COEUR d’ALENE — In the past three years, Safe Passage Violence Prevention Center has experienced an increase in growth, visibility and programming to help victims of domestic and sexual abuse.

Executive Director Katie Coker was active in all of it, determined to strengthen an organization that helps many women, men and

children in bad situations.

"I feel so good about my time here," Coker said Wednesday. "I feel like I came here with the hope that I could bring together a team and we could rebuild the agency that was struggling. We all know how important it is to have a strong victim services agency in this area, and I think we've been able to do that. We've been able to bring it back to life."

Coker will be stepping down from her position to spend more time with family. Safe Passage announced Wednesday it is now seeking an experienced individual to take over as executive director.

"We want a person who can take the good work that Katie's done and help us move forward," said Safe Passage board President Trina Caudle. "We're in a great place and we want to keep moving forward."

During Coker's tenure, the agency rebranded from North Idaho Violence Prevention Center, added the Child Advocacy Center under its umbrella, hired a forensic interviewer, added a fifth bedroom to its shelter, incorporated bystander intervention education in its high school programs, expanded its court programming and more.

"Katie has been very instrumental in raising awareness about Safe Passage in the community, and through that awareness we’ve been able to increase our programs, increase our grant funding and be more proactive in reducing domestic and sexual violence," Caudle said. "She’s done a phenomenal job."

Coker said her decision to leave is strictly personal and she will always be a part of the Safe Passage community. She’s incredibly proud of the Safe Passage team and its board.

"I hear all the time in the nonprofit world that only 20 percent of the board really works, and I can say every single person on our board works really hard. They're a group I just admire and have tremendous talent that they give to this agency," she said. "In a small nonprofit, there's always so much to be done, and our team has such passion for this work. I've learned so much from them as human beings that I feel lucky I've gotten to work with them."

Coker expects her last day to be June 30.

Those interested in the executive director position can email resumes and cover letters to admin@safepassageid.org. The deadline is April 21.

Info: www.safepassageid.org