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Domestic Violence help – During COVID-19 pandemic

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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.

Trial and settlement conference settings

Although all trials have been cancelled because of COVID-19, the Clallam County Superior Court is allowing them to be reset. This applies to both civil and criminal trials.

For civil cases, including family law cases, new trial settings and re-settings can be done at the usual time, 8:45 a.m. on Friday mornings, but only by telephone. Appearances at the clerk’s window are not allowed. To set a date, use the usual Notice of Hearing form and include your phone number. The Superior Court Administrator will call the number at 8:45 a.m. on the scheduled Friday morning (or as soon thereafter as your case is called for a date setting).

Settlement conferences, on the other hand, may not be set or reset until court access restrictions are lifted.

For family law cases, use FL All Family 185 for the Notice of Hearing form, from the Washington Court’s family law forms page.

Family Court Calendar Changes: January 29 and 31, 2020

Wednesday 1/29/20 – Comm. Alexandrea Schodowski Presiding (Comm. Mack out)
(Juvenile Facility)
8:15 – CHINS/YAR
9:00 – Dependency

(Family Court)
1:00 – Civil Ex Parte/Juvenile Ex Parte
1:30 – LIFT Court Staffing
3:00 – LIFT Court

Friday, 1/31/20 (Family Court) – Comm. Alexandrea Schodowski Presiding (Comm. Mack out)
8:45 – Adoptions
9:00 – Domestic Calendar
1:00 – Civil/Juvenile Ex Parte
1:15 – DV Calendar
2:30 – Child Support

By Lacey Fors
Superior Court Administrator
Clallam County Superior Court

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.

Calendar Changes: Friday, January 3, 2020, Family Court

Please note the following calendar changes for Friday, January 3, 2020, regarding Family Court to be heard in Superior Court:

Judge Coughenour – Courtroom 18

8:45/9:00 Civil/Adoptions and Family Court
1:00 Criminal Ex Parte
1:30 Criminal Calendar

Judge Erickson – Courtroom 2

9:00 Criminal Calendar
1:00 Civil/Juvenile Ex Parte
1:15 DV Calendar
1:30 Civil Calendar
2:30 Child Support Calendar

By Lacey Fors
Superior Court Administrator

Dependency court scheduling change

In an effort to make the Wednesday morning dependency calendar more efficient for very brief hearings, Commissioner Brandon Mack will test out a new schedule with two calendars. The 9:00 a.m. calendar will include hearings that tend to be shorter. These will include first set fact findings, shelter care hearings, status hearings, and motions that are likely to be agreed by all parties. The second calendar will start at 9:30 a.m. and is intended to include review hearings, permanency planning hearings, and contested motions.

The new calendar system will go into effect on April 1, 2020, for a several month trial period.

This suggestion comes from participants of the quarterly court improvement meetings who suggested trying a divided calendar to solve the problem of parties waiting around for hours on a Wednesday morning just to have a simple 5 minute hearing.

Youth-at-risk/chins calendar will remain at 8:15.

Courthouse Facilitator

The Courthouse Facilitator helps people find and fill out family law forms. They are not lawyers and cannot provide legal advice, but they can help correctly fill out the necessary forms, and are extremely knowledgeable about court room procedures.

Facilitator office currently closed – see below

The Clallam County Courthouse Facilitator position is current vacant. The new Facilitator will begin providing services on March 1, 2026. In the meantime, Port Angeles Pro Bono is offering Facilitator-type services for family law and protection order cases. To apply for services please fill out the form below.

Port Angeles Pro Bono – temporary Facilitator services for family law

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IF PAPB is able to provide you services, they will reply within 48 hours. If they do not reply it means they are not able to provide you services.

Other options for help are the Clallam-Jefferson Pro Bono Lawyers, Northwest Justice Project, or a private attorney. See this page for pro bono options. Private family law attorneys are listed here.

Facilitator contact information – Beginning March 1 2026

The Facilitator’s office is located in room 3003 in the Clallam County courthouse building, across the hall from Court Room 3, the Family Court. Please note, the court house facilitator does not provide legal advice. Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers provides free legal advice for qualifying low income people.

360-417-2588

To reach Maria Malkasian, email [email protected].

Facilitator days and hours at the main office are (this schedule changes frequently so it may not be accurate):

Monday: 9:00 am to 12:00 and 2:00 pm 4:00 pm
Tuesday: 9:00 am to 12:00 and 2:00 pm 4:00 pm
Wednesday: 9:00 am to 12:00 and 2:00 pm 4:00 pm
Thursday: 9:00 am to 12:00 and 2:00 pm 4:00 pm (in Forks on the last Thursday of each month)
Friday: Closed

Bill Knebes is pro tem commissioner August 2, 2019

William G. Knebes will sit as pro tem commissioner in the Clallam County Superior Court Family Court on August 2, 2019. Mr. Knebes retired as as Commissioner in the Family Court, and he continues to serve as a private mediator. Mr. Knebes was awarded Jurist of the year during his term as Family Court Commissioner.