Missoula County advocates outline rural support and confidentiality measures for survivors

Jessica Cook, Missoula County’s rural justice initiatives coordinator, and Lisa Tips, a crime victim advocate with the county’s Community Justice Department, told Missoula County Commissioners on their podcast that their work focuses on strengthening the response to domestic and sexual violence in rural parts of the county.

"Anything that is shared with our crime victim advocates will not be communicated to anyone else in your community" and services are "free and confidential," Tips said, stressing that confidentiality is essential in tight-knit rural areas where victims fear retaliation or gossip. Cook described her role as "bridging the work" in Missoula with partners in outlying communities and coordinating subgrantees to expand services.

Both advocates described specific barriers to access: limited transportation to services in Missoula, lack of high-speed internet that complicates outreach, and community familiarity that can make anonymity difficult. Cook said a core part of the rural program is training local professionals—law enforcement, teachers and social-service providers—so residents can get help closer to home.

The episode also provided concrete help lines and locations listeners can use: the Crime Victim Advocate Division phone number (406-258-3830), the YWCA crisis line (800-483-7858), and an office address given on air. The guests asked that listeners contact advocates directly for information about shelter eligibility and other supports.

The conversation included a note of federal support: hosts acknowledged grant number "15 JVW24 GG01024 RUR" from the Office on Violence Against Women at the U.S. Department of Justice as backing for some of the work discussed.