Sexual Assault Victims/Survivors:
Funding and Technical Assistance
SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS/SURVIVORS: FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Like RHY programs, sexual assault services are funded through a variety of public and private sources, including state and federal grants, foundations, and corporate and individuals donations, with the total resources available in any community to support sexual assault programs varying widely across the country.
Sexual assault organizations advocated for the creation of the Rape Prevention and Education Program (RPE), which was established by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The program is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and provides one-of-a-kind funding to support the primary prevention of sexual violence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and five U.S. territories. The Rape Prevention and Education Program reaches millions with helpful information and services. In 2008-2009, the U.S. spent approximately $40 million on prevention through the RPE program, which enabled sexual violence prevention educators and their partners to reach nearly 16 million community members.
OTHER KEY SOURCES OF FEDERAL FUNDS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) represent a critical source of funding for sexual assault services; however many programs also receive support from the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) program, administered by the Office for Victims of Crime at the Department of Justice. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), passed in 1994 and administered by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) of the Department of Justice, was the first federal legislation to acknowledge domestic violence and sexual assault as crimes, and continues to provide federal resources to encourage coordinated approaches to combating intimate partner violence. VAWA also provides critical support for state domestic violence coalitions and technical assistance, as well as many local sexual assault programs.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAMS
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) opened in July 2000 as a national information and resource hub related to all aspects of sexual violence. Founded by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, the oldest and one of the largest state sexual assault coalitions, the NSVRC is funded through a cooperative agreement from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Violence Prevention.
NSVRC staff collect and disseminate a wide range of resources on sexual violence including statistics, research, position statements, statutes, training curricula, prevention initiatives and program information. With these resources, the NSVRC assists coalitions, advocates and others interested in understanding and eliminating sexual violence. The NSVRC also enjoys a strong partnership with state, territory and tribal anti-sexual assault coalitions and allied organizations. To access a listing of the coalitions please, click here: http://www.nsvrc.org/organizations
OTHER NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS
Aequitas
http://www.aequitasresource.org/
The mission of this organization is to improve the quality of justice in sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and dating violence cases by developing, evaluating, and refining prosecution practices that increase victim safety and offender accountability.
End Violence against Women International
http://www.evawintl.org/
EVAW mission is to change our response to sexual violence, focusing on connecting professionals and strengthening the community’s response system.
National Alliance to End Sexual Violence
http://endsexualviolence.org/
The purpose of the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) is to work to end sexual violence and ensure services for victims.
Rape Abuse Incest National Network
http://www.rainn.org/
The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org,
Resource Sharing Project
http://resourcesharingproject.org/
The Resource Sharing Project (RSP) was created to help state sexual assault coalitions across the country access the resources they need in order to develop and thrive as they work to support survivors and end sexual assault. The project is designed to provide technical assistance, support, and the dissemination of peer-driven resources for all state and territorial sexual assault coalitions.
National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault
http://www.sisterslead.org/
SCESA's fundamental principle is to work with communities to give voice and develop action strategies that incorporate and address the multiple layers of discrimination that are faced by Women of Color.
Stalking Resource Center
http://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking-resource-center
The mission of the Stalking Resource Center is to enhance the ability of professionals, organizations, and systems to effectively respond to stalking.
Victims Rights Law Center
http://www.victimrights.org/
Victim Rights Law Center (VRLC) was established in 2003 as the first nonprofit law center in the nation solely dedicated to serving the needs of rape and sexual assault victims.
References
Briere, J., & Elliott, D.M. (2003). Prevalence and symptomatic sequelae of self-reported childhood physical and sexual abuse in a general population sample of men and women. Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal, 27, 1205-1222. Available at http://www.johnbriere.com/CAN%20csa%20cpa.pdf
