New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Programs: See schedule o2012 njcasa highlights:for over 30 years, the new jersey coalition against sexual assault (njcasa) has been acting as an advocate for survivors, their loved ones & the 22 sexual violence programs that provide services throughout new jersey. Njcasa provides information, advocacy and education to the public, media and government officials regarding sexual violence issues. Njcasa is dedicated to developing and maintaining programs and services which support our mission of eliminating sexual violence against all people. 22 njcasa member sexual violence programs provide services throughout new jersey. Every county in new jersey has a 24-hour sexual violence program (svp) that provides the following free and confidental services:. 24-hour hotline. 24-hour crisis response of a confidential sexual violence advocate. Individual and/or group counseling for survivors and significant others. Sexual assault response teams . Legal, medical and systems advocacy . Outreach to survivors regardless of participation in the criminal justice system . Information and referral services awareness, education and prevention strategies 2012 statewide statistics for services provided by sexual violence programs to survivors and their loved ones: total survivors served: 3,699total others served: 770total hotline/email reponses: 10,519 total persons counseled: 2,545total accompaniments to medical, criminal justice, or other: 1,480prevention:we can prevent violence that's based in one person having, or assuming power over someone else's body. As a society, and in our families, we struggle to deal with the shared and personal costs of this violence after it has occurred. As a community, we can prevent most of it from ever happening. Sexual violence programs throughout the state are working with community members in middle and high schools, colleges and youth serving organizations to prevent sexual violence. The strategy that most counties are utilizing focuses on increasing the understanding and skills of individuals and groups to act to stop sexual violence whenever they can. These strategies also focus on policies & attitudes in the schools or communities that support bystanders taking action. Completed analysis of state-wide gender norms/rape myths/bystander attitude survey. This survey will help develop a baseline for prevention work in nj and inform prevention programs that address attitudes toward gender roles/sexual violence, inequality in the media, and bystander intervention. The analysis was done by the center for violence against women and children at rutgers university. The study showed that men saw problems with the media, held more traditional gender role beliefs, and were less likely to intervene in bystander situations. Completion of process and outcome evaluation tools for bystander and media literacy prevention strategies. In collaboration with members of the (ppec) prevention and public education committee of the gacasv and the program membership prevention coordinators. These tools were at least 2 years in the making, based on research done by the ppec and practical feedback from the sexual violence programs (svps). College consortium:the college consortium has continued to grow since its inception last year-11 colleges are active members of the consortium. Alongside the campus chapters program, the college consortium is working to help colleges strengthen services and prevention on their campuses. Americorps program: in 2012, the americorps program grew exponentially. Nineteen members served from 2011-2012 and provided 20,400 hours of service to sexual violence programs (svps) and njcasa in victim advocacy and support, prevention work and outreach programs. They brought in 821 volunteers who provided over 39,000 volunteer hours to programs. Sixteen members started at 13 sites around nj in 2011 and will finish their service in 2013. Training:hosted 15 training institute workshops for 267 people. Most workshops focused on prevention, intervention and policy advocacy, with some geared toward law enforcement and college campuses. The training institute generated nearly $9,300 in revenue for njcasa after expenses. Released the training dvd a first impression is a lasting one: first responder patrol response to adult victims of sexual assault to help law enforcement officers utilize a survivor-centered approach when responding to sexual assault cases. This project was conceived in 2007 after program members named law enforcement training as a top priority. The dvd premiered to an audience of 80 people in april 2011. Since then over 500 copies have been distributed in new jersey and nationally. Policy and advocacy: policy and legislative advocacy work in 2012 has touched on a range of issues that including human trafficking, restraining orders, victim's rights, and federal vawa and budget issues. Njcasa has drafted legislation, testified in front of the nj senate and assembly, and advised allied groups and legislators on the impact of various policies. In legislation, njcasa worked on a bill that would require the state to cover the costs of forensic exams for all survivors, which passed and was signed into law in august 2011. In 2012, njcasa also worked closely with survivors groups on a bill that would eliminate the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse. That bill passed out of the senate and assembly committees it was assigned to but did not end up passing during the 2010-2011 legislative session, despite intense advocacy by njcasa and our partners. Njcasa worked with advocates and stakeholders on the attorney general's task force on human trafficking to develop draft anti-trafficking legislation which would provide better services to survivors of trafficking, as well as increase penalties. Njcasa has served as a resource for legislators, policy makers, and allied organizations on sexual violence policy, providing them with statistics on sexual violence, the impact of legislation on survivors of sexual violence, and suggestions for improving the current policy and practice. Both local and national groups have asked for njcasa's expertise and knowledge. Other work:statewide confidential sexual violence advocate certification was approved by svp program membership for implementation in 2012. Held the 2nd annual sexual assault awareness month (saam) 5k walk-raising awareness and over $35,000 for sexual assault services and prevention efforts throughout nj. The teresa's truth and courage fund distributed nearly $2,000 in emergency grants for survivors. Njcaca staff was asked to edit and write entries for an encyclopedia on sexual violence, put together by the center on violence against women and children at rutgers university. Njcasa staff contributed to the chapter on legal remedies as well as sexual violence and religion.