training opportunities to help advocates increase their knowledge and awareness and to enhance their skills to provide person-centered, culturally linguistically, and developmentally appropriate support to individuals who have been hurt or harmed by crime.

MaryKate was born and raised in the Central Valley of California and is the youngest of 5 kids. She went to Sonoma State University where she received her Bachelors in Sociology and most recently earned a certificate in Victim Advocacy from CSU San Marcos.

MaryKate’s husband is in the military which results in a sometimes stressful, but never boring life for both of them! They have two fur babies – a dog named Maverick and a cat named Monroe and they are obsessed!!

When we asked Janine what she looked forward to most about working for Victim Support Services, she said, “I was previously a 911 dispatcher and it changed my life. I have been moved to work in the social services field to help those that can’t as easily help themselves and I am SO excited for this opportunity to be a part of the VSS family as I know that it will be an invaluable experience from start to finish.

Welcome, MaryKate, we are so glad you are part of the VSS team!

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Testimonials

"With the help of VSS, you are empowered and encouraged to fight back and be pro-active. Then your conscience can be more at peace because you know you have taken some action to protest crimes inflicted on your loved one. It is sometimes your only consolation."

“The one takeaway for me in working with VSS is that it is a necessary organization. I know they are funded by grants and fundraisers but it’s something we need to make sure as a community that they have the funding needed because what they do for people in need doesn’t happen anywhere else. This is the only place that this happens and VSS helps with so many things.”

David Rose

Anchor, Q13 News and Host, Washington’s Most Wanted

“VSS is there when the unthinkable happens.  When a police officer knocks on your door and gives you tragic news, VSS helps navigate the court system, which can be very confusing. VSS is compassion, caring, and commitment. Commitment to once justice is done that victims and their families can move forward with their lives.”

Jennifer Gregerson

Mayor, City of Mukilteo

“VSS has been our partner in recovery and healing and a key part in what makes Mukilteo Strong. VSS has been a trusted advocate for the victims that have suffered so much in the community.  I’m so grateful to VSS as our partner in strength.”

Jon Nehring

Mayor, City of Marysville

“VSS is there for people in their darkest hour. At a time when they need an advocate and friend, VSS steps in to fill that gap and help them begin their journey back to some sense of normalcy.” 

Myrle Carner

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound

“This thing about closure. There is never really closure in a victim’s life but VSS helps individuals to get closer to that and that’s critical because the cops and the judicial system just move on to another case because they don’t have time. Victims live with this trauma forever so VSS is with them for as long as they need the services. VSS takes the time, more importantly, they really care."

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