New Hope moving, seeks child advocacy center

MOSES LAKE — New Hope is moving again.

The agency tasked with providing support services for victims of sexual assault, abuse, and domestic violence is moving from its current digs across from Frontier Middle School down West Third Avenue to the empty movie theater across from the Post Office.

“We’re going to start moving on May 15, and we intend to be move by June 1,” said Suzi Fode, interim program director for New Hope.

Fode said the move will give the office more security and allow survivors to meet with counselors, advocates, and other in private — something the layout in the current location makes difficult.

“Right now, the current location is an open concept, which is okay for a family house,” Fode said. “But it’s not okay for an advocacy service.”

Each case worker and advocate will have a private office as well, Fode said.

The new arrangement will allow New Hope to have a child advocacy center as well, something Rural Resources Victims Services in Stevens and Ferry counties — which Fode also heads up — also has.

“A child advocacy center is a place where kids who have experienced abuse or neglect can meet everyone they need to meet,” she said.

Fode said the purpose is to ensure that an abused child is not further traumatized, but can meet with counselors, law enforcements, prosecutors, and health care workers in a familiar and safe environment where privacy and confidentiality can be respected.

And a place where more detailed investigations into abuse can be done as well.

“It can be very traumatizing to haul a kid around. We want to minimize the trauma,” Fode said.