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Domestic Violence help – During COVID-19 pandemic

Quick escape to Google.com

Domestic violence increases in time of stress and Shelter In Place type orders. At the same time, it can be even harder for victims of domestic violence to access services or even safely call for help living in close quarters. All North Olympic domestic violence agencies are answering intake calls and providing services, although their in-person services may be limited to some degree by social distancing needs. The state government is aware of the issues and is adding extra support and resources for DV agencies that can help you.

If you know someone who is in need of help, please consider being proactive and reaching out to them directly.

Free legal help. Ask your DV advocates about available pro bono legal services.

If you are suffering during a Shelter In Place (or Stay Home, Stay Safe) type order, Job #1 to protect you and your children is managing the emotional instability of your partner, and avoiding actions that can lead to significant and dangerous behavior escalations, especially while you take steps to protect yourself.

Rejection Begets Aggression

Understanding how your own behavior can be perceived as a rejection which can lead to angry and violent outbursts is extremely important. The article Rejection Begets Aggression, Beware, discusses different types of relationship-related rejections and offers some solutions to help you cope in a difficult Shelter In Place situation.

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Job #2, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Our local agencies are here just for you and they very much want to do everything they can for you. Please be mindful to reach out in a way that is safe. You can ask a stranger at the grocery store, or neighbor, to call a local agency and have them call you from a line with their Caller ID blocked during time periods that are safe for them to call you.

Job #3, make an exit plan, or just bolt if you have the opportunity and a place to go, or if your life is in danger. Google “DV safety plan” for ideas, and DV agency advocates offer free help to develop or refine an exit plan. They can also help connect you with resources when you leave. Most agencies have a 24/7 crisis line (listed below).

Domestic violence hurts you and your children. Even in this difficult time of a pandemic, there are people who can help you and places you can go. You don’t have to put up with abuse.

North Olympic Domestic Violence Agencies

Please note, it doesn’t matter where you live on the peninsula, these agencies will help you.

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Healthy Families, Port Angeles

COVID-19 update page: http://www.healthyfam.org/emergent-information/
Homepage: http://www.healthyfam.org/
(360) 452-HELP (4357), 24/7 crisis line
Their doors may be locked during the Stay Home, Stay Safe orders, but they are taking calls and continuing to help every way they can.

Mariposa House, Clallam County and Forks

https://mariposahouse.org/
(360) 374-CARE, a 24-hr Crisis Line

Lower Elwha Family Advocacy

https://www.elwha.org/departments/lower-elwha-family-advocacy/
Contact: Beatriz Arakawa
360.452.8471 x7453
360.460.1745 via cell phone

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Dove House, Port Townsend

https://www.dovehousejc.org/
360-385-5292 during regular business hours
24/7 crisis line: 360-385-5291
Their doors may be locked during the Stay Home, Stay Safe orders, but they are taking calls and continuing to help every way they can.

The article above represents the opinion of Mark Baumann. Please contact Mark if you have comments.

Superior Court Clerk drop box for filing – COVID-19

The Clallam County Superior Court Clerk’s office will now accept documents for filing and bench copies to be delivered in the grey courthouse dropbox in the drive through area in front of the courthouse. Documents placed in the box before noon will be filed the same day. This change is in response to COVID-19, and may be rescinded at a later date.

The following is the notice from the clerk, which can also be found at http://www.clallam.net/clerk/index.html :

County Clerk’s Office Drop Location for Court Filings

Effective March 16th, 2020 – The Clallam County Superior Court Clerk will allow filings to be dropped in the gray County curbside drop box located in the circle drive at the 4th Street entrance of the courthouse. The drop box will be clearly marked with the requirements listed below.

Requirements for drop filings:

  1. Your pleadings must be in a sealed envelope clearly marked for “Superior Court Clerk’s Office”
  2. Your phone number, address and email address need to be included in the event we need to contact you.
  3. Appropriate filing fees need to be included and/or arrangements made with the clerk to pay by credit card over the phone. Failure to do this will result in our office not opening your case.
  4. Your drop off should be in the box by 12:00 p.m. each day for same day pickup. Any documents placed in the box after noon is not guaranteed to be received until the next day.

Please note: ex parte motions on the 1:00 p.m. calendar must still be called or fax-in before 11:00 a.m. and include a notification that documents have been left in the drop box.

Please call the Superior Court Clerk if you have questions at 360-417-2231 or email us at [email protected].

To see all the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, see this blog update page.

No Waste, No Hunger: An initiative to support local emergency food providers

No Waste, No Hunger is an initiative to encourage individual citizens, professionals in particular, to contribute food stuffs, pet and hygiene items to local food banks, subsidized food providers, and emergency meal providers. The need became greater in 2020 when the Federal Government increased restrictions on the SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) program. How can you help?

Up to one year past “best use”

Most agencies will accept non-perishable food which is up to one year past it’s “best use” date. Please note the product date may “Sell by,” “Best if used by,” “Use by,” “Expiration date” and “Quality assurance date.” If you are not sure if your item is okay to donate, just ask when you drop it off.

Small donations make a big difference

A box with a few items will get put into a a location with similar donations. Those all get sorted by volunteers and either put out on shelves or put into food boxes for pick up or delivery to people.

A few unique items are very helpful

Most food banks offer the usual staples, like cream of tomato soup, but they don’t necessarily offer a lot of variety. A can of your favorite soup, a single jar of Tikka Masala sauce, or one pack of cookies can be a special treat for someone struggling to meet their basic food needs. if 50 professionals each drop off one unique item per month, 50 families will get a special monthly treat. It might a daily or weekly pleasure for you, and a special gift of kindness to someone else.

No Waste, No Hunger also helps fight climate change

According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, 30 percent of food is wasted globally across the supply chain, contributing 8 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. If food waste were a country, it would come in third after the United States and China in terms of impact on global warming.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/theworldpost/wp/2018/07/31/food-waste/

There are number of ways to give

You can drop an item or box food items at:

  • Port Angeles Food Bank, (regional food distribution center)
    • NEW LOCATION: 632 N. Oakridge, Port Angeles (past McCrorie’s by Walmart)
  • Sequim Food Bank, 144 W Alder St
  • Serenity House
  • The Answer 4 Youth (TAFY), 826 East First Street, Port Angeles
  • Neighborhood Food Shelf (consider building your own, talk to your neighbors!)
  • [Other locations listed below]

Please note, the Port Angeles Food Bank is now a regional distribution center. It receives and provides food to 13+ food pantries (including Serenity House, the food banks listed below, Makah Food Bank, Healthy Families and Mariposa House shelters, etc.). Check your local drop off facility for available drop off times and other details.

What to give and collect

You can buy a 2-pack of something at the store, and share one. You can clear out your pantry of food you haven’t and might not eat, before it gets too far past the “best use” date. You buy one extra can of something you love and work on filling up your own donation box over the month. You can set out a food donation box in your office and ask clients to consider pitching in, then dropping off the box as it fills up. If you have sympathetic neighbors, visit them once a month to get a single item to go into your box.

Agencies providing emergency food support

Food Banks

Port Angeles Food Bank
(360) 452-8568
402 S Valley St, Port Angeles, WA 98362
https://www.portangelesfoodbank.org/
Needs: https://www.portangelesfoodbank.org/what-to-donate
[email protected]
Support staff is available to receive food donations each weekday from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Donations up to one year past “best buy” date are accepted. No perishable or frozen food are accepted.

Sequim Food Bank
(360) 683-1205
144 W Alder St, Sequim, WA 98382
[email protected]
Open Monday, 1:00pm – 4:00pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00am – Noon.

Olympic Community Action Programs (OLYCAP)
Port Angeles: (360) 452-4726
Forks: (360) 374-6193 421 5th Ave, Forks, WA 98331
Port Townsend: (360) 385-2571
823 Commerce Loop, Port Townsend, WA 98368    

Hope Food Bank, Clallam Bay
(360) 963-2424
16693 WA-112, Clallam Bay, WA 98326

Tri-Area Food Bank, Chimacum
(360) 385-9462
760 Chimacum Rd, Port Hadlock, WA 98339

Quilcene Food Bank
(360) 765-0904
294952 US-101, Quilcene, WA 98376

Low income, homeless and Emergency agencies

Serenity House
(360)-452-7224, general inquiries
(360)-565-5041, housing inquiries
2321 W 18th St, Port Angeles, WA 98363
[email protected]
Provides: 50-100 breakfast and dinner meals provided daily to emergency shelter residents.
Needs: Anything but beans and rice. Eggs, milk, bread, vegetables, canned goods, olives, cookies, bottled water, even single serving items like a can soup which they can use in a lunch pack to go. Also cleaning and hygiene products, socks and warm clothes. Drop off at Serenity House emergency shelter.

Salvation Army, Port Angeles
(360) 452-7679
206 S Peabody St, Port Angeles, WA 98362.

The Answer 4 Youth (TAFY)
(360) 670-4363
826 East First Street, Port Angeles, Washington 98362
https://www.theanswer4youth.org/
Needs: https://www.theanswer4youth.org/needs.php
Provides: Spending about $1,000/month, TAFY serves 900 dinners each month. Food donations are critical. Free hot and cold meals are served during regular open hours, Monday/Wednesday/Friday 3:00-7:00 p.m. and Saturday 4:00-7:00 p.m, and also during AA and NA meetings.
Susan’s Free Store: provides everything the homeless need for free. Donations can left by rear-East door.

Senior Centers

Port Angeles Senior Center (PASC)
(360) 457-7004
328 E. 7th Street
[email protected]
The PASC offers a coffee house lounge as well as Dinners at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. The PASC Coffee House lounge is open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and offers refreshments, snacks, soups and sandwiches at nominal costs. The lounge also offers an opportunity for good social contact and conversation. Dinners require a reservation (call 360-457-8921), and the suggested voluntary donation amount is $5 for people 60 and over. Membership at the PASC is NOT required to eat at the center. PASC is seeking Coffee Lounge volunteer workers for 2-4 hour shifts.

Shipley Center, Sequim
(360) 683-6806
3527, 921 E Hammond St, Sequim, WA 98382
[email protected]
Shipley Center Café. Open Monday – Friday from 9:00am to 2:00pm. “We are open to the public and all ages are welcome. Come in and enjoy our daily specials and homemade soups! No tipping environment (donations are accepted) and volunteer staff help us keep the menu affordable. Come in and have a seat, or call in to place your “to go” order!”

Sequim Senior Nutrition Program
(360) 683-8491
251 S 5th Ave, Sequim, WA 98382
[email protected]

No Waste, No Hunger: participating professional firms

(The Following North Olympic lawyers and professionals pledged to donate food and/or supplies at least twice a year. Let us know if you want to participate and be listed.)

James Rodriguez, Attorney and Counselor at Law
Mark K. Baumann, Attorney at Law PS

Please contribute

Be a drop off point, give food, give financial assistance to the Port Angeles Food Bank. They buy food cheaper than you can through a number of different programs. Please consider sending us an article to post about local services, needs, accomplishments, or events.

Thank you for reading and considering to contribute.
Mark Baumann
360-452-8688

Family Court Facilitator job announcement 2019

Update: this position has been filled. Position Announcement: Family Juvenile Court Improvement Plan Coordinator (FJCIP) / Court Facilitator

Update: February 25, 2020. The Facilitator position has not been filled. Applications will be taken until the position is filled. A second review of applications will be made by the judges on February 29, 2020.

Clallam County Superior Court, headquartered at the County Courthouse in Port Angeles, Washington, is currently accepting applications to fill the full-time position of Court Facilitator. If there is one thing that every community cannot go without, it is a well-organized and just court system, and if working in this industry is for you, you have arrived at the right place. This is an outstanding opportunity to work closely with a dynamic Team of individuals to provide support for a variety of functions across the County. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the highest standards of personal and professional conduct and be comfortable serving in a highly confidential position. Candidates can expect to work in an environment that is dynamic and service oriented. It is essential for the candidate to have excellent verbal and written skills, as well as a documented work history of integrity and accuracy is essential.

If the following statements describe who you are, this might be the perfect job for you . .

  • Your work reflects a great attention to detail
  • You work equally well independently and as a member of a team
  • Solving problems and finding solutions to challenging situations makes you happy
  • You keep calm under pressure
  • You are tactful, diplomatic, and dependable
  • You are always willing to learn something new and not afraid of change
  • People enjoy working with you
  • You have a positive, can-do attitude

In the Superior Court Office, we adhere to the philosophy that each and every person we serve should be treated with respect and dignity. AND our customer service philosophy extends beyond the public, to our co-workers and fellow employees in other county departments/offices, thereby creating a work place that is exceptional. By joining the team in this Office, new employees find themselves among many dedicated, long-term employees who thrive, feel empowered and valued.

At time of hire, must possess and maintain a valid Washington State driver’s license AND have passed a complete background investigation, driving record check, employment history verification, and reference confirmation.

Salary and Benefits

The salary is determined based on experience: Court Facilitator (DOQ) $20.210 to $24.624 per hour. In addition, there is an extensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision

and disability benefits as well as participation in the PERS Retirement Plan. There are also generous annual employer contributions to a deferred compensation plan and health reimbursement account.

Application Packet

The following application packet is DUE no later than 4:30 PM on January 6th, 2020 (postmarks accepted). • Complete application located on www.clallam.net online site. • Notarized Release of Personal History Form • Clallam County Request for Driving Record • Confidentiality Agreement Selected candidates will move to the next stage of the process which will include a panel interview. The application packet may be hand delivered, mailed, or sent by private carrier (i.e., FEDEX, UPS, etc.).

Please address your packet to:
Clallam County Human Resources Attn: Brenda Wenzl
223 E. 4th Street, Suite 16
Port Angeles, WA 98362

Position Details

Description of County:

Clallam County is located in the state of Washington, on the Olympic Peninsula. The county is separated from British Columbia’s Vancouver Island by the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Clallam County is an occupied total area of 1,738 square miles serving a growing population base of approximately 73,486 residents. The mission of Clallam County is to provide services as required by law or mandated by the public. Through effective management of personnel and other resources, the County strives to provide the basic facilities and programs, which promote health, safety, and quality of life for its citizens.

The application packet, must be received (or postmarked) in its entirety no later than 4:30 PM on January 6th, 2020. It may be hand delivered, mailed, or sent by private carrier (i.e., FEDEX, UPS, etc.). Please address your packet to:

Clallam County Human Resources Attn: Brenda Wenzl
223 E. 4th Street, Suite 16 Port Angeles, WA 98362

Schedule & Pertinent Information:
Application Beginning Date December 18th, 2019
Application Closing Date January 6th, 2019
Job Number 2019-74

Clallam County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from all persons without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status including disabled veterans of the Vietnam era. Clallam County provides reasonable accommodation to its employees and the public with disabilities, including disabled veterans.

CLE Bonanza November 1, 2019

The annual Clallam County CLE Bonanza event is November 1, 2019, at the Holiday Inn Express in Sequim, from 9:00-4:00. The suggested donation amount is $200 in advance and $225 at the door, and includes a catered lunch from Sequim Fresh. CLE Bonanza is hosted by the Clallam-Jefferson Pro Bono Lawyers, and this event is their largest fundraiser.

Speakers and topics include:

  • Ethics: Dealing with clients with diminished capacity, by Jeane Marie Clavere
  • Panel discussion of hypothetical cases, Gary Williams, Craig Ritchie, Allison Mahaney
  • Mini pro bono training and pro bono legal clinical forms and protocol, with live performance by Ariel Speser, Shauna Rogers McClain, Mary Margolis and Kathryn Eyraud
  • The ABCs of DVPOs, SAPOs, by Liza Burke
  • Navigating the ethics of pro bono work, by Hon. Judge Ken Williams.
  • The art of collaborative law and peacemaking in the courtroom, Kevin Scudder
  • What you need to know when in the Court of Appeals, Marlin Appelwick, Chief Judge, Court of Appeals, Division 1

Please contact CJPBL director Shauna Rogers to register, or to become a program sponsor: [email protected]