Partners in Prevention Education Programs
Each week PiPE hosts a dinner and violence prevention discussion and/or activities with 10 to 30 homeless, street involved or at risk youth and young adults attending.
PiPE's Mental Health Program provides free therapy services to survivors of sexual assault and/or child sexual abuse, as well as for those targeted by bullying in schools or hate and bias crimes. Therapy is based on self determination, anti-oppression and empowerment theories, and meeting people where they are at. Through listening to participants it was determined that 50 minute sessions were not adequate for the individuals to begin discussing the issues they wanted to address. Therapy sessions on average last 1.5 hours.
PiPE collaborates with other local non-profits to hold the Queer Art Heals Your Heart, and Art Heals Your Heart support groups for survivors of school bullying,Hate and Bias crimes, assault, child abuse, and other crimes. We utilize art as a therapy tool, and each group session is determined by participants, discussions range from resources, and how to file a police report, to what is experienced on the streets and safety planning.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Most recently PiPE worked in collaboration with the Olympia Police Department and the Thurston County Prosecutors Office to produce a What To Do if a Hate Crime Happens to You pocket card that explains the law, gives step by step instructions for filing a police report, and lists local resources. 250 of these pocket cards were distributed at the Olympia PRIDE Festival. Along with this we displayed a community spray paint art project that youth from Community Youth Services planned and created. This beautiful art piece states, We Are Your Community, it was an all day project and culminated our 11 week Art Heals Your Heart group.
A current need PiPE has is individuals willing to provide a home cooked meal for our weekly Violence Prevention meeting, as well as individuals willing to donate socks, underwear (for males and females), tampons, first aide supplies, and naturopathic remedies (tinctures, netty pots, vitamins, ointments. etc.).