YWCA Walla Walla Earns State Accreditation for Sexual Assault Survivor Services

YWCA Walla Walla has earned full accreditation for its Community Sexual Assault Program through the Washington State Department of Commerce Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA). The certification, valid for four years, confirms that the program meets rigorous statewide standards for supporting survivors of sexual assault.

The accreditation process reviews how programs protect survivor confidentiality, provide advocacy and safety planning, train staff, and ensure services meet professional and legal standards.

“YWCA Walla Walla is entrusted with serving our community by providing core sexual assault services. OCVA is mandated to ensure those services are available to victims and survivors in all areas of Washington State,” said Shannon Nagy, Executive Director.

“The accreditation process reviews how well programs across the state are serving survivors and running their services,” said Lana Bushman, Director of Client Services. “For us, that meant reviewing safety practices, confidentiality, staff training, policies, and the way our advocates support survivors every day.” The process also highlighted the strength and commitment of the YWCA advocacy team.

“What made me most proud was seeing how clearly our team’s dedication to survivors shows up in everything we do,” Lana said. “The way we support survivors and work together reflects the heart of this program.” The accreditation review also reinforced the importance of listening to survivors and using their experiences to strengthen services.

“One of the biggest takeaways for us was how important it is to actively gather feedback from survivors,” Lana said. “Their voices help guide how we improve our programs and make sure the support we provide truly meets their needs.”

YWCA Walla Walla provides 24-hour crisis response for survivors across the region. In the past year, advocates answered 853 crisis calls and provided in-person support to 34 sexual assault survivors, meeting individuals at the emergency room or providing confidential advocacy at the YWCA office.The certification confirms that YWCA Walla Walla meets the standards required for Washington’s Core Sexual Assault Services network, helping ensure survivors across the state have access to trained advocates and confidential support.