Expanding support for victims of abuse, violence and neglect

For more than 40 years, Providence Swedish has supported North Puget Sound victims of assault, abuse and neglect. The Providence Intervention Center for Assault and Abuse, or PICAA, began as an advocacy hotline in 1979. Today, PICAA’s scope and expertise has evolved and expanded, now serving more than 1,000 patients each year. In 2024, North Puget Sound contributed more than $2 million to ensure these critical services are available and accessible to the most vulnerable in our community. 
 
PICAA is co-located in Everett, WA with Dawson Place, a nonprofit child advocacy center in Everett, Washington. Together, teams conduct simultaneous investigations and care to reduce trauma for children and adults who have experienced physical, emotional or sexual violence.  
 
At PICAA, specialized forensic nurses play a crucial role at the intersection of health care and the legal system. They collect evidence, take photographs and meticulously document findings, while advocating for each patient’s individual needs. PICAA therapists also provide mental health services at no cost. Dawson Place brings together law enforcement, medical providers, mental health therapists, child protective services and victim advocates working collaboratively with PICAA teams to support every victim.  
 
PICAA's strong community partnerships allow it to serve patients, including military and tribal populations, at multiple hospitals throughout the region. Recently, PICAA was designated as a Forensic Nursing Center of Excellence—one of only four sites in the United States receiving the honor, and the only not-for-profit, hospital-based location selected. The designation recognizes PICAA’s exemplary reputation for supporting victims of abuse and allows the Center to become a training hub, developing more forensic nurses to support abuse victims in their own communities.