The Rural Victim Advocate supports our service area in the most rural and isolated part of our service region, the West End of Montrose County, staffing the Naturita and Norwood satellite offices, working with local and regional service providers, and focusing on advocacy.
The communities of Norwood and the West End of Montrose County are small, tight-knit communities with roots in the ranching and mining industries, that have struggled economically in recent decades.
One of the most commonly cited concerns from survivors in accessing services and making reports is how small our communities are. People fear social stigma and potential retaliation that could result from reporting the abuse they experienced. This experience is only amplified in Norwood and the West End of Montrose County. Survivors are even less likely to request support due to the isolation of the region, cultural stigma around asking for help, generational violence, and fear of the consequences of reporting. This highlights the need for community-based programs, like ours, that can provide free and confidential victim services and work toward building community awareness while reducing the stigma of asking for help.
In 2021, one-third of all SMRC clients came from one of our West End communities.
