Charting My Path at the Compass Center - with Katelyn Howard

Just off of Franklin Street and right across from Phi Mu sorority, is a grey house with a white sign titled “Compass Center.” But this is no ordinary house; it is the headquarters for Orange County’s non-profit domestic violence agency. I remember walking into this house for the first time during the fall semester of my freshman year, both nervous and excited to become a volunteer. After several training sessions, I became a Domestic Violence Crisis Advocate, primarily answering hotline calls from clients looking for help and resources. Entering UNC as a psychology major, I was looking for ways to gain “hands-on” experience in mental health work, and I was particularly passionate about fighting against domestic violence and other forms of traumatic abuse. I knew I would learn a lot as a volunteer, but I had no idea then that it would become my internship worksite for the Karen M. Gil program almost 2 years later. 

The Gil Internship gave me the opportunity to deepen my involvement at the Compass Center and strengthen the connection between this organization and the UNC community. This semester, the Compass Center is a brand-new worksite for the Gil program, and as the first Gil intern to work here, I have had the opportunity to “choose my own adventure” and explore every part of the Compass Center’s work. Its proximity to campus allows me to go to all of my shifts in person and interact with my co-workers and clients on a deeper level. I have had some incredible experiences over these past few months, and I am so excited for the opportunity to describe the incredible work the Compass Center does and my role in advocating for survivors of domestic violence. 

At the start of my internship, I met with one of my mentors, Morgan Charlier, who serves as the Interim Director of Crisis and Advocacy Services. We discussed my goals for the semester and created a list of projects and tasks that interested me. One of my first projects was to update and re-organize the Compass Center’s online resource hub by compiling my research on domestic violence and evidence-based practices that support survivors. It had been a while since the platform had been refreshed, and it was my job to identify services and resources that were outdated and no longer relevant. This project allowed me to learn more about the nuances of domestic violence and greatly informed my work going forward. 

In addition to updating the resource guide, I was answering hotline calls from clients looking for resources and support. It was great to take what I had learned during my literature review and apply it to real-world situations. Every client had a different story, and learning about everything they had gone through was very impactful. Morgan and I would set up meetings to reflect on different calls, which taught me a lot about how the trauma someone is experiencing can also affect people around them, including the advocates supporting them. Working through my emotions and thought processes during calls felt weird at first, but it helped me better understand how and why I respond the way that I do. 

Working at the Compass Center in-person has also allowed me to shadow many different types of appointments, and I was particularly fascinated by how clients interacted with the family law system as they filed for restraining orders (also known as Domestic Violence Protective Orders or DVPOs). I would help staff members prepare the paperwork and observe as they walked clients through the legal process. I got to see how social and legal systems interact to support survivors of domestic violence, and my growing interest in law pushed me to undergo training on how to file a DVPO. I studied legal resources provided by more experienced members of the team and continued shadowing in person appointments to gain more exposure to what different DVPOs can look like. After going through all of the training, I was able to begin filing DVPOs by myself, and I had my first in-person DVPO appointment a few weeks ago. It was a very fulfilling experience, and despite my nerves, I enjoyed supporting clients and helping them take a step that would increase their safety and well-being. 

Beyond my work with crisis intervention services, I also get to support the Compass Center’s community education and prevention events. Just 2 weeks ago, I attended my first tabling event in Durham, NC to connect with organizations and community members. The Compass Center was invited to collaborate with El Centro Hispano and join them for their Feria de Salud (Health Fair) in a primarily Spanish-speaking community. I arrived early to help other staff members set up the table and during the health fair, we spoke with people who came to our table and provided them with information about the Compass Center and connected people to our services. I will be attending another community health event this weekend at UNC, and I am so excited to continue supporting efforts to increase access to crucial public health and social services. 

As my internship comes to an end, I am reflecting on how much I have grown through this experience. I have developed so many new skills and gained more confidence in my work as an advocate. I am still learning new things every day, and I am so excited for what is to come. 

I would like to express my utmost gratitude and thank my mentors Morgan and Bridget for their unwavering support and encouragement. They have allowed me to make this experience my own and it is thanks to them that I even decided to apply to the Gil Program and propose the Compass Center as my worksite. I would also like to thank all of the staff, interns, and volunteers that I have had the immense pleasure of working with over these past few months. They have guided me and created such a comfortable, uplifting work environment.  Last but not least, I would like to thank Dr. Steven Buzinski and Emily Dolegowski for believing in me and giving me the chance to be a part of such an incredible opportunity.