Mission: Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services provides a continuum of proactive services and advocacy to victim/survivors of crime. We promote a safe and caring community through public education and collaboration.

Description:
Vision: Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services is an agency of the Department of Community, Family & Youth Services. The agency purpose is to restore, revitalize and strengthen victim/survivors of sexual assault and other violent crime in the Polk County Community.

History:
Until 1974, there was little or no organized, dedicated assistance to deal with the many problems experienced by victims of crime in our community. Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services (PCCAS), then Polk County Victim Services, began offering counseling and advocacy to victims of sexual assault. Since that time services have evolved accordingly to meet the needs of the community. They now include counseling, advocacy, and support services to all victims of crime with the exception of domestic violence as these services are provided by another agency in the community. PCCAS offers 24 hour crisis response to sexual assault victims and to families who have lost a loved one to murder or suicide, individual and family counseling, specialized services for victims of intra family sexual abuse, community educational programming, support groups, and art therapy services for children traumatized by violent crime. All services are free, voluntary, and confidential.

Contact person: Breanne Ward, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (515) 286-2032

Address:

401 E. Court Avenue Des Moines, IA 50309 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/CFYS/pages/crisisAdvocacy.aspx