Victim services gains new coordinator
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
She may not be a new face at the table, but she has taken on a new role. In September Lesley Hering took over the role of program coordinator for the Strathmore Regional Victim Service Society after Debbie Bodner retired. Hering had been a part time assistant coordinator with Victim Services for the past four years.
It’s a tough job that has a high burnout rate. From the advocates to the coordinators, everyone is dealing with people at their most vulnerable time, and it can be hard not to let it get to you.
Hering said boundaries must be created to be able to let go and direct the victim to the right agency or organization that can help them further.
“Nobody takes this job because they’re going to get rich or something like that, you take it because you have a passion for helping people. This is a great format to do that because you’re working with people at their most difficult times,” said Hering.
“The rewards are outstanding when you do see families that have moved on and…gotten beyond from whatever it was, the sexual assault or the bad domestic situation.
“The police are required to offer Victim Services to every victim of a crime, it’s mandatory. Sometimes they say no because they don’t want it, and sometimes they’ll say no but they don’t know what they’re saying no to.”
Victim Services has been available in Strathmore for 15 years this upcoming spring. Originally it was a phone crisis support and has since evolved. The Strathmore office is located at the RCMP detachment and also serves Gleichen and Chestermere and areas in between.
The advocates are all volunteer and are there to help, whether it’s a sexual assault file, a fatal vehicle collision, sudden death, or a house fire among many other things.
They also help with court appointments, court preparations and will even do court accompaniment.
Hering said with Victim Services they assist the victim in helping get their story out. She said what happens with victims is they feel powerless and the advocate’s role is to help them regain that power, whatever it looks like, and give them the information and tools to get back in control.
“A lot of what we do is critical incident debriefing, de-stressing. So it’s a crisis, their emotions are up here, their stress level is up here and what they need to do is start to process to try to make sense of it all. Often that involves telling the story, whatever it might be,” said Hering.
Currently there are approximately 20 advocates volunteering their time. Hering would like to see those numbers increase so there will be two advocates to send out to respond to a call at a time.
Hering said approximately six more advocates would be ideal. They are required to be on call 72 hours a month, and go through training on being aware and safety. All applicants must be an adult with a vehicle and are required to go through an enhanced security check and a criminal reference check.
For further information on Victim Services, and on the requirements of becoming an advocate, contact Lesley Hering at 403-934-6552.