Restoring Hearts and Minds together.
Empowering W.A.R.R.;.O.R.S. through trauma-informed advocacy and emergency housing resources, for Survivors AND their pets.
About W.a.r.r.;.o.r.s.
Our Mission
At W.a.r.r.;.o.r.s. Trauma Rescue, we aim to provide crisis supports to trauma survivors AND their pets from Domestic & Intimate Partner Violence, Family Violence, Sexual Assault, and Military Trauma. We aim to empower individuals through comprehensive crisis resources and trauma-informed care.
"No longer will survivors have to choose between their pets OR their own safety." - W.a.r.r.;.o.r.s.
Hello, from Chantyl Outzen & Harley (RIP)
Founder Greeting
Welcome to W.a.r.r.;.o.r.s. Trauma Rescue. My name's Chantyl Outzen and I founded the W.a.r.r.;.o.r.s. Trauma Rescue after years as a Survivor of Domestic & Intimate Partner Abuse, Sexual Assault, and worked alongside my military comrades who suffered from Military Trauma; &Harley former Survivor of Animal Abuse (RIP).
About W.a.r.r.;.o.r.s. Trauma Rescue
Origins of W.a.r.r.i.o.r.s.
"Warriors" has been a consistent term of resiliency throughout my life. As a young adult witnessing my best friend's "Warrior" journey
and later passing with Cystic Fibrosis ("Warrior" was a term that brought him strength & humility). Again, through my humble beginnings to my Air Force career, "Warrior" week was a term used for the particular week where we were destined into the wilderness where we became Warriors through pain & struggle. A time where I grew in skills of survival, adaptability, leadership, and resiliency.
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Later, my beloved "battle buddy" Harley and myself experienced a domestically violent relationship for three years, then invested in my mental health & therapeutic supports (for trauma experienced as a child in family violence & DV, as a teen from sexual assault & supports from
Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling (RSAC), and as a young adult in my own Domestic Intimate Partner-violent relationships). As a result,
therapy deemed the term "Warrior" as my trauma war cry. As I grew in my faith, crucial to healing, despite numerous toxic relationships,
I became a prayer "Warrior" and humbly surrendered my trauma and donned the Armor of God, now as a soldier of the ultimate ADVOCATE.
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As I pursued His will for me, I did an internship at the Rockford Rescue Mission, as I worked toward & since-attained my
Bachelor's of Science Degree in Psychology. During this internship, I offered a support group, titled "W.a.r.r.;.o.r.s." for the homeless
Women's Shelter. "W.a.r.r.;.o.r.s." was an anacronym for Wounded Hearts Pursuing Restoration Within Our Broken Society.
This group was the beginning of my life-long mission.
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Later, I brought this group to my work as a Domestic Violence Advocate & Group Facilitator for Remedies Renewing Lives.
I facilitated this group going on for three years. This group was offered to residential & non-residential Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence.
Participants who began day one, remain consistently engaged to present day. Additionally, my role as a Partner Abuse Intervention Program (PAIP) Co-Facilitator, primarily at the Resource Intervention Center (RIC), as well as legal advocacy services I provided Survivors impacted by DCFS-Involvement in Juvenile & OP Court, brought awareness of this inter-connected issue & witnessed families continuously
torn apart from violence & trauma.
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This work brought emphasis that "TRAUMA" was the center of, not only my painful journey, but was at the center of many lives impacted
by violence in our community, today. Our community is blessed with numerous community resources & support, however, these organizations throughout our communities (& nationwide) remain overwhelmed by the volume of crisis & homelessness needs that are ongoing. This need was compounded by the many Survivors calling crisis hotlines who sought to flee violence and homelessness with their pets, but were quickly met with another barrier-- A lack of shelter that accommodated Survivors & their pets.
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As a DV Advocate, I experienced barriers providing alternative supports to Survivors in crisis with their pets. My supports were limited to Out-of-State shelter options depending on availability, limited nation-wide supports dependent on funding or access to local pet caregivers, or referrals
in partnership with local animal clinics. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 71% of DV Survivors reported threats of
violence, injury, or fatality of a pet. In my abusive relationship, my dog Harley and I, were repeatedly physically and mentally abused by my partner. At one point in the relationship, Harley was abused for very minor mistakes and our abuser repeatedly slammed his head shut into a metal door
and banished outside where he recovered from a traumatic brain injury and head swollen twice its size. I felt I failed in protecting my "battle buddy," out of fear (fear of safety, fear for lack of resources & finances, fear of reporting, even fear of getting in trouble).Years following he battled neurological behaviors issues, aggression, and later seizures that took place weekly. Some years later, I was able to leave that abusive relationship and regain my independence pursuing my dreams to be the advocate I did not have in the past, to those in crisis TODAY.
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Through numerous collaboration and training with the Red Rover Program, Don't Forget the Pets, & Besty B'n'B; a NEW crisis
was brought into existence. Resources and sheltering with pets was the same barrier that Survivors of trauma have TODAY. Like myself, nearly half of Survivors avoid leaving their pets by remaining in violent relationships. Nearly 75% of remaining Survivors made the difficult choice to leave their pets in traumatic environments just to seek their own safety & resources. Inevitably, as many as 25% Survivors return to these toxic environments out of fear for their pets safety. This human-animal trauma-bond is not only a hardship for DV Survivors seeking safety, but Survivors to other forms of Family Violence, Sexual & Military Trauma who ALL belong to demographics severely impacted by homelessness with or without their pets. These on-going crisis hardships are experienced DAILY in our community, which brings me to OUR MISSION.
- W.a.r.r.;.o.r.s. Trauma Rescue Founder Chantyl Outzen -
Our Mission
At W.a.r.r.;.o.r.s. Trauma Rescue, we aim to provide crisis supports to trauma survivors AND their pets from Domestic & Intimate Partner Violence, Family Violence, Sexual Assault, and Military Trauma. We aim to empower individuals through comprehensive crisis resources and trauma-informed care.
Our Programs
The W.a.r.r.;.o.r.s. Trauma Rescue Program is still in very
humble beginnings. However, as we grow through community awareness & support, we aim to provide both mobile and
on-site services to provide emergency housing and trauma resources
for Survivors AND their pets.
Our Programs
Domestic & Intimate Partner Violence Shelter Program
Domestic & Intimate Partner Violence Shelter Program
Domestic & Intimate Partner Violence Shelter Program
Supporting a FULL family (including pets} approach to trauma.
Sexual Trauma Shelter Program
Domestic & Intimate Partner Violence Shelter Program
Domestic & Intimate Partner Violence Shelter Program
Providing safety supports for survivors of sexual trauma & their pets.
Military Trauma Homeless Post
Domestic & Intimate Partner Violence Shelter Program
Military Trauma Homeless Post
Welcoming home our homeless veterans & their "battle buddies" [pets]