Learn about the team behind the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence and how they collaborate with management and staff in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

3 Takeaways: 

• The coalition has been working closely with members and staff in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to provide confidential and resourceful training to survivors of violence and their families. 
• The team is composed of 25-plus individuals who provide services, training and resources for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. 
• Domestic Violence Response Coordinators Andreah Gomez and Carrie Eutizi, along with Bilingual Victim Service Specialist Diana Rangel, share their insights and explain their “why.”

For quite some time now, the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (ACESDV) has been providing valuable information and resources to members and staff of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. 

From their webinars to in-person trainings, the coalition has shown that it truly cares about the well-being of everyone, especially survivors and their families. It is composed of many but locally features three staff members who have helped the SRPMIC improve survivors’ mental, physical and spiritual well-being.

Domestic Violence Response Coordinators Andreah Gomez and Carrie Eutizi, along with Bilingual Victim Service Specialist Diana Rangel, shared how their work impacts their daily lives and what drives them to help others. 

Andreah Gomez 

With a decade of direct service working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, Gomez has a wealth of knowledge to provide to survivors and their families. Additionally, she also provides resources and assistance to survivors who have experienced sex trafficking. “We provide technical assistance and trainings across the state to different agencies and programs. My co-worker Lauryn has done a lot of work with on a couple different reservations,” she said.

Gomez also works closely alongside SRPMIC Health and Human Services Community Health educators Vurlene Notsinneh-Bowekaty and Melanie Nosie. She has completed three trainings here in the Community, with plans for a return presentation sometime later this year. 

Providing support is a huge motivating factor for Gomez. “[E]very person deserves safety and dignity, moments of crisis are moments of transformation, systemic change starts with individual care, and resilience is inspiring,” she said.

“I would like to thank Vurlene and the SRPMIC Community for always welcoming ACESDV and continuously trying to learn about how to support victims of domestic and sexual violence.”

Carrie Eutizi

“ACESDV has about 25 staff members all together,” said Eutizi. “Our Domestic Violence Team has five people, and our Sexual Violence Team has five as well. We also have a Helpline Team of five who take calls from survivors and service providers every day, plus administrative staff who keep everything running behind the scenes. It really takes all of us working together to make the coalition strong.”

Similar to Gomez, Eutizi had nothing but positive remarks when discussing the time she has spent providing trainings and support to individuals in the Community. “We’ve had the privilege of working with SRPMIC Health and Human Services a number of times, and I really value that collaboration,” she said. 

She added, “Vurlene and Melanie are incredible partners, and we’re always glad to work with them whenever the Community identifies a need.”

According to Eutizi, in her work, “no two days are the same.” However, the work she does with her fellow ACESDV staff is invaluable. “Even in the hardest circumstances, people show so much courage. My job is to make sure they don’t go through it alone, and that they feel seen, supported and respected. Everyone deserves that.”

Eutizi continued, “I want to thank SRPMIC Health and Human Services for being such strong partners in this work. I’d also like to recognize our member organizations and advocates across Arizona who show up every single day for survivors. None of this would be possible without those collaborations.”

Diana Rangel

“I started in this field from my internship, as I was trying to figure out what route to go with this specific degree,” shared Rangel. 

She continued, “The beginning of my internship was at a domestic violence shelter as a case manager, and then after graduation I transitioned as a full-time case manager.”

Like her colleagues Gomez and Eutizi, Rangel joined the coalition to further ensure that survivors of violence heal from their traumas. 

Rangel also shared that the ACESDV team has been partnering with other coalitions in the United States. “Our director and response department administrator are in collaboration with the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence to share best practices and resilience focus approaches for survivors through our helpline,” she said.

The coalition offers volunteer opportunities for those interested in helping survivors heal. For more information, email info@acesdv.org or call (602) 279-2980 or (800) 782-6400.

Organizations and Resources

Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence: (602) 279-2980 or (800) 782-6400

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Dating Abuse Hotline: 1-866-331-9474

StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483) or 988 for suicide/crisis helpline

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: Call/text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)

The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741

National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-799-7233

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 nationwide

River People Health Center Public Health Hotline: (480) 362-2603

Patient Advocate: (480) 362-3470

Crisis Line (24/7): (480) 850-9230

SRPMIC Residential Substance Abuse Services (Social Detox, Journey to Recovery, Sober Living): (480) 362-5640

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: (480) 278-7742, ext. 4201