2014 Spring Newsletter

TAASA Newsletter | Spring 2014
CONTENTS
TAASA News
2
Executive Director Update
3
TA ASA Updates
Policy & Advocacy
6
TAASA Public Policy Agenda for
84th Legislative Session
Education & Training
8
Rights of Survivors on Campus: An
Overview of the Title IX
and Campus SaVE Act
Prevention & Social Justice
10
Soapbox: Engaging Men Beyond
SAAM
Awareness & Outreach
12
Thank you!
14
From Our Blog: Lupita Nyong’o and
why self-esteem workshops for girls
fall short
15
College Student Awareness of
Sexual Assault Resources
rev•o•lu•tion (rev’loō sh n) n. a sweeping and momentous change
RAPE CRISIS CENTERS AND PREA
RALPH BALES
The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was signed into law by President
George Bush in 2003. One of the primary components of the act was the
establishment of a National Prison Rape Elimination Commission (NPREC)
who would recommend national standards to the Attorney General and the
Secretary of Health and Human Services. The act required the Attorney General
to promulgate regulations that adopt national standards for the detection,
prevention, reduction, and punishment of prison rape. On August 20, 2012 the
national standards became applicable to all state and local facilities.
The commission set forth four sets of recommended national standards. Each set
applied to one of the following four confinement settings: (1) adult prisons and
jails; (2) juvenile facilities; (3) community corrections facilities; and (4) lockups.
While each confinement setting has its own specific set of standards, there are key
elements that are consistent throughout the national standards.
There are three primary standards for adult prisons and jails that apply to victim
services providers: the facilities shall try to make a victim advocate from a
rape crisis center available to provide confidential support services to a victim
(§115.21(d)); the facilities shall provide inmates with access to outside victim
advocates for emotional support services related to sexual abuse by giving
inmates mailing addresses and telephone numbers of victim advocacy or rape
crisis organizations(§115.53(a)); and, the agency shall attempt to enter into
memoranda of understanding (MOU) with community service providers that
are able to provide inmates with confidential emotional support services related
to sexual abuse (§115.53(c)).
[ CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 ]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE
By Texas standards, winter was a little
ambitious this year, but spring is finally
here! Spring always finds many TAASA
staff on the roads across the state, and
a lot of targeted media attention and
outreach about sexual assault. Our
annual conference was held in Irving
in March. Attendance was up and
participants seemed very engaged in both
the workshops and other events. I personally
enjoyed the large contingency of military
SARCs who joined us this year. It was encouraging to see so much
positive interaction between military and civilian advocates/nurses/
law enforcement throughout the conference and we all look forward to
building upon those relationships.
TAASA and member programs all over Texas have outreach strategies
and activities scheduled during Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention
Month (SAAPM). Additionally, we have trainings, on-site technical
assistance and media events from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande
Valley and many points in between. Our Communications Team
is coordinating our own traditional and social media efforts as well
assisting several sexual assault programs with theirs. If you have
challenges with your local outreach efforts I encourage you to contact
Rose Luna at [email protected].
Rick Gipprich, our Member Support & Outreach Program Director
recently left TAASA to return to San Antonio as a Deputy Director of
that city’s stellar rape crisis center. Our loss is certainly their gain and
we look forward to continuing our work with Rick, albeit in a different
capacity. On the bright side, April Buentello-Srock was hired to take
over that position. April has rich experience at both the state coalition
level (TCFV) and local program level (SafePlace) and she will be such
an asset to our members. She has already begun reaching out to our
member programs but please don’t hesitate to contact April anytime
you are in need of a little support or information. April can be reached at
[email protected].
In these next few months we will continue our work that spans from
policy issues (PREA, RPE funding, SAVE Act implementation, etc.)
to events and projects (Youth Summit, Prevention Institute, client
database project) to communication and outreach (press events on
college campuses, revamping our websites, media campaign). Our plate
is full but our priority remains meeting the immediate needs of our
members. Remember to reach out, speak up, and stay in touch. This
work is so much easier when we do it together.
TAASA UPDATES
New Employees
Over the last quarter, three amazing people joined the TAASA staff. These TAASA staff members were e-interviewed by TAASA’s deputy director of
organizational development, and highlights from those interviews are shared below.
Alyssa Salazar is TAASA’s new Web Content
Specialist and is in charge of keeping the
agency’s web content snazzy and up-to-date.
She’s excited that working at TAASA gives her
“a sense of belonging to an amazing movement.”
When she’s not busy taking photos at TAASA
events, she enjoys painting while jamming out to
Broadway tunes. Through her work at TAASA,
Alyssa hopes to help victims know they have a
voice and to motivate advocates to reach those
victims.
Maya Pilgrim joined the prevention team as a
Prevention Specialist and is providing training
and technical assistance to prevention workers
around a variety of programmatic issues. She
brings a broad skill set and background to this
role after many years of international work.
Many aspects of working for TAASA excite
Maya, including helping program staff to address
“all those –isms” and working on program
evaluation. Maya is one of those people who can
listen to a song on repeat for days on end and
loves to spend time outside. Prevention workers
have a great resource in this new staff member
who is interested in supporting them with their
“crazy hard but crazy important work.”
April Buentello-Srock is the new Member
Support and Advocacy Program Director and
will be heading up TAASA’s efforts to increase
member engagement. When asked what excites
her about working at TAASA, April mentioned
the “fun, creative group of people” and also the
ability to both continue her work with agencies
around the state and also get to know new ones.
For fun, she and her partner, Brian, take their
beagles for walks, and she also spends plenty
of time video chatting with her nephew. April
will be reaching out to current and potential
members to seek input on ways that TAASA can
keep you engaged and meet your needs.
Pardon Our Dust
TAASA.org is currently under reconstruction. Stay tuned for TAASA’s upcoming website
redesign. Your input is important to us, so be on the lookout for a membership feedback
survey (via email) this May! For more information, contact our Web Content Specialist,
Alyssa Salazar at [email protected].
Upcoming Prevention Institute
TAASA is excited to host Sustaining Change: Prevention Institute on August 13 – 15,
2014 in Austin. The institute is designed to provide SAPCS Federal – RPE Grantees with
training focused on implementing and evaluating successful prevention programs in their
communities. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with and learn from
one another while enjoying downtown Austin. Look for additional information about the
institute schedule and workshops in addition to registration information in the next month.
TAASA UPDATES
Champion for Social Change Award
PEGGY HELTON
2013
Awards were presented during TAASA’s 2014 Annual Conference
held this past March in Irving, TX.
Edith Rust Medical Services Award of Excellence
NELLIE LOEWEN, RN, CA-CP SANE, CFN
Nellie Loewen began as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
Program Coordinator at the University of Texas Medical Branch –
Galveston. During this time, not only were there high turnover rates,
but the program also had a reputation of instability rather than as a
resource for survivors of sexual assault. Nell took her position seriously
and immediately the survivor care began to improve. The community
and administrators at the hospital began to acknowledge the program’s
strength and recognized it as a success.
Nell goes beyond the call of duty by ensuring SANE coverage
24/7 in the emergency department. She continues working with
community partners to maintain a documented community-wide
plan, a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) protocol, and preserves
memorandums of understanding (MOU) with several local agencies.
Nell generously contributes time, energy, and financially towards the
success of the program. For Nell, her work is not merely a job, it is a
lifestyle choice. Her care and commitment to humanity has allowed
for survivors in Galveston and the surrounding area to be met with
excellent patient care through dignity and respect.
Excellence in Advocacy Award
CHRISTY SMITH
Christy began working as a victim advocate at Amistad Family Violence
and Rape Crisis Center in Del Rio, TX twelve years ago. It was then
that she found her calling as an activist for the anti-sexual violence
movement and survivors. After the unfortunate closing of Amistad,
the only organization providing services to survivors, she continued to
advocate on their behalf without a salary. In 2011, Christy was hired as
a victim advocate to start a new dual agency serving both sexual assault
and domestic violence survivors. The program started with little to
no funding or support. Christy’s diligence and hard work not only
provided a safe space for survivors but also brought back Sexual Assault
Nurse Examiner (SANE) services and the much needed training,
awareness and outreach to the community. Christy’s personal mission
was to engage Judges, Sheriff’s office, ICE, FBI and military installations
in conversations and training about sexual violence. She made it a goal
to have these trainings led by TAASA. As a result of her work, the last
two years of TAASA trainings has reached well over 100 attendees.
Christy is now employed as a Crime Victim’s Liaison with the Sherriff of
Val Verde County. She will be advocating for the survivors’ of Del Rio
and the surrounding three counties. Christy’s history of advocacy and
community empowerment have enriched Del Rio, TX and provided a
safe space for survivors of both sexual assault and domestic violence.
Peggy has spent more than ten years at the Office of the Attorney General
working as a Primary Prevention Specialist. In her position, she can easily
feel isolated for several reasons. Firstly, she is the only one tasked with that
specific work in the entire state agency. Secondly, social change and even
public health work is not a primary goal or function of this agency. Lastly,
although sub-grantees were often initially resistant to this shift, and later
frequently frustrated by the ambitious expectations of the CDC attached
to relatively small funding, Peggy hung in there with her unfailing belief
that working together we could end sexual violence in Texas.
Peggy Helton has shown unwavering commitment to building safer
communities and to ensuring that primary prevention work is grounded
in both rape crisis center reality and social justice principles. She has
demonstrated consistent advocacy for the needs of underserved and
marginalized communities as it relates to prevention work in the state
of Texas and is a voice for justice-oriented victim services at the state
level. Her commitment to cultural humility and dedication to constantly
learning are an inspiration to her colleagues. Peggy is an example of how
one determined individual who is willing to learn and to teach, to inspire
and to be awed, to lead and to follow, can band with others and truly
begin to change the world for the better.
Community Empowerment Award
HOPE THROUGH HEALTH CLINIC WITH
COMMUNITY CARE
Over the past decade human trafficking has emerged as a major criminal and
social justice issue both in the United States and abroad. Although there has
been increased awareness and attention to the crime of human trafficking,
much less is understood specifically about how to meet the medical and
social needs of the victims.
The Hope Through Health Clinic meets the unique and specialized medical
needs of survivors of trafficking in Central Texas. The clinic provides
a medical home for survivors and includes trauma-informed services
such as medical exams and lab, psychiatry and mental health assessments,
dental, social support, life skills, nutrition and cooking classes, relaxation
techniques, therapeutic child activities, etc. An important goal of the clinic
is the continuous, long-term assessment of the survivor’s needs to ensure
continued holistic care. Prior to this clinic’s opening, healthcare for survivors
of human trafficking was offered either in acute care settings or through
fragmented visits with providers rarely trained in addressing the needs of this
high-risk patient population.
In addition, to exemplary holistic medical care, the goal of Hope Through
Health is to create an evidence-based clinic tailored to meet human
trafficking survivor’s needs that are empowering, dignified, and yield
positive, total health outcomes. Most importantly, those that are involved
in providing care are committed to meeting the needs expressed by the
survivors themselves.
Excellence in Media Award
BROOKS EGERTON
To be excellent in the media field is to be fair, true, and effective in telling a
story that needs to be told. The recipient of this award is a prime example
of how dedication and passion help bring awareness and support to a
community.
SPRING 2014
For Brooks Egerton, an investigative reporter with the Dallas Morning
News, writing is in his blood. The son of a journalist father who covered
the civil rights movement, Brooks has written extensively on the issue
of sexual assault and sexual abuse. In particular, his award winning
series on clergy abuse resulted in a successful push to unseal court
records showing that an area Catholic Diocese had covered up abuse for
decades. Brooks, along with two colleagues, spent nearly two years on
the landmark project “Runaway Priests: Hiding in Plain Sight,” which
showed how Catholic leaders moved abusers across international
borders to escape justice. The series implicated some of the world’s
most powerful cardinals and involved research around the globe. It also
examined how the U.S. justice system, through action and inaction, had
aided priests’ flight. Most recently, his focus has been on patient safety,
contributing to a multiyear project that led to a virtual federal takeover
of Dallas’ public hospital. Regardless of the headline or angle of the story,
one thing is for certain – Brooks has an unwavering focus on the truth
and desire for a positive outcome for those most affected by the stories.
Harold Cottle Justice Award
DETECTIVE TIMOTHY CROMIE
Detective Cromie is a compassionate, determined detective specializing
in crimes against children and sexual assault at the Dickinson Police
Department. He demonstrates outstanding support for victims and
investigates each case, thoroughly allowing for victim involvement
if they so choose. His work as a detective alone deserves an award;
however, what brings us together for the Harold Cottle Justice Award is
what he did for an eight year old girl from Dickinson, TX.
In 1990, eight year old Jennifer Schuett was abducted from her bedroom,
raped, and left for dead in an open field. The perpetrator was never
apprehended. For 18 years, her case was handed off from one detective to
another, and with no solid leads, hope was beginning to fade. In January
2008, Detective Cromie took over the case. As Jennifer began to cry with
frustration, Detective Cromie handed her a tissue and told her that he did
not care how long it took, he would get the answers she deserved. Detective
Cromie began utilizing the resources available and on October 13, 2009, the
attacker who eluded justice and haunted Jennifer for 19 years was finally
identified and apprehended in Little Rock, AR. Within 18 months of his
promise to Jennifer, Detective Cromie delivered the justice she so patiently
awaited and deserved. Detective Cromie’s approach to cases including
Jennifer’s is an example for all to follow. It also allows for us all to believe that
justice in fact can prevail.
Program Volunteer of the Year
VICTORIA LI
On top of a full course load at the University of Texas - Dallas and
participating in many on-campus organizations, Victoria Li has managed
to go above and beyond in her volunteer work for the Dallas Area Rape
Crisis Center. Victoria completed the advocate training on February
21, 2013 and within nine months accrued 1,329 on-call volunteer
hours, with 8 hours of direct service on the crisis hotline and 64 hours of
direct services at Texas Health Dallas (THD) Presbyterian Hospital. In
those 64 hours, Victoria generously provided kind and compassionate
advocacy to 25 victims of sexual assault. It’s not only Victoria’s generosity
of time that makes her an excellent volunteer, but her generosity of
spirit. She quickly demonstrated her comfort level with all walks of life
and has shown sincere empathy and consideration for marginalized
populations. She is a champion for social justice and understands the
impact of a number of social issues upon the experiences of victims.
Her participation in on-campus organizations has resulted in DARCC
gaining several amazing victim advocates. She also actively participates
in assisting new victim advocates with their training.
Victoria is an example to other volunteer victim advocates. In fact, many
of them frequently comment about how much they admire her. Our
hospital partners have also provided positive feedback. One SANE
shared with staff about an instance with a victim’s emotionally difficult
exam, and then said “Thank God Victoria was here, I love her.” Once
the victim was discharged from the hospital, Victoria provided comfort
for her as well. For some, this work is unimaginable and for others, it
is necessary. Victoria’s volunteer work is absolutely necessary and
appreciated by both staff and the survivors she has touched.
Community Engagement Award
CRYSTAL WARD
Crystal started her career with the Concho Valley Rape Crisis Center
in October of 2012. Although her career in the anti-sexual assault
movement is relatively new, her impact on the community has been
significant. Crystal sought out to reach both formal and informal
groups. As a result of her approach, Concho Valley Rape Crisis Center
is a recognizable force in San Angelo, TX. Her commitment to the root
causes of sexual violence and connecting them to the purview of other
agencies has allowed for new partnerships in the community while
renewing old ones.
Crystal belongs to a variety of groups and committees in San Angelo
ranging from the chamber of commerce to youth and mental health
groups. Her determination in creating awareness about non-stranger
rape and the root causes therein has allowed for the courageous
conversations around survivor justice to finally occur. Systems in the
community may not always agree, but they are now willing to listen. As
a result of Crystal’s efforts, the small stand-alone rape crisis center in
San Angelo, TX is recognized as a haven for survivors and a welcomed
resource for the community.
Vivian Miles Lifetime Achievement Award
D’AN ANDERS
D’An is an institution in the Texas advocacy community. Advocacy is
not a job for her, it is a calling. She began her work in the 1980’s at East
Texas Crisis Center in Tyler, but has been involved in statewide system’s
advocacy for over twenty years. D’An has been clear: she may work AT
the Texas Council on Family Violence, the Texas Advocacy Project, or
Texas Legal Services Center, but she works FOR the victim/survivor.
There are so many obvious and subtle barriers survivors encounter
every day. D’An is masterful at recognizing these roadblocks and offering
sound and tangible options for getting through them. She has her own
unique style: plain spoken, can-do, no nonsense, practical, yet always
compassionate and invested. She has had a positive impact on the lives
of countless survivors and she has set the bar high for the advocates that
follow her. D’An is one of a kind in that she inspires every one of us to go
that extra mile and always be conscious of why we go to work every day.
POLICY & ADVOCACY
TAASA Public Policy Agenda
for 84th Legislative Session
as approved by TAASA Membership at
Annual Conference
SPRING 2014
On Tuesday, March 11, TAASA membership voted and approved the Legislative Agenda for the 84th Legislative Session beginning January
2015. Ideas and suggestions were solicited from a number of Executive Directors in December and January. The list was narrowed down
based on the possibility of being accomplished, capacity of TAASA staff, and issues faced by survivors.
This agenda will guide TAASA staff as they work to seek legislative support. An important part of TAASA’s Policy work is obtaining
support and advocacy from Rape Crisis Centers across the state. Legislators and Legislative staffers often become more interested as their
constituents contact them to discuss the issues as opposed to TAASA staff from Austin.
Other bills may be introduced that could potentially impact survivors. TAASA staff constantly watches for such bills and is often contacted
about testimony in support of or opposition to these bills.
If you have any questions about TAASA’s policy work or how you can become involved, please contact Glenn D. Stockard or Chris Kaiser
at 512.474-7190.
Proposal #1: Maintain the Adult Entertainment Fee as a source of sustained funding for rape crisis centers.
The adult entertainment fee remains on the books unchanged since enactment in 2007. TAASA continues to defend against
attempts to amend or repeal the law.
Proposal #2: Eliminate the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits related to rape and sexual abuse.
Texas eliminated the criminal statute of limitations for sexual abuse of children in 2007, but civil lawsuits are generally barred
after only 5 years. Several other states have enacted “window” legislation to give survivors a more realistic chance to hold
perpetrators and enablers accountable.
Proposal #3: Allow survivors who obtain non-report forensic medical exams to qualify for CVC reimbursement without
further law enforcement involvement.
Federal regulations for VOCA program grants require states to treat non-report forensic medical examinations as “reports” for CVC
reimbursement. Texas is currently in violation of this regulation, putting VOCA funding in Texas at risk.
Proposal #4: Provide protective orders to sexual assault survivors at the time of a criminal conviction.
A protective order automatically extends for 1 year if the respondent is confined at the time it expires, but survivors rarely obtain
POs during criminal cases. By issuing POs at the time of conviction, the 1-year extension would be automatically triggered for
all convicted rapists.
Proposal #5: Create a statewide task force to improve the response to sexual violence in the educational setting.
Same or similar to HB 1229 (83R – Dukes).
Proposal #6: Allow stalking victims to qualify for CVC relocation reimbursement.
The Texas Property Code allows sexual assault, family violence, and stalking victims to terminate their leases early without
penalty. However, CVC relocation reimbursement does not currently cover stalking victims, creating an unnecessary obstacle
to safety.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Rights of Survivors on Campus: An
Overview of the Title IX
and Campus SaVE Act
There’s been tremendous media
coverage recently of sexual assault
in higher education. This coverage
didn’t happen by chance, but because
students, many of them survivors,
refused to remain silent. They filed
law suits and complaints with the
government, alleging that their institutions
violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and were
deliberately indifferent to sexual violence. These survivors came
forward, sharing their names and their stories, to the world. They
are, to say the least, incredibly inspiring and created the spark of
legislative change addressing the issue of campus sexual assault.
In 2011 the U.S. Department of Education issued a letter
“reminding” institutions that sexual violence is the most extreme
form of sexual harassment. Although this shouldn’t have been a
surprise to institutions (they received almost the same guidance
in 2001), it seemed to blindside schools who believed that a)
sexual violence wasn’t an issue on their campus and b) it wasn’t
their job to deal with it. Everyone is on notice now.
As advocates and allies for sexual violence prevention, Title IX
and its companion law, the Campus SaVE Act, are great tools to
use when advocating for anyone affiliated with a federally-funded
K-12 or higher education institution. Like any tool that comes
from the government, these laws are not always clear, but since
advocates are used to wading through convoluted systems, this
isn’t anything new.
Title IX, in a nutshell, says no one can be denied access to or the
benefits of an educational program because of sex discrimination.
Only schools who receive federal funding have to comply with
Title IX. That is includes public K-12s and all but a handful of
higher education institutions. If you are supporting a survivor at
these schools, keep in mind that employees and visitors are also
covered. Every school has to have a Title IX Coordinator and
published policies and procedures related to sexual harassment
8
and assault. They have to do three things once they know or
reasonably should know about an incident that impacts someone’s
ability to access their programs or services:
1. Take reasonable steps to stop the behavior
2. Take reasonable steps to stop the behavior from reoccurring
3. Address the impact on the victim and the community
Schools can make changes to someone’s living (if on campus),
working, or learning environment to meet the three duties above.
They have to do at least a preliminary investigation, and they can’t
wait for a concurrent criminal process to finish before they act.
The Campus SaVE Act is specific for higher education institutions.
It requires institutions to have policies and procedures on sexual
assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking. It requires
those crimes to be documented in their annual security report.
And it requires education for all incoming students and new
employees as well as on-going education programs, among other
things.
If you want great information on Title IX go to Know Your
IX’s website www.knowyourix.org. This was started by student
advocates. It’s a fantastic resource for advocates, allies, and
survivors.
The Campus SaVE Act is now law, but the guidance hasn’t
been officially released yet, so stay tuned. Just know that most
institutions do not have the internal capacity to meet the education
standards, which is a great opportunity for rape crisis centers.
YOU are experts, and higher education needs you. TAASA is a
great resource for helping you think strategically about how to
approach and partner with your local K-12 or higher education
institution.
Campus sexual assault is a serious issue. The dissemination of
information reguarding the rights of survivors on campus to
stakeholders is key.
JYL SHAFFER IS THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
SPRING 2014
[CONT FROM COVER]
How does this impact adult prisons and jails, and local rape crisis
centers? First of all, the standards require that all allegations of sexual
abuse be investigated. Once an allegation has been made, the facility
will be required to offer victims of sexual abuse access to a forensic
medical examination, without financial cost, if appropriate. If the
victim agrees to a forensic medical examination, the agency must
attempt to provide the victim with a victim advocate from a rape
crisis center or a community-based organization. If the facility does
not have an MOU with a local rape crisis center, the facility has the
option to utilize a qualified agency staff member as a victim advocate.
In turn, the victim advocate will accompany and support the victim
through the forensic medical examination process and provide
emotional support, crisis intervention, information, and referrals.
One partnership, Families in Crisis, Inc. in Killeen, Texas is having
positive results and we would like to expand to cover all our facilities
across the state.
A rape crisis center interested in providing services to a federal,
county or juvenile facility in their area will need to contact the
facility directly to elicit an MOU. However, the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has established an office that will
coordinate the establishment of an MOU with local rape crisis
centers. If you or your agency is interested in providing services to
a TDCJ correctional facility, please contact the Safe Prisons/PREA
Compliance Management Office at 936-437-8918.
During August 2013, letters were distributed to 106 rape crisis centers
in Texas requesting partnerships in providing emotional support
services to incarcerated victims of sexual assault. The response rate
was very minimal.
RALPH BALES IS PREA OMBUDSMAN FOR THE TEXAS BOARD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE (TBCJ)
9
PREVENTION & SOCIAL JUSTICE
Engaging Men Beyond SAAM
Spring is a time for new beginnings, and
Sexual Assault Awareness Month, with
its diverse set of events can offer your
EMILIANO
center an avenue to forge new alliances
DIAZ DE LEON
with men in your community. Take
the time to plant the seeds at your events
and then nurture these new relationships
through the following four steps.
Invite - Contact men who participated in your events during Sexual
Assault Awareness Month as this is an opportunity to establish a longterm relationship with these men. Extending personal invitations is ideal,
but since it is not always possible to meet or involve folks in person, utilize
online and/or electronic media avenues such as a dedicated page on your
website, a Facebook page (ex. www.facebook.com/stepup), newsletters,
e-mail updates, a blog, and other forms of social media. Although phone
calls personalize the invite, flexibility in scheduling meetings is key
(informational meetings at various times and locations) Regardless of
the method you decide on for communication, use every opportunity
to learn about other male leaders you should talk to and continue asking
these men for more names in order to build a stronger network of male
allies. Along the way, collect contact information for each man that you
speak with, such as name, address, phone-numbers, e-mail address, and
more importantly skill-set and experience. All in all, the goal is to provide
men with a sense of investment and ongoing involvement.
Raise Consciousness - Help men explore their personal and collective
role in ending all forms of sexual violence. Share information by
creating a lending library of books, articles, zines, films, and magazines
(recommended resources on pages 40-45 of TAASA 2014 SAAPM
10
Toolkit) , or if this is not possible, share on-line articles, blogs, websites,
newsletters, and videos through social media platforms, such as Facebook,
LinkedIn, or Twitter. Encourage men to organize and establish book/
article discussion groups with male co-workers, classmates, neighbors,
family members, and friends. You can also encourage them to host
reviews of books related to themes of healthy masculinity and sexual
violence prevention on their personal social media accounts. Join the
Texas Men’s Nonviolence Project (www.mensnonviolence.org/) and
the National Men Against Violence (groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/
menagainstviolence/info) list-serves or organize a Google+ Hangout
or Twitter chat for men to further their discussions. Finally, organize,
promote, and offer your own trainings/workshops on a variety of topics
facilitated by local community members for no cost or for a minimal fee.
Refer to your established network of male allies to find men that can lead
these workshops or consult with the TAASA prevention team to provide
you, your staff, volunteers, and men in your community with free training
and technical assistance in order to support and enhance your efforts to
prevent sexual violence with men.
Take Risks - Try something new! Forge unexpected relationships, step
out of your comfort zone, and resist the temptation to become complacent.
This requires open-mindedness, courage, and a willingness to allow
men from the community to lead particular endeavors. Experiment
with different strategies, activities, and environments, utilizing the ideas
presented in the TAASA 2014 SAAPM Toolkit throughout the year
rather than solely in the month of April. Think evaluatively about your
efforts. Ask the men who participate why they can and/or continue to
stay engaged. Notice the effect of both long and short-term work with a
specific group of men and the different ways that different groups of men
are impacted. Make mistakes, ask for feedback, adjust, try again, and
SPRING 2014
always strive to improve your men’s engagement efforts. Don’t be afraid
to ask for help and not know the answer, to fail, and to succeed.
Evaluate - Even if your organization has involved men in various roles
for some time, it is important to constantly reevaluate. Get these men
together to continue talking about the issues and create opportunities to
listen to various groups of men in your community. These discussions
can happen on the street, at churches, college dorms, recreation centers,
or anywhere where men gather. More importantly, recruit and train
men to organize and facilitate these discussions. Document these
conversations, collect the information, review it, and share it with key
stakeholders in your community. This information will continue to
inform your process and provide insight into the interests, availability
and expertise of men in your community. Use this as an opportunity
to continue to conduct focus groups, especially with groups of men
that have not had contact with your organization, whether it is a group
of immigrants or members of a particular faith community. It’s critical
to value and appreciate the experiences that each man shares with you
and your team along the way. Invite men to share what they have learned
and accomplished through poetry, photographs, stories, art, and writing.
Celebrate and acknowledge each “historic moment” and embrace the
failures as an opportunity to try again, consistently revisiting the four
steps in cyclical fashion.
*Emiliano Diaz De Leon is the Men’s Engagement Specialist at TAASA
As you follow these steps, TAASA is ready to spring into action and assist
you in any way we can so that you may continue to cultivate and grow
your primary prevention efforts with men beyond SAAM. Contact us
for support at [email protected].
SOAPBOX is an outlet for TAASA members to express their opinions on
current events, social justice issues, and the national and local political
climate. The views expressed in SOAPBOX do not necessarily reflect the
opinions of TAASA, our board, members or affiliated agencies.
11
OUTREACH & AWARENESS
Thank you!
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the 2014 TAASA Annual Conference in Irving,
TX. The measure of success extends beyond the imparting of information by expert presenters.
It includes the reverberation of that information through multi-disciplinary collaborations and
discussions resulting in survivor-centered, culturally appropriate services. The spirit of cooperation
was in the air as members of the U.S. military, law enforcement officers, sexual assault nurse examiners,
advocates, university personnel and others gathered at the 2014 TAASA Annual Conference. The
conference included a balance of fun, learning and social media! The #taasaconference2014 went viral
as attendees with various levels of tech proficiency took conversation to the internet stage and beyond
conference walls. Many agencies and individual attendees set up social media accounts to take part.
Thank you for attending the 2014 TAASA Annual Conference and more importantly, thank you for
your work with survivors.
12
SPRING
2014
Winter 2013
OUTREACH & AWARENESS
FROM OUR BLOG
TAASASPEAKINGOUT.ORG
I keep a very vivid memory from
sometime in the hormonal haze of
MAYA
my middle school years. I remember
PILGRAM
riding in the car and trying to
cover my arm and shoulder which
were getting beaten down by the hot
Texas sun in an effort to not get any
darker. It didn’t take much back then; my
color changed in a heartbeat. If I were to reduce the diversity of
skin colors down to a cheap crayon box of eight, my coloring has
always favored my mother’s brown more than my father’s white.
Few people I saw in my daily life since moving to the US when I
turned 10 looked like me. This was true for those I came across in
the flesh in our predominantly white middle-class suburb and for
those who graced the pages of my Seventeen and Jane magazines,
MTV, Nickelodeon or prime-time TV. My color, my features
and how they defined me against what I saw everyday was and
still is always salient in my mind. I would be labeled as “exotic”,
told ignorantly to go back to the Great Wall of China (I’m not
Chinese), and confused for any number of different nationalities.
At some point, I began to embrace my brownness, even began to
revel in it. Adulthood has allowed me emotional distance from
the tumultuous waves of adolescence but it was a long and crooked
journey aided mostly by building friendships with others who
could understand my experience, even if we didn’t explicitly talk
about it. Watching Lupita Nyong’o’s acceptance speech for Best
Breakthrough Performance at the Black Women in Hollywood
Luncheon brought back a lot of those emotions for me. If you haven’t
heard her give this speech, transcribed here I urge you to listen to or
read it now. She speaks of her experience of growing up not feeling
beautiful and being “teased and taunted because of [her] nightshaded skin.” She talks about the impact of the Sudanese model Alek
Wek coming onto the fashion scene and ultimately re-examining
what it means to be beautiful. While I can’t speak to Nyong’o’s
experience, I can certainly speak to mine.
I had once wished for lighter skin, thinner lips, and different facial
features. Nyong’o’s speech reminded me of my past insecurities
but also made obvious the disconnect of telling girls to have
“self-esteem” when the pervasive message is that they are not
held in esteem by society, or that they are only valued in terms
of their “exotic-ness.” It highlighted to me the problem of almost
exclusively emphasizing beauty when it comes to women’s worth
but then the added injury of only emphasizing a certain type
of beauty, often exclusionary of women of color. How can we
LUPITA NYONG’O AND WHY
SELF-ESTEEM WORKSHOPS
FOR GIRLS FALL SHORT
expect to erase a childhood’s worth of girls being told to strive for
unattainable, photoshopped beauty with a one-hour workshop
on the importance of self-esteem? It’s not that I don’t think
conversations about self-esteem are important. But, I also insist
they are vastly insufficient, shifting the burden to girls to muster
up their own feelings of self-worth despite the messages and
images that surround them.
Nyong’o shared her mother’s powerful words, “you can’t eat
beauty, it doesn’t feed you.” It’s an important message to any
girl, but it’s not the message that we, as a society give her. There
is serious incongruence between what we want and what we
do. I hear it every time someone first meets my daughter and
immediately tells her she’s cute or pretty or beautiful but does
little else to acknowledge the wealth of other attributes that make
her a wonderful human being. It makes my work as a “Primary
Prevention Specialist” very, very personal. How do we hold
ourselves accountable for what we’ll accept or brush off as “bigger
than us” without acknowledging that we’re part of it? How do
we hold companies accountable? I found Nyong’o’s speech
so relevant and touching because it made the intersections so
evident. It’s not a matter of beauty or race or gender. It’s a matter
of beauty and race and gender.
I can’t expect to erase centuries of fair being the standard of beauty
nor of beauty determining a woman’s worth, but I can demand to
change the conversation. I can change my conversations. I can
ask girls what they like to do and what books they’re reading
instead of commenting on their wardrobe. I can help my daughter
navigate the conversations. I can speak up through emails and
petitions and twitter and phone calls to hold companies and
individuals accountable for their speech. The Representation
Project which looks specifically at how media treats women and
girls and their #notbuyingit campaigns are helping to remold
the messages about femininity and womanhood. Let’s allow
all girls the opportunity to feel beautiful. Let’s bring to the
conversation issues beyond beauty, issues and topics that will
really feed them. In the words of poet, Katie Makkai, I plan on
echoing this message to my child: “The word pretty is unworthy
of everything you will be. And no child of mine will be contained
in five letters. You will be pretty intelligent, pretty creative, pretty
amazing but you will never be merely pretty.” I plan on changing
the conversation. I hope you’ll join me.
This post originally appeared on the TAASA Speaking Out blog on March 9, 2014
MAYA PILGRIM IS THE PRIMARY PREVENTION SPECIALIST AT TAASA
SPRING 2014
College Student Awareness of
Sexual Assault Resources
CORTNEY A. FRANKLIN, PH.D. & TASHA A. MENAKER, M.A.
Researchers at Sam Houston State University conducted
a survey examining knowledge of sexual assault resources
among 503 undergraduate students (50% male, 50% female).
Research demonstrated that students are vulnerable to sexual
assault, due to the high-risk nature of the campus, where
alcohol consumption and a “hook-up culture” proliferates.
Estimates suggest approximately 20-to-25% of women will
experience attempted or completed rape while in college
and approximately 9-to-14% of college men will be sexually
assaulted.1 Victim-centered responses to sexual assault
disclosure can mitigate negative mental health outcomes.3 For
service providers to respond and aid recovery, victims must be
aware of resources. This survey examined knowledge of campus
and community resources. The full report can be found at:
www.crimevictimsinstitute.org/publications.
Campus Sexual Assault Resources
The University campus services students who have experienced
victimization, including counseling and health resources;
victimization-specific interventions, pregnancy testing, and
screening for sexually transmitted infections through on-campus
Student Health Centers; a University Police Department
(UPD); the Dean of Students’ Office; blue light emergency
phones; an “Escort Service” for protective accompaniment, and
sexual assault awareness raising programs.
Resource Knowledge on Campus
All incoming students who attend orientation receive
information on campus resources for sexual assault victims,
though only 50% of respondents reported receiving information
on resources since their enrollment. Only one-third of students
said they knew where to “get information about sexual assaults
on campus,”
Likelihood of Resource Use
Nearly 85% of males and 83% of females reported they would
use sexual assault information provided by the university if
they “encountered a sexual assault situation.” Similar findings
emerged for using information if they were sexually assaulted.
Sexual Assault Survivors
Nearly 17% of women and 8% men reported unwanted sexual
contact and sexual assault. More victims rated sexual assault
information as “NOT informative enough” compared to
counterparts. Additionally, a greater proportion of victims
reported that they were “not likely to use resource information
given to them by this university if they were sexually assaulted”
as compared to non-victims.
Strategies to Enhance Resource Knowledge and HelpSeeking among University Students
Presenting students with information during new student
orientation may not be the most effective strategy for
universities, as participants are already overwhelmed with
material pertaining to being new college students. Current
strategies would be enhanced by dissemination plans that
remind students of resources during the first weeks of classes
and again throughout the semester. Taking advantage of
residence life and Greek, athletic and ROTC affiliations may
aid efforts to capture the greatest proportion of university
students.
Fisher, B.S., Cullen, F.T., & Turner, M.G. (2000). The Sexual Victimization of College
1
Women. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice,
Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Ullman, S. E. (1999). “Social support and recovery from sexual assault: A review.” Aggres-
3
sion and Violent Behavior, 4(3), 343-358.
Campus Resource Accessibility
Approximately 44% of males and 53% of females agreed that
sexual assault resources provided were “NOT informative
enough.” Similarly, 66% of males and 68% of females reported
not knowing enough about campus resources to use them in
“a sexual assault situation.” Findings suggest more than half of
the 500 students surveyed were unaware of services to mitigate
trauma for sexual assault survivors.
CORTNEY A. FRANKLIN, PH.D. IS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
& TASHA A. MENAKER, M.A. IS DOCTORAL CANDIDATE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY LOCATED IN HUNTSVILLE, TX.
taasa
PRESORTED
FIRST-CLASS
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
AUSTIN, TX
PERMIT NO. 718
TEXAS ASSOCIATION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT
6200 La Calma | Suite 110
Austin, Texas 78752
www.taasa.org | 512-474-7190
Mission Statement: The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault is committed to ending sexual violence in Texas through education, prevention and advocacy. In the meantime, we desire to support survivors on their
paths to hope, healing and justice. TAASA is the voice of the sexual assault movement in Texas. We are a unifying force bringing together parties involved in and affected by sexual assault as a catalyst for change.
TAASA BOARD
TAASA STAFF
President
Stephanie Schulte
El Paso
Region A
Norma Luginbyhl
Borger, TX
At Large
Mary Farmer
Terrell, TX
Executive Director
Annette Burrhus-Clay
President-Elect
Lori Bunton
Abilene
Region B
Debbie Benavides
San Antonio
At Large
Evangeline Barefoot
Taylor, TX
Deputy Director
of Organizational
Development
Morgan J Curtis
Secretary
Brandi Reed
Amarillo
Region C
Terri Ward
Texarkana
At Large
Andria Brannon
Austin
Deputy Director of
External Affairs
Glenn D. Stockard
Treasurer
Kim Stark
Lubbock
Region D
John Bickel
Houston
At Large
Drew Brassfield
Panhandle
Member Support
and Advocacy
Program Director
April Buentello-Srock
SANE
Representative
Linda Galvan
Georgetown
Region E
Cesar M. Campa
El Paso
At Large
Nicole Martinez
Austin
Men’s Engagement
Specialist
Emiliano Diaz de Leon
Graphic Designer
Michael J Harrell
Human Trafficking
Specialist
Wende Hilsenrod
Prevention Program
Specialist
Ted Rutherford
Staff Attorney
Christopher Kaiser
Web Content
Specialist
Alyssa Salazar
Prevention Program
Director
Tim Love
Training Specialist
Mike Sweeney
Communications
Program Director
Rose Luna
Training Program
Director
Lyndel Williams
Chief Operations
Officer
Elizabeth Morris
Program Assistant
Dina Yup
Events Manager
Cecilia Perkins
Primary Prevention
Specialist
Maya Pilgrim
Technical
Assistance
Coordinator
Lisa Zapata