New services join Together Center
Published 1:46 pm Monday, October 26, 2015
Beginning in November, there will be a few new additions to Together Center’s advocate office: Seattle Vet Center, Consejo Counseling & Referral and Senior Services.
The three organizations will bring providers one day each week to Suite A-8 at Together Center’s front door.
Seattle Vet Center (Wednesdays, 8:30-11:30 a.m.): Beginning Nov. 4, veterans and their family will be able to meet with a resource specialist for veterans on the Together Center campus. Truc Nhan, outreach specialist for Seattle Vet Center, will assist veterans and their family members by drop-in on Wednesdays.
Vet Center guides veterans and their families through many of the major adjustments in lifestyle that often occur after a veteran returns from combat. Outreach specialists provide information on a wide-range of available benefits as well as referrals for individual and group counseling in areas such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcohol and drug assessment and suicide prevention referrals. All services are free of cost and are strictly confidential.
Together Center has worked with several partners over the last year to bring services for veterans to the campus. A memorandum of understanding is in place with King County Veterans Services to enable use of the center’s advocate office to help veterans by King County staff or any of the county’s many community partners. Seattle Vet Center is a program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“We have learned that federal, state and county benefits for veterans and their family members are extensive, but the systems, criteria and entry points are very complex,” noted Pam Mauk, Together Center CEO. “We are happy to have an expert on campus, who can either address someone’s needs or get them to the right person.”
Service at the center is available by drop-in. For immediate assistance, contact the Seattle Vet Center at (206) 658-4225.
Consejo Counseling & Referral (Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.): Beginning Nov. 5, Consejo Counseling & Referral Services will bring a domestic violence advocate to Together Center’s advocate office. Crucita Nuanez-Olivares (left) will be available Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Together Center. Consejo’s domestic violence program provides advocacy, intervention, prevention and outreach services for monolingual Latino survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. In addition, Consejo offers community education and outreach to ensure survivors receive relevant assistance when they turn to social networks for support.
“All of Consejo’s domestic violence services focus on safety planning and on empowerment of the client through reinforcing the client’s autonomy and self-determination,” Nuanez-Olivares said. “The more information a survivor has, the more likely her choices will enhance her own and her children’s safety when dealing with intimate partner violence.”
Consejo’s bilingual services also provides legal advocacy, in which the survivor is able to receive cultural mediation, explanation and translation/interpretation as needed for the survivor’s success in navigating through legal processes.
“We have not had a program on campus with a primary mission of addressing the needs of domestic violence survivors. We are very happy that the addition of Consejo will add knowledge and support on the issue to all of our agencies and their clients, as well as expand critical services,” said Mauk.
To make an appointment, call Nuanez-Olivares at (206) 225-9871.
Senior Services (Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.): Beginning Nov. 13, older adults and adults with disabilities will find expanded resources at Together Center. Senior Services, as part of the Community Living Connections network in King County, will provide an information and assistance specialist at Together Center’s advocate office.
Tanya McGee (left), a Senior Services representative, will act as a liaison to available services and will be available to assist finding the best solution for each situation by making the appropriate referrals.
“The addition of the assistance of Senior Services and our other new partners will mean a great deal to the thousands that use the campus monthly,” said Mauk.
Senior Services CEO Dr. Paula L. Houston added, “We are very pleased to have this new presence in East King County. We look forward to serving more seniors and adults with disabilities in partnership with Together Center.”
To make an appointment, call (206) 727-6254.
The advocate office is part of Together Center’s Front Door Services Program to ease access to finding help. Together Center created the office and supports the cost of the space so people seeking assistance will find more one-on-one support to get the assistance they need.
The advocate office is also currently used by Public Health Seattle & King County (third Wednesdays, noon to 3 p.m.). Public Health access and outreach staff connect and refer eligible clients to public-sponsored health, food and other benefits and also provide advocacy and referral assistance.
To learn more about Together Center, call (425) 869-6699 or visit www.togethercenter.org.
