The Center for Trauma Support Services (CTSS) is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization founded to address the needs of trauma survivors. We aim to serve victims/survivors of both reported and unreported crime with services that restore safety and create connections. Placing the victim/survivor at the center of our attention, we listen with care to address any experiences of isolation and distress. We provide important support services and provide referrals as needed.
We are unique in that our agency responds to victim/survivor needs without regard to type of crime, or if the crime has been reported, whether it has just happened or it is twenty years later.
We work in coordination with both criminal justice system and restorative justice system resources, in full recognition of the difficulties of meeting victim needs when they are tied to and dependent upon the identification, prosecution or conviction of a perpetrator.
CTSS reduces the suffering from violence and trauma and promotes healing in our communities.
Mission
CTSS envisions community responses at the time of harm that address
victim and survivor needs for safety, accountability and well-being.
Vision
Providing access to healing and well-being. Recognizing trauma as a public health issue, we strive to increase access to resources for healing body, mind and spirit. We provide healing support regardless of when the crime was committed.
Empowering and educating. We offer trauma and wellness skills that empower victims/survivors to reestablish a sense of safety and control after a crime.
Centering our work on survivors’ needs. When a crime is committed, it creates or changes a relationship between the victim/survivor and the offender. While some structures focus on the offender, we keep the focus on the victim/survivor’s needs.
Increasing individual and community safety. We recognize the humanity in everyone affected by crime, and provide avenues for tangible, meaningful accountability through our dialogue program. We believe this contributes to everyone’s well-being and safety.
Embodying equity in our work with individuals and for systemic change. We are inspired to better advocate for survivors by expanding the definitions and practices of racial, social and criminal justice.
Amplifying victim/survivor voices and choices. We work to increase the community’s understanding of how survivors experience systems of justice and expand alternatives to meet their needs.
Values
At the Center for Trauma Support Services, we are dedicated to providing inclusive and equitable care to all individuals, and will embrace their race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, or socioeconomic status. Our mission is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves to receive support and assistance without fear of discrimination or prejudice. We hold anti-racism and anti-oppression not just as ideals, but as foundational pillars that guide every decision and interaction. We are committed to ongoing self-reflection, representation, education, and advocacy to ensure that our services are accessible, affirming, and empowering for all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.