Community Solutions holds ‘Time to Stop Rape’ event in
Hollister
It happens every five minutes in the United States. Every five
minutes someone is forcibly raped, according to FBI crime
statistics from 2007.
Community Solutions holds ‘Time to Stop Rape’ event in Hollister
It happens every five minutes in the United States. Every five minutes someone is forcibly raped, according to FBI crime statistics from 2007.
Community Solutions, a nonprofit that offers counseling and support to victims of sexual assault, said they hoped an April 1 event they hosted in front of the Briggs Building in Hollister would raise awareness of the issue, and of the resources available in San Benito County. The “Time to Stop Rape” Flag Display was held in conjunction with rape crisis centers throughout the region. At each location, volunteers, staff and survivors of sexual assault gathered to place a flag in the ground every five minutes to represent each victim.
“Sexual assault is one of the most under-reported crimes,” said Emma Lucas, assistant program director for the Solutions to Violence department at Community Solutions.
At the flag display, staff and volunteers handed out information on sexual assault prevention and intervention, and a crisis line that people can call at any time – 1-877-END-SADV (1-877-363-7238.) The 2008 event brought out volunteers from a variety of sources, including the district attorney’s office, other law enforcement agencies and Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies.
The goal is always to increase public awareness.
“For a lot of people when they first come in to see us, they are disclosing that they are a sexual assault survivor,” Lucas said. “They want someone to listen and support them – to believe them.”
Debbie Ruiz, who has worked as a Solutions to Violence case manager for more than four years in San Benito County, and has been with Community Solutions for more than eight years, agreed.
“They want someone to believe that something happened,” Ruiz said. “A lot of times, they hear [from others], ‘Well, maybe it wasn’t that way,’ or they try to assume things didn’t happen. There is a lot of shame and a lot of self blame. We try to provide healing right away and let them know it’s not their fault.”
Clients, too, can be nervous about sharing what happened with family or friends.
“They are so embarrassed to come in,” Ruiz said. “Maybe they don’t want anyone to know what happened…Once they either call us on the phone, or come in, they understand that they are not alone and we can support them in that process.”
Community Solutions staff offer counseling for victims, their partners and family members; medical and legal accompaniment; and they can also help connect people to other resources.
“People find it really helpful to have someone like an advocate who is able to guide and support them,” Lucas said. “To give them an idea of what legal service is like, or what resources are out there.”
While Ruiz is the only full-time case manager in Hollister, with support from Lucas and an intern several times a day, they will offer a training session in July for volunteers. Staffing is a challenge, Lucas said, and with more staff they could do more prevention and intervention work.
“Prevention is raising awareness and assertiveness skills,” Lucas said. “Take self defense or learning techniques to increase their ability to be more aware of their surroundings.”
From July 2007 to June 2008, Community Solutions staff offered services to 130 victims of sexual assault in South Santa Clara and San Benito counties. This fiscal year (June 2008 – July 2009), they have worked with nearly 40 individuals in San Benito.
“We serve people who have been recently assaulted and people, maybe an adult who was sexually assaulted as a child,” she said. “Or something has come up with them and it triggers feelings and they want to talk about it.”
Lucas stressed that they serve clients from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities and ages.
“Sexual assault is about power and control,” Lucas said. “When another person uses their power and control, it is never the victim’s fault. If it does happen, it is important to be supportive and not blame the victim for what happened.”
Staff are mandatory reporters if they learn of a child who has been the victim of sexual assault, but with adult clients they talk about the options of pursuing criminal charges.
“We really empower them to make the choice,” Lucas said.
Resources
Community Solutions
310 Fourth St.
637-1094
Crisis line – 877-END-SADV (877-363-7238)
