Click here to download and view the 2020 Impact Report (PDF) for Sexual Assault Crisis Center – Fox Cities.
Amy Flanders, Executive Director, on WHBY 1130AM
On Jan. 12th, Amy Flanders, Executive Director of Sexual Assault Crisis Center – Fox Cities, was on WHBY 1130AM with the executive directors from Reach Counseling, Harbor House and Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services for the first show in a series of conversations about sexual assault and intimate partner violence.
The topic was Listen to Women and you can listen to the conversation here.
The next one will be on Wed, Jan 17th at 8:00am and the topic will be Why Women Don’t Come Forward.
Web Link to the Podcast: http://www.whby.com/2018/01/12/sexual-assault-and-domestic-violence-episode-1-listening-to-women/
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
“You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”
William Wilberforce
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. While it is the mission of the Sexual Assault Crisis Center to promote awareness all year long, during the month of April we make a concerted effort to reach out and bring awareness to the issue of sexual assault. British abolitionist William Wilberforce once said, “you may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.” As a pioneer in the crusade to end slavery, Wilberforce sought to abolish slavery through awareness and activism. He fiercely believed that once we are made aware to the sufferings of others, we can no longer feign ignorance – only inaction. Become aware of this: every 107 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted and 98% of all rapists will never spend a day in jail. However, research shows that sexual assault has fallen by more than 50% in recent years (U.S. Department of Justice. National Crime Victimization Survey. 1993-2013). This is due in part from increased public awareness and prevention, social activism, and stricter punishments for those convicted of sexual assault. While we should be happy with the progress made in the last 10 years, we also have a long way to go to end sexual violence in our communities. This April, the Sexual Assault Crisis Center invites you to join in making our community a safer place to live. In addition to spreading awareness, here are four things you can do this April:
1. Reach Out to a Loved One. It’s never too late to let a survivor in your life know that you care.
2. Make Your Voice Heard. Congress needs to hear from you about your support for legislation to improve the criminal justice system, support survivors, and bring sexual predators to justice. Visit the RAINN Action Center at https://rainn.org/public-
3. Volunteer. Looking to donate your time? The Sexual Assault Crisis Center needs your help to accomplish our mission to end sexual violence. Call us at (920)733-8119 for more information on how you can get involved.
4. Get Social. With a “share” or “RT” you can educate your networks about sexual violence prevention and recovery. Like us on Facebook and Twitter and tag your posts with #SAAM to follow the conversation.
For more information on events during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, contact the Sexual Assault Crisis Center at (920)733-8119.
New Year’s Resolution
With each new year, come New Year’s resolutions. Usually these focus on improving one’s appearance, health, financial situation, or personal relationships. This year, the Sexual Assault Crisis Center challenges YOU to resolve to make your community a safer place for children in 2015!
It is highly likely that you know a child who has been or is being abused. This year, make the choice to stand up and protect children from sexual abuse. The statistics are staggering. 10% of children are sexually abused before their 18th birthday, and 35% of child victims are 11 years old or younger. It is OUR responsibility, as adults and community members, to protect children.
So, what can you do?
1. Talk with your child about sexual boundaries. Start these conversations at a young age because talking about personal safety creates a protective bond between parent and child. Let children know that you are a safe person for them to talk to about anything going on in their lives.
2. Redirect an adult who is crossing a child’s boundaries or acting inappropriately in front of children. It can be difficult and even scary to take risks to protect children, but if we don’t say anything, then who are we really protecting? The abuser? Ourselves? Definitely not the child.
3. Trust your gut. If you feel like something inappropriate is going on, it probably is. And tell your children to trust their gut feelings also. Our bodies have built-in warning signals that we can’t afford to ignore. It is not healthy to expect the worst in people, but we need to pay attention to behaviors that are dangerous or “iffy,” even by people who we know personally.
4. Make a report of suspected child abuse to the police or child protective services. The law doesn’t require that you have evidence of abuse when you report, it only requires that you have reasonable suspicion. And you’re not making an accusation when you make a report. You’re just requesting a professional service be done, and the law does protect you when it comes to making a good faith report.
90% of children who are victims of sexual abuse know their abuser, which makes disclosing the abuse that much harder for them. However, if a child discloses abuse to you, it can be a traumatic experience for the child and for you, but try not to overreact. Listen calmly and openly when the child talks to you, even about sensitive or uncomfortable topics. Reassure the child that you believe him or her and that what happened to them is not their fault.
So, when you are making your New Year’s resolutions, resolve to make 2015 the year of protecting children! Please contact the Sexual Assault Crisis Center to learn more about keeping our children and our community safe, or to schedule an adult training about how to protect children from sexual abuse at no cost to you.
Reference: Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children. Charleston, SC. www.D2L.org.
Season of Giving
Your year-end gift has an impact on your community. Many donors consider year-end giving for two reasons: First, it’s the season of giving and you’re compelled to give from your heart. For others, there’s the tax-deduction incentive that’s helpful for you in your long-term financial goals. For whichever reason you give, we’re very thankful for support.
Your gift does make a difference in your community. Its impact can be felt twofold:
First, it allows us to continue to provide quality counseling, medical and legal advocacy, support groups and resources to the victims seeking our services. Secondly, it allows us to go into the community and provide prevention education to students to help keep them safe by teaching age-appropriate protective behaviors. WE also educate adults on how to recognize and react to sexual violence. Intervention and Prevention; both are needed if we’re to end sexual violence in the Fox Cities.
When you donate to Sexual Assault Crisis Center, your donation helps us with the increased needs for our services:
Intervention:
- A 20% increase in hotline calls
- Over 300 victims receiving personal advocacy
- A 15% increase in victims receiving medical advocacy at either the Children’s Advocacy Center of at the area hospitals for a Sexual Assault Nurse Examination
- A continued collaboration with our referring partners
- An increase in our on campus support groups at Lawrence University and University of Wisconsin – Fox Valley.
Prevention:
- Over 700 Prevention Education efforts (36% increase)
- Educating over 11,000 students in Calumet and Outagamie Counties on the importance of Protective Behaviors.
- Educating over 10,000 adults in programs such as; Commercial Exploitation of Children and Stewards of Children
Your on-going support is vital to assisting victims in becoming survivors. Thank You!
Together we can end sexual violence in the Fox Cities.
