Val Massie, the Women In Safe Homes (WISH) rural board representative for Wrangell, is convening a local focus group to identify gaps in domestic violence and sexual abuse prevention and response and to help chart next steps for the community.

Massie, who has a background in social services, trauma-informed care and domestic violence/sexual assault advocacy, said the Wrangell Abuse Prevention and Response Focus Group is designed to gather practical input from residents about what is working, what is missing and how to strengthen support for survivors.

“I am a community planner for the region and am volunteering my time and services to facilitate this and share the outcomes with local WISH partners,” she said. She chose a focus group over a listening session, she said, because it centers on a specific topic — abuse and interpersonal violence in Wrangell — uses a trained facilitator, and is structured to foster open, nonthreatening discussion that can yield “a lot of information in a relatively short time.”

There are two workshops, set for different times so that people can choose what best fits their day: noon to 2 p.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, at the Nolan Center. Wrangell has seen starts and stops in domestic violence and sexual assault prevention funding and services over the years, Massie said. Immediate police response is provided by the borough.

The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) recently certified two sexual assault nurse examiners, and WISH provides some services. Most support and care coordination, however, is provided in person by volunteers or remotely by WISH staff who also serve Prince of Wales Island and Ketchikan.

“There is a lot of care in the community and a need for increased capacity and response, but a lack of consistent training and personnel,” she said.

Massie said anyone interested in preventing abuse and strengthening community response is encouraged to participate. “Layers of support are important to have in a community,” she said. “The idea is to become more flexible and adaptable.”

She previously worked as a survivor’s advocate in Anchorage and with youth at North Star Behavioral Health there. “I’ve seen first-hand, for more than a decade, the systems that are in place in Alaska, and the gaps that exist in care,” Massie said. “Each community is different and faces its own challenges.”

She hopes the focus group will raise awareness, open lines of communication and help set grassroots priorities. “It’s worth improving our system, because there’s always a need,” she said. “Adding resources and strengthening the approach is necessary.”

Residents with questions or interest in participating can contact Massie at 425-345-1275 or valeriemassie@gmail.com.

More information about WISH is at wishak.org.