Newsletter
 From the Director! In my first six months as Director of the Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance, I have focused on strengthening relationships, listening to our community, and building a strong foundation for sustainable growth. Stepping into this role has been both an honor and a responsibility, and I am deeply committed to ensuring that survivors in the Illinois Valley continue to receive compassionate, survivor-centered support. A key priority during this transition has been expanding community outreach. We have worked to increase our visibility, strengthen partnerships with local agencies, and ensure that community members know where to turn for help. By collaborating with law enforcement, schools, healthcare providers, and other community partners, we are reinforcing a coordinated response to domestic violence and sexual assault. Prevention, especially with youth, has also been at the forefront of our efforts. We are actively engaging young people throughout the Illinois Valley with age-appropriate education focused on healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, and respect. By investing in prevention and empowering youth with knowledge and skills, we aim to break cycles of violence before they begin. These first six months have been about listening, learning, and laying the groundwork for long-term impact. I am proud of the direction we are heading and remain committed to fostering a safer, more informed, and more connected Illinois Valley community. Sincerely, Heather Stewart  Board of Directors! My name is Sharon Guest. I’m a proud mom, grandma, and passionate baker. In my professional life, I work as a Physical Therapist Assistant with a focus on pelvic health. For several years, I was just across the street from IVSHA, unaware of all the wonderful work they were doing. That changed dramatically five years ago when I faced an unexpected loss with the passing of my husband. In the midst of that challenging time, I had to leave my home with nothing but the clothes I was wearing. The incredible women at IVSHA stepped in to help, providing me with a cellphone and some clothing until I could stabilize my situation. Three years later, my dear friend Pat reached out and invited me to bake a cake for the Soup for Souls fundraiser. I enjoyed it so much that I spent the next two years baking for the event. Eventually, Pat approached me again, this time asking if I would consider joining the Board of Directors. It was a turning point for me, and I gladly accepted. Being part of this organization is a meaningful way for me to give back to an organization and community that showed me compassion when I needed it most. Thank you for allowing me to share my journey! Dear Advocate Dear Advocate, My elderly neighbor is in a physically abusive relationship. I’ve listened to him numerous times say he’s ready to leave, but he’s scared he will lose the life he worked so hard to create, and his partner, how can I support him? -Concerned Neighbor Dear Concerned Neighbor, Your questions and concerns come from a place of deep caring, your neighbor is very fortunate to have someone like you in their life, here are some ways you can support him: v You can be a support by being a listening ear for your neighbor, validate him, let him know that you are there to listen and not judge him. v Some things you could say are, “I believe you, I hear you, I see you. You don’t deserve to be treated this way. I’m here to support you whenever you are ready, and know that there is help.” v When you are talking with him, you can help make a safety plan (safe places, safe people, etc.), help him figure out what important items to grab (bank cards, important paperwork, etc.). Make sure while doing this you also have a safe boundary for yourself. Supporting someone in these situations can be difficult. Your support, consistency, and compassion can very well someday be the lifeline he reaches for, for more information call the Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance (541)592-2515 Empowerment and Encouragement on a Healing Journey! Domestic violence does not discriminate by gender, race, socioeconomic status, or age. It affects grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless others. For many survivors, daily life becomes an exercise in endurance, simply trying to survive the weight of what they have experienced. Some wake each morning questioning how the abuse occurred or blaming themselves for circumstances beyond their control. Parents, in particular, may carry profound guilt over what their children witnessed or endured. While survival itself is a powerful and commendable achievement, there is a deeper aspect of healing that merits attention. Working with survivors of domestic violence is both meaningful and emotionally demanding. I am continually moved by the resilience individuals demonstrate, even as I recognize that trauma often shapes the patterns that kept them in harmful situations. Healing is not linear, and no two survivors move forward at the same pace. One consistent observation over the years is that many survivors do not initially feel empowered or encouraged. Although physical and emotional wounds can heal with time and support, many express gratitude simply for making it through each day. Less often do I hear survivors describe feeling capable of building a life intentionally designed by their own vision—not merely repairing what was broken but creating something wholly their own. Survivors of abuse are frequently subjected to toxic behaviors that erode self-esteem and distort their sense of identity. To stand beside someone on their healing journey and offer genuine encouragement is an extraordinary privilege. Supporting a survivor in recognizing that they are more than what they have endured is among the most meaningful aspects of advocacy work. Helping someone rediscover their inherent value, reclaim their sense of worth, and believe that it is acceptable to dream again is transformative. It is powerful to witness the moment when a survivor begins to understand that they have the agency to shape their future. Experiencing abuse does not define a person’s life; allowing it to do so would grant lasting power to the abuser. Instead, survivors define themselves by how they move forward once they are safe. Survivors cope and endure in the ways available to them at the time. Rather than questioning why someone stayed or what they “accepted,” a more compassionate and constructive response is to ask, “How can I support you?” What matters is affirming, “I believe you. I am sorry you endured this. You are valued, and you are worthy of a life marked by safety, dignity, and opportunity.” Our focus should remain on empowering survivors to envision and pursue lives not confined by past abuse, but guided by their own strength, aspirations, and resilience.  April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about sexual violence, support survivors, and promote prevention in our communities. It’s an opportunity to come together, learn, and help create a culture of respect and safety for everyone. This year, the Day of Action (Wear Teal Day) will be held on April 7, 2026. On this day, people across the country are encouraged to wear teal to show support for survivors and to help raise awareness about sexual violence prevention. Did you know that Over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence (Chen, et al., 2023). Most women and men across all sexual identities who experienced contact sexual violence reported that the person who harmed them was someone they knew (Chen, et al., 2023). At Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance, we remain committed to supporting survivors and working toward a safer, more informed community. We are More than a safe place! ( About SAAM 2026 – National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) Save The Date! April 4th Soup for the Souls, When: 5pm -7pm, Where: IV Senior Center, 520 East River Street, Cave Junction. April 7th is Sexual Assault awareness Day (Wear Teal) April 25th Chipotle Fundraiser 5pm – 9pm use code W6KJNQ7 Or show flyer 25% of sales are donated to us (IVSHA)  Resources Siskiyou Community Health Center – 25647 Redwood Hwy, Cave Junction 541-592-4111 Illinois Valley Wellness Resources – 315 Caves Hwy Suite C, Cave Junction 541-592-9781 IV Family Coalition – 535 E River Street, Cave Junction, 541-592-6139 Pregnancy Center – 331 E Cottage Park Drive Ste 4 Cave Junction 541-592-6058 DHS Cave Junction Branch – 535 E River Street, Cave Junction 541-592-4149 How You Can Help! Supporting organizations that address domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, labor/sex trafficking, and elder abuse can be deeply impactful and fulfilling. You can volunteer your time by helping sorting donations, community outreach, administrative outreach, or offering professional skills like legal, medical, or tech support. Advocacy is another powerful tool- raising awareness, supporting survivor-centered legislation, and hosting educational events can shift public perception and policy. Locally, in Cave Junction, OR, the Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance is a key resource offering emergency shelter and services, individual peer counseling, restraining orders, transportation, support groups, and community education. Educating yourself on trauma-informed care and sharing that knowledge helps build a more empathetic and informed community. Financial donations, even small monthly contributions, help sustain vital services, and in-kind donations such as toiletries, clothing, and food are often urgently needed. If you’d like help coming up with a plan to get involved, please call the Alliance at (541)592-2515. We provide many items to those we are working with, some of the things we can use year-round are: v Hygiene Products (Travel sized shampoo, conditioner, deodorant) v Toiletries v Smaller men’s clothing v Men and Women clothing v Toddler clothing If you would like to make a cash donation to the Alliance, please call our office (541)592-2515 or click the link below. https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-change-survivors-lives-2 Unsubscribe | Manage your subscription Add your postal address here! US Dept. of Justice.The Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance operates its programs, services and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws. No person shall, on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any of our programs. |
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