Victim Advocate Serves the Community at Cleveland Clinic

Carr: Do you ever support victims of events that are more subtle—involving less physical violence than, say, an incident involving a weapon—but are very upsetting nonetheless? How do you determine the scope of events you’re responsible for?

Withrow: I respond to a wide range of incidents and individuals and work with people who have experienced many degrees and varieties of unfortunate events and injuries. Everyone reacts differently to a traumatic event, and my job is to address their needs rather than tell them how to react. Victims can access support of a victim advocate regardless of whether or not their case will be prosecuted.

Although I’m based in Cleveland Clinic’s police department, my job is fundamentally about offering help following an incident. For example, perhaps a nurse was struck by a patient suffering from dementia or coming out of anesthesia. There’s no criminal intent, but it is still my job to say to the nurse, “Hey, how are you doing? I’m sure that was very scary for you. Is there anything I can do to support you at this point?” or, “Are you feeling safe in your workplace, and if not, what can we do to increase your safety?” My job is very focused on the emotional needs of the victim, who in this case is the employee.

Carr: It sounds like you provide services across a wide spectrum of emotional circumstances.

Withrow: That’s true; there’s lots of variety. Another example of people I support are Cleveland Clinic employees who are experiencing domestic violence at home, and it’s impacting them in the workplace. Or I’m supporting employees who are experiencing workplace violence. Sometimes my clients are patients who have come in through our emergency department saying, “I’m here because I’m a crime victim.” Or patients might be here for an unrelated reason, but during the course of their treatment they disclose that they have experienced a crime—stalking, harassment, robbery, or something else. Certainly, the need is there. Our employee and patient populations reflect what’s going on in the larger community.

Carr: Do you work alone? How do you handle what sounds like an overwhelming workload?

Withrow: Well, I’m just one person, and I definitely can’t do it all. I work collaboratively with many partners here at the Cleveland Clinic, such as committees that focus on issues related to my work. The Cleveland Clinic has committees for domestic violence, elder abuse, workplace violence, and a child protection team. I work closely with other departments, such as employee assistance, case management, human resources, and nursing to support victims. It is also critical that I maintain partnerships in our community as well. I’m active, for example, in the county sexual assault response team. I frequently refer victims to community agencies, such as the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center or Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. If a survivor comes to me as the victim advocate, and they are in crisis, I have to do the best I can to help them, but I can’t do everything. For example, I do not provide shelter. So if I’m helping someone who has safety concerns at home, I will connect that victim with the local domestic violence shelter and support her through the process—hopefully—of getting into the shelter. Then the victim transitions to that provider, who can welcome them to the shelter and support them during their stay.

Individuals travel from all over the country and world to seek medical treatment at the Cleveland Clinic, so I sometimes help navigate referrals and situations at a distance, even outside of Ohio, and refer them to their local law enforcement jurisdiction.