FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2018
WASHINGTON D.C. – Shawn Partridge, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Family Violence Prevention Program Director, was invited to Washington D.C. for the 2018 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week as an award recipient for the 2018 National Crime Victim Service Award.
The award is given to an individual who has shown great efforts to promote crime victims’ rights on the state, tribal or national level.
The Office for Victims of Crime holds a national week-long campaign for communities to honor crime victims and promote victims’ rights through advocacy.
Partridge has worked for the Nation for nearly 16 years and has watched the MCN program grow from five employees to 14 and the success that comes with it.
“The work that we’re doing here is tremendous with a group of strong women and men, who are responsible for our success out of everything we’re doing,” Partridge said. “So, they’ll need to be included and I look at it more as a recognition for our program as a whole.”
Partridge was nominated for the program’s work and her efforts to provide services and support to not only Native victims, but non-Native victims, as well.
“We’re impacting change and that’s increasing safety for everyone,” Partridge said. “So, many of the communities that we’re working in there aren’t other victims services, it’s us. And we’re serving Native and non-Native people.”
Partridge said one of the greatest accomplishments of the program is the development and implementation of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program as a way to expand services to victims and survivors of sexual violence.
While the program continues assisting victims and promoting awareness, Partridge said the next goal is the development of a shelter for citizens.
“You know, it’ll take a lot of work but we’re in a place where we have really grown,” Partridge said. “I see results of a lot of hard work and us being really aggressive in our grant writing. So, I see that will continue to grow and expand.”
For more information on MCNFVPP and the services provided, visit: //www.muscogeenation.com/services/family-violence-prevention-program/.
