Rylee Wordekemper

Responsibilities

ACCESS provides services to survivors of sexual and domestic abuse, violent crime, and shelter services. Services are available to individuals in Boone, Greene, Marshall, Story, and Tama counties. ACCESS provides 24-hour crisis lines for sexual and domestic abuse. My responsibilities with ACCESS include answering the lines and giving support to victims over the phone. Also, ACCESS provides shelter services to victims of domestic abuse and I answer calls to the housing line for people in need of emergency housing. I also help the housing team clean out rooms and organize donated items. We also help look for affordable housing for our clients. I also spend time at shelter chatting with clients and providing support.

Accomplishments

I spoke on behalf of ACCESS at a community event. Also at the event, I spoke to people in the community about the work we do at ACCESS and the different services we provide to the community.

Learning experience

The clients we serve know what is best for them and how to keep themselves safe. Our job as advocates is to support our clients and provide all of the options in an understanding way. Survivors deserve to have their autonomy back and feel they are in control of their own life. As advocates, it is our job to help them achieve that.

What advice would you give?

Be understanding and listen to the clients you serve. Showing people respect and kindness can go a long way in this field.