Beginning in late September, the Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress will expand its partnership with the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center to provide counseling and legal advocacy services for children and families located on the Eastside.
Both agencies have been providing services for children and families for many years, along with a smaller program, Children’s Response Center, under Harborview’s management. The new arrangement will consolidate services under two programs instead of three.
Both Harborview and the county agency will provide counseling, advocacy and prevention, and education services.
The Children’s Response Center, which is located on the campus of Overlake Medical Center, will be integrated into the Harborview and King County services on Sept. 30.
“We see this as an opportunity to further solidify the long standing collaborative relationship with (King County) and to increase the availability of services on the Eastside to include counseling for adults as well children and families,” said Lucy Berliner, director of the Harborview center.
Mary Ellen Stone, executive director of King County center, echoed Berliner’s words.
“KCSARC is on the front line with victims of sexual assault and their families, and last year assisted more than 200 Eastside residents in addition to victims throughout King County. We have worked with (Harborview) for 35 years and are pleased that this expanded partnership will ensure that all Eastside victims of sexual assault and their families receive the help they need,” said Stone.