The criminal justice system is not the only way for survivors of sexual assault to get their legal needs met. Because most victims never report to the police, most sexual assault victims are never involved in the criminal justice system. However, survivors may still have many legal needs that arise from being sexually assaulted.
Some issues that survivors may be concerned about, but do not necessarily think of as legal issues, are things such as:
Sexual violence is an endemic social problem in the U.S. The victim blaming attitudes of the civilian world often spill into military service, and those attitudes carry over into tours of duty. While the military has been in the spotlight for failing to support victims and respond to and prevent sexual assault, civilian criminal justice systems regularly and systematically fail victims too, and leaders in all forms of institutions fall short of adequately understanding and addressing the…
The Circle of Hope "Latin@ Support Group Guide" is intended to provide a basic outline for support group facilitators that are seeking to establish or enhance sexual assault support groups for adult Latin@ survivors in Washington State.
Recognizing the expertise current facilitators have working with Latin@ survivors and also acknowledging the need for new facilitators to obtain a basic foundation to build upon, this guide provides generalized guidelines for structuring, marketing,…
Limited Release of Information Forms - These forms were created by Julie Field, founder of The Confidentiality Institute and the Safety Net Project, National Network of Domestic Violence. (2008, last revised 2010). They can be downloaded and modified to include your agency information.
A bilingual curriculum put together by the Migrant Clinicians Network which lasts 5 two-hour weekly sessions and focuses on preventing intimate partner and sexual violence within migrant communities. This curriculum uses a culturally appropriate, popular education style.
A teaching resource from the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, with activities exploring:
Curriculum includes:
The intent of these presentations is to provide a starting place or a template for your program when responding to requests, typically from schools, for basic information or awareness raising presentations. We have included the key points and best practice approaches to discussing the topic and expect you may customize some aspects of the slides to meet your community’…
Unequal Partners includes 50 lesson plans to help adolescents and young adults learn about and explore the dynamics of both healthy and unhealthy relationships.
A trauma-informed perspective helps participants explore sensitive and critical topics, including:
Service providers generally view sexual assault victims in rural areas as an underserved population, mostly because of a well-recognized, low rate of reporting and because of the often dispersed nature of services. Rural populations are often marginalized from mainstream power structures, which hold more opportunities for assistance, services, and resources.
Barriers for survivors in rural areas include:
Agent of Change is an online game which allows users to choose their reactions, creating pathways and customizing situations to the specific questions and needs of the student. Agent of Change addresses many forms of violence, and includes diverse characters. Continuously updated with student pre- and post- test data.
Washington State law includes sex offenses and other related crimes, as well as benefits and protections for victims. The following list is adapted from the Sexual Violence Law Center:
Intended to reduce instances of violence among diverse groups of youth by focusing on healthy relationship skills and bystander accountability. Developed and implemented in Los Angeles by Peace Over Violence.
Public awareness campaign created by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. Encourages bystanders to intervene when they witness peers in dating or sexual violence situations. The posters address:
Posters represent diversity of racial/ethnic backgrounds and both…
The intent of these presentations is to provide a starting place or a template for your program when responding to requests, typically from schools, for basic information or awareness raising presentations. We have included the key points and best practice approaches to discussing the topic and expect you may customize some aspects of the slides to meet your community’s needs, experiences, and resources. The slides contain detailed notes and considerations for the trainer.
…WholeSomeBodies is a curriculum for adults who have children and youth in their lives. Includes a guide for facilitators and a participant workbook with activities and materials to support workshops that address topics such as:
Additional material addresses how to have difficult…
Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) and youth, commonly known as sex trafficking, is a type of sexual violence that occurs when minors are forced, tricked or coerced into sexual activity for commercial exchange. Commercial exchange could include payment in the form of money, or anything of value to the youth (food, drugs, clothes, a place to sleep, social acceptance). Commercial sexual exploitation affects youth of all genders, sexual orientations, economic classes, races, and…
This guide (unCurriculum) was created by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. Includes: Facilitator’s introduction and 6 units;
Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (IPSV) can be defined as any unwanted sexual contact or activity by an intimate partner with the purpose of controlling an individual through fear, threats or violence. It can affect anyone from teens to elders.
Liverespect is a 9-session curriculum from A Call to Men designed to help mentors educate and encourage young men to examine their attitudes and beliefs about masculinity.
Safe Dates consists of a 10-session curriculum, play, parent materials, and posters.
Students discuss:
This is an evidence-based program that has had long-term outcomes measured in its effectiveness in preventing teen dating violence.
Part of the…
This 26-session curriculum, created by Paul Kivel and Allan Creighton, address:
Young men are given tools to create healthy relationships through group discussions, activities, and videos.
The website provides facilitators with tips on how to incorporate into school…
Program created by Safe Place in Austin, TX. The youth leadership and school-wide components offer a chance to work across the social-ecological model on the primary prevention of
The Faith Trust Institute created this healthy relationship and violence prevention curriculum comprised of
Teens are given skills to combat violence and develop healthy relationships.
