Tl’ils Ta’á’altha Victims of Crime Program

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Tl’ils Ta’á’altha – “To love and honor oneself”

Tl’ils Ta’á’altha is a wellness and strength based advocacy program for victims of crime.

The mission of the program is to provide relief and support to community members who have suffered physical, emotional, or financial abuse as a result of domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or elder abuse; or who have otherwise been victimized.

We aim to empower survivors to make decisions for themselves about their safety and well-being. Services are provided in a non-judgmental, voluntary, non-coercive manner and take place in a safe, trauma-informed environment. Services encourage self-determination, autonomy, and physical and emotional safety.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or elder abuse contact us 24/7 at 360-325-3310. In an emergency, call 911.

Core Services

It is policy of Tl’ils Ta’á’altha to serve Nooksack community members who have suffered domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and/or elder abuse, and their dependents or family members.

  • Safe, accessible, and trauma-informed services for those who’ve suffered domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and/or elder abuse, and their dependents or family members.
  • Danger assessment, safety planning, counseling or support, support groups, and advocacy in a trauma-informed environment.
  • A 24-hour crisis line, in-person advocacy, active listening, and support.
  • Emergency housing such as hotel/motel for participants and their dependents.
  • 24-hour emergency transportation or access to transportation for necessary and emergency services.
  • Cooperation with law enforcement to offer assistance to the participant and accompanying dependents.
  • Provision of advocacy and referral to assist participants in obtaining needed services and/or resources.
  • Counseling or advocacy and support services offered at any safe and appropriate site, as needed by participant.
  • Civil legal attorney services and advocacy including but not limited to protection orders, divorce or legal separation, spousal and child support, child custody, and/or visitation in state and tribal court.

Elder Abuse Services

All core services, crisis intervention services, and sexual assault services are also available to elders and vulnerable adult participants of the Tl’ils Ta’á’altha advocacy program who’ve suffered abuse and violence.

Types of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence can happen to anyone. Tl’ils Ta’á’altha has a broad definition of domestic violence which includes physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual assault, digital abuse, or any other pattern of behavior used to establish and maintain control over an intimate partner or family member.

Examples of Physical Abuse can include:

  1. Causing physical harm such as punching, slapping, kicking, biting, choking, pulling hair, etc.
  2. Forbidding you from eating/sleeping
  3. Damage to one’s property
  4. Using weapons to threaten to hurt you
  5. Trapping you in your home or keeping you from leaving
  6. Preventing you from getting help
  7. Harming your children
  8. Driving dangerously when you are in the car with them
  9. Forcing you to use drugs/alcohol

Examples of Emotional Abuse can include:

  1. Name calling, putting you down
  2. Yelling/screaming
  3. Intentionally embarrassing in a public setting
  4. Preventing partners from speaking to friends/family
  5. Telling partners what to do and even wear
  6. Using cell phones/phones to control partners
  7. Blaming
  8. Stalking
  9. Threatening to commit suicide
  10. Threatening to harm you, or your pets
  11. Starting rumors
  12. Threatening to have children taken away

Examples of Sexual Assault include:

  1. Unwanted touching
  2. Demanding sex
  3. Forcing you to have sex
  4. Name calling with sexual epithets
  5. Demanding sex after a violent incident
  6. Forcing you to engage in prostitution/pornography
  7. Forcing you to have sex with someone
  8. Refusing to use safe sex practices
  9. Preventing you from using birth control
  10. Controlling your decision about pregnancy/abortion
  11. Withholding sex as a form of control
  12. Videotaping or photographing sexual acts and posting without permission

Examples of Digital Abuse include:

  1. Monitoring your emails
  2. Sending you repeated messages
  3. Using your online identity/profiles to post false information
  4. Using social networking sites to get information about you & monitor who sends you messages
  5. Using GPS devices to monitor your location

Elder Abuse

Abuse can happen to anyone. Elders and vulnerable adults can experience physical abuse, abandonment by a caregiver or family member, emotional abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, or financial abuse.

Types of elder abuse

  1. Physical elder abuse: Someone causes bodily harm by hitting, punching, or slapping. May also include restraining an older adult against his/her will, such as locking them in a room or tying them to furniture.
  2. Emotional abuse: Sometimes called psychological abuse, can include caregiver saying hurtful words, yelling, threatening, or repeatedly ignoring the older adult. Keeping that elder from seeing close friends/family.
  3. Neglect: Occurs when the caregiver does not try to respond to the older adults needs. This may include physical, emotional, and social needs, or withholding food, medications, or access to healthcare.
  4. Sexual abuse: Involves a caregiver forcing an older adult to watch or be part of sexual acts.
  5. Financial abuse: Happens when money or belongings are stolen from an older adult. It can include forging checks, taking elders retirement or social security benefits, or using an elder’s credit cards/bank accounts without their permission. It also includes changing names on a will, bank account, life insurance policy, or title to a house without permission.