How HB 228 Changes Accessibility of Reparations for Survivors
“This change in Utah is monumental. It validates the reality that survivors deserve access to assistance, including physical and mental health care, regardless of the grueling criminal justice process” -Sonya Martinez-Ortiz
The 2022 Legislative session meant some changes to benefit survivors of sexual assault. This year sponsors Representative Ken Ivory and Senator Jani Iwamoto passed H.B.228 Crime Victim Reparations, which now changes eligibility requirements that may have limited access to financial assistance for survivors. Before these eligibility changes, victims were required to report sexual assault to law enforcement and cooperate with their processes. Under the new language, a victim may be eligible for financial compensation if the victim seeks assistance from an advocacy services provider, criminal justice system victim advocate, or a non-government organization victim advocate. A victim is an individual who suffers a physical or psychological injury due to criminally injurious conduct, including sexual assault. Reparations may be utilized for crime-related medical, financial loss, mental health, and dental expenses.
Victims that decide to go through the criminal justice system processes should know their rights in Utah. This includes the right to:
Be informed about the level of protection from intimidation, free from harassment, harm, and abuse available to them throughout the criminal justice process.
Be informed and assisted as to their role in the criminal justice process.
Have a clear explanation regarding relevant legal proceedings.
Have a secure waiting area that does not require them to be close to the defendant or the family or friends of the defendant
Seek restitution and reparations
Have personal property returned to them when that property is no longer needed by the criminal justice system
Reasonable employer intercession services to minimize employees’ loss of pay and other benefits resulting from their participation in the criminal justice process.
Victims have the right to object to a petition for expungement.
Should have a speedy disposition of the entire criminal justice process.
Timely notice of judicial proceedings they are to attend and timely notice of cancellations
Director of the Rape Recovery Center, Sonya Martinez-Ortiz said of the legislation, “The path to healing looks different for every survivor. For many, that means not reporting the crime to law enforcement. This change in Utah is monumental. It validates the reality that survivors deserve access to assistance, including physical and mental health care, regardless of the grueling criminal justice process. It also places power, that is often taken from victims, back in the hands of the survivor. We hope that other states continue to follow the lead of Utah”.
The RRC supports these changes for Crime Victim Reparations to allow survivors the choice to disclose their experiences with who they choose. By now, including advocate service providers, victims have expanded resources and services that can aid in the healing process. A list of resources for those who have experienced sexual assault is provided below as well a link to the UOVC website:
Utah Domestic Violence Resources Part 2
The 2022 SAAM theme is “Healing Together Utah.” This theme was chosen to emphasize the unity that should exist between the organizations, service providers, survivors, and supporters that seek to prevent sexual violence and promote healing in Utah. We want to educate Utahans about prevention and recovery resources– especially those who live in rural communities and may be unaware of what resources are available. This article details resources that are available through nine domestic violence shelters throughout Utah. On Monday, another blog post was published with resources from eight more shelters. Click here for a map of shelter locations.
In most cases, survivors are not required to stay in the shelter to receive these services.
New Hope Crisis Center (website)
Located in Brigham City; serves Box Elder County
Hotline: 435-723-5600
Services: 24-hour crisis assistance; bilingual services; 24-hour advocacy for domestic violence and sexual assault victims; protective order and stalking injunction assistance; domestic violence shelter; justice court advocacy; domestic violence support group; weekly children's group; monthly free legal night; educational presentations; counseling; classes
Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse (website)
Located in Logan; serves Cache and Rich Counties
Hotline: 435-753-2500
Services: 24-hour support phone line; emergency shelter; transitional housing; economic aid; legal assistance; court advocacy; case management; safety planning; adult, teen, and children therapy; children and teen services; educational and support groups
YCC Family Crisis Center (website)
Located in Ogden; serves Weber and Morgan Counties
Hotline: 801-392-7273
Services: 24-hour crisis line; crisis shelter; community case management; support groups and classes; victim advocates; crisis counseling; legal advocacy; referrals
Safe Harbor Crisis Center (website)
Located in Kaysville; serves Davis County
Hotline: 801-444-9161
Services: 24/7 crisis support; residential services; outreach; domestic violence support groups; children's services; protective order support; therapy; help for family and friends; county forensic nurses
Pathways Domestic Violence Shelter (website)
Located in Toole; serves Toole County
Hotline: 435-231-3557
Services: 24-hour domestic violence crisis line; emergency shelter; case management; support groups; safety planning; referrals to community resources; outreach; crisis intervention; medical, financial, and community advocacy; support groups; training and presentations
Peace House (website)
Located in Park City; serves Summit and Wasatch Counties
Hotline: 800-647-9161
Services: 24/7 helpline; clinical and case management services; outreach; prevention and awareness education; safe emergency housing; victim advocacy
YWCA Utah (website)
Located in Salt Lake City; serves Salt Lake County
Hotline: 801-537-8600
Services: 24-hour crisis line; emergency shelter; crisis intervention; safety planning; risk of danger assessment; advocacy; police reports; protective orders, stalking injunctions, and dating violence orders; children's play room; language services; refugee advocacy services; 24-hour sexual assault forensic exams; domestic violence support groups; crime victims legal clinic; immigration assistance; housing and economic empowerment services; help with applying for food stamps, Medicaid, childcare, and financial assistance; information and referrals
South Valley Services (website)
Located in West Jordan; serves Salt Lake County
Hotline: 801-255-1095
Services: 24-hour helpline; emergency housing; advocacy; case management; clinical therapy for adults and children; group therapy; children's learning center; classes; support groups; prevention presentations
The Refuge (website)
Located in Provo; serves Utah, Wasatch, and Juab Counties
Hotline: 801-377-5500
Services: 24/7 hotline; safe house and emergency shelter; confidential community advocate; aftercare services; victim support class; hospital response advocates; follow-up services; group and individual therapy; transitional housing units; financial assistance for rent and other housing needs; follow-up case management; victim advocacy; healthy relationship presentations; awareness presentations; education groups; children's activities; parenting classes
Utah Domestic Violence Resources Part 1
The 2022 SAAM theme is “Healing Together Utah.” This theme was chosen to emphasize the unity that should exist between the organizations, service providers, survivors, and supporters that seek to prevent sexual violence and promote healing in Utah. We want to educate Utahans about prevention and recovery resources– especially those who live in rural communities and may be unaware of what resources are available. This article details resources that are available through eight domestic violence shelters throughout Utah. This Friday, another blog post will be published with resources from nine more shelters. Click here for a map of shelter locations.
In most cases, survivors are not required to stay in the shelter to receive these services.
Canyon Creek Crisis Services (website)
Located in Cedar City; serves Iron, Beaver, and Garfield Counties
Hotline: 435-233-5732
Services: 24-hour hotline; crisis intervention; case management; information and referral; court and medical advocacy; mental health referrals; housing support; emergency financial assistance; safety planning; emergency shelter services; assistance to obtain safe, stable housing
Colleen Quigley Center
Located in Price; serves Carbon and Emery Counties
Hotline: 435-637-6589
Services: 24-hour crisis line; referrals for mental health, legal, medical, childcare, housing
DOVE Center (website)
Located in St. George; serves Washington and Kane Counties
Hotline: 435-628-0458
Services: 24-hour crisis and support helpline; safety planning; lethality assessment program; advocacy and support; counseling and support groups; case management; child and youth programs; community awareness and prevention education; transitional housing
Friends Against Family Violence (website)
Located in Vernal; serves Uintah, Duchesne, and Daggett Counties
Hotline: 435-781-2264
Services: 24-hour crisis line; emergency and immediate sheltering; 24-hour crisis line; comprehensive support services; advocacy; rapid rehousing support; referrals for counseling, employment services, transportation services, legal advocacy or assistance, child care services, health services; workshops
Gentle Ironhawk
Located in Blanding; serves indigenous peoples in San Juan County
Hotline: 435-678-0249
Services: 24-hour crisis line; emergency sheltering; counseling; behavioral health therapy; referrals to medical services
New Horizons Crisis Center (website)
Located in Richfield; serves Sevier, Piute, Millard, Sanpete and Wayne Counties
Hotline: 435-896-9294
Services: 24/7 crisis hotline; 24/7 emergency/safe shelter; victim advocate services; protective order assistance; legal clinic; support groups; parenting classes; children's classes
Restoring Ancestral Winds (website)
Serves indigenous peoples
Hotline: 844-7NATIVE
Services: hotline; statewide advocacy for indigenous peoples
Seekhaven (website)
Located in Moab; serves Grand and San Juan Counties
Hotline: 435-259-2229
Services: 24-hour crisis support; counseling referrals; legal and medical advocacy; financial assistance; emergency shelter
PREA Specialist at the RRC: Liz Landry
My name is Liz Landry and I am originally from Portland, ME. I have spent the last two years living in Utah, however, where I have worked exclusively in the area of mental health and social services.
I joined the Rape Recovery Center two months ago as a Mobile Response Team Advocate and the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Specialist. As the PREA Specialist, I aim to bring awareness to rape within the Criminal Justice System and the educational resources that are available.
PREA was passed in congress unanimously in 2003 and strives to eradicate prisoner rape in all types of correctional facilities in the country. Because PREA is new to Utah, I am working in collaboration with the UT PREA Coordinator, The Family Justice Center Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (FJCSANE), and others to create and implement a program that best supports and advocates for incarcerated survivors. With great sensitivity, these services take a survivor-lead, trauma-informed care approach that ensures the safety and wellbeing of the individual while taking into account standards and policies of PREA as well.
Please feel free to reach out via email, l.landry@raperecoverycenter.org, if you have any further inquiries. Stay tuned for other PREA updates!
New Peer Advocacy Council for Teens!
Rape Recovery Center is so excited to announce the creation of our Peer Advocacy Council or PAC! PAC is a group for teens of 7th-12th grade age in Salt Lake County. PAC teens and facilitators will work together and explore topics such as building healthy relationships, setting boundaries, responding when violence happens to us and those around us, and preventing violence from happening in the first place. PAC teens will learn about these and other topics and develop skills to improve their own lives and relationships. PAC also emphasizes teaching and empowering these youth to act as peer educators as they have these conversations, practice these skills, and educate their peers and others around them.
Part of Rape Recovery Center’s mission is to prevent sexual violence. One of the most effective ways of preventing violence (both sexual violence and other types of violence) is shifting the community’s attitudes and beliefs about violence and societal norms. It is crucial to have the people that are already in our community be the ones to educate and share with the people around them. Passionate young people are the most powerful asset we have in creating this change, and we know that PAC teens are an amazing investment in our community.
Any teens interested in joining PAC can sign up here and receive information about getting involved.
Pillar of Hope 2021 Awardee
We are thrilled to announce the recipient of this year's pillar of hope award, Jay Henry. Each year the Rape Recovery Center honors an organization or individual in our community with the "Pillar of Hope" award for their work in moving forward our mission to end sexual violence in Utah.
Jay Henry is the former director at the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services, state crime lab. Among a plethora of nominations Jay stood out for his efforts to push testing for all sexual assault kits. Aiding in the research process and reaching out to secure funding to test previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits, Jay was pushing right alongside the fight. Jay traveled throughout Utah talking to law enforcement personally to get them to submit their kits, becoming a quiet force who made monumental changes. Jay worked tirelessly in getting kits submitted, applying for funding to update crime lab equipment, working with legislators to increase crime lab funding to pay for kit testing, establishing the kit tracking system, and writing grants.
Jay joins a long list of advocates who have also been recognized for their work for survivors including; Representative Angela Romero, Jennifer Seelig, Deondra Brown, Chief Lee Russo, Dr. Julie Valentine, Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources, Centro de la Familia de Utah, and Ashley Love.
Volunteer Spotlight: Karen Deardeuff
The Rape Recovery Center volunteer team consists of nearly 150 incredible individuals who give their time, talents, and passion to furthering our mission of serving survivors and educating the community about sexual violence. This month we are spotlighting our dedicated volunteer, Karen Deardeuff.
April 1, 2021
The Rape Recovery Center volunteer team consists of nearly 150 incredible individuals who give their time, talents, and passion to furthering our mission of serving survivors and educating the community about sexual violence. This month we are spotlighting our talented Karen Deardeuff, one of our Administrative Department volunteers.
Karen has been extremely dedicated to the RRC for several years and has volunteered in multiple departments. Currently, she is assisting our direct service providers in revamping our filing system and other administrative projects. Karen, we thank you for all your work and dedication to the Rape Recovery Center and the survivors in our community.
What motivated you to become a volunteer at the Rape Recovery Center?
Sexual assault is something that has affected me personally. Volunteering with the RRC has provided me with a great deal of healing and an avenue to make a little difference in the lives of other survivors.
What have you enjoyed most about your time as an RRC volunteer?
The training I have received as a volunteer has been invaluable in allowing me to better support survivors that I encounter outside of my work with the RRC. I have also been amazed by the other RRC volunteers and staff I interact with every time I am at the center.
What is most challenging about your volunteer work at the RRC?
Seeing and hearing the pain people have to ensure and seeing how that is then compounded by widespread misunderstanding and misinformation about the realities of sexual violence is always difficult.
Tell us a little more about how you spend your time outside volunteering for the RRC - hobbies, passions, work, school?
I love to read, go camping, and scuba dive!
You have immersed yourself in the difficult work of addressing sexual violence. What gives you hope as you approach this work?
Seeing the difference, the RRC makes in the lives of survivors always gives me hope. It is also incredible to witness how people survive awful experiences and still show kindness, have hope, and experience joy.
How do you use your voice to support survivors of sexual violence?
I try to use my training, experience, and knowledge about sexual violence to educate people I come in contact with, especially about misconceptions and misunderstandings about victims and perpetrators.
What is your message to others looking to get involved in this work or considering volunteer work at the RRC?
There are so many ways to help at the RRC! If you are hesitant about working directly with survivors, there are other options. If you are willing and able to work directly with survivors, know that the work is difficult and rewarding. Be prepared to gain a new sense of empathy and understanding.
Volunteer Spotlight: Randi Peery
The Rape Recovery Center volunteer team consists of nearly 150 incredible individuals who give their time, talents, and passion to furthering our mission of serving survivors and educating the community about sexual violence. This month we are spotlighting our talented Education and Outreach Volunteer, Randi Peery.
Randi Peery, E & O Volunteer
February 4, 2021
The Rape Recovery Center volunteer team consists of nearly 150 incredible individuals who give their time, talents, and passion to furthering our mission of serving survivors and educating the community about sexual violence. This month we are spotlighting our talented Randi Peery from the Education and Outreach Department.
Randi has been incredible and is a compassionate advocate for the RRC and survivors. We thank you for all your work and dedidcation.
What motivated you to become a volunteer at the Rape Recovery Center?
I volunteered with the Montgomery County Women’s Center in Philadelphia when I lived there, helping to run their Domestic Violence Crisis Line as well as their Safe House. When I moved back to Utah, I wanted to get involved in a similar community organization and found the RRC.
What have you enjoyed most about your time as an RRC volunteer?
I love that there isn’t just ONE way to give time to the RRC. There is so much work to be done and many ways to contribute each person’s unique skills or availability.
What is most challenging about your volunteer work at the RRC?
Finding a balance between giving too much and taking care of your mental health can be a challenge. The work the RRC is doing is SO important but it’s sometimes important to say “no, I can’t give any more of myself right now” and honor yourself in that way.
Tell us a little more about how you spend your time outside of volunteering for the RRC - hobbies, passions, work, school?
My partner and I just bought a historic house near Trolley Square last summer, so we’ve spent a lot of time working on repairs and restoration. The first thing we did was to turn the entire backyard into a victory garden so we can grow all of our vegetables and herbs. I’m a passionate home cook. I say that feeding people is my love language so I can’t wait to harvest from my garden and use those fresh ingredients in new recipes. My partner isn’t from Utah, we also spend as much time as we can exploring all the beautiful outdoor spaces we have nearby and hiking in the mountains.
You have immersed yourself in the difficult work of addressing sexual violence. What gives you hope as you approach this work?
Intersectionality isn’t an obscure concept, it is the standard when talking about restorative justice. Younger and younger people are becoming aware earlier of social justice work and striving to make the world a better place for EVERYONE and dismantling systems of oppression. It’s not something you see on the outside of the conversation, it IS the conversation.
What is your message to others looking to get involved in this work, or considering volunteer work at the RRC?
It can seem intimidating at first, to confront something so harmful that is so prolific in our society. It’s easy to shy away from shining a light on how sexual violence has impacted every corner of our society including your own life. But the work is incredibly important and there are so many ways to help. Just taking the 40-hour course to become qualified was SO impactful on me that I would recommend it to everyone.
At Home Rape Kits and Survivors
Several companies are marketing at-home, or “Do-It-Yourself,” rape kits that claim survivors can collect their own sexual assault forensic evidence. Our partners at Wasatch Forensic Nurses have prepared a statement warning against the use of these kits, which can be found below.
Blog Published on September 19, 2019
DIY Rape Kits Mislead Survivors
Several companies are marketing at-home, or “Do-It-Yourself,” rape kits that claim survivors can collect their own sexual assault forensic evidence. Our partners at Wasatch Forensic Nurses have prepared a statement warning against the use of these kits, which can be found below.
It is important for survivors and their supporters to understand the risks of these kits. While at first look they may seem like a positive alternative to traditional rape kit collection, especially for those who are hesitant to interact with the criminal justice system, they are actually an attempt to profit off of survivors during a very stressful and difficult time. These kits cannot be used by police and are not admissible evidence in a criminal court proceeding.
Survivors who have recently experienced a sexual assault and are considering having a rape kit collected should know the following:
Sexual assault forensic evidence can be collected within 6-days of an assault in Salt Lake County. In the nation, it is 5-days.
Funding is available to pay for this evidence collection - the survivor will be assisted in accessing these funding sources to avoid out of pocket expenses.
Evidence can be collected even if the survivor is not sure if they want to talk to the police. This is called a “restricted kit.”
When a rape kit is collected, the survivor will also receive important medical care to address concerns about pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and possible injury.
Survivors will also receive access to healing resources as part of this evidence collection process, and in Salt Lake County an advocate from the Rape Recovery Center will be there during the whole process to provide support and resources.
Volunteer Spotlight: Chloe Lehman
The Rape Recovery Center volunteer team consists of nearly 150 incredible individuals who give their time, talents, and passion to furthering our mission of serving survivors and educating the community about sexual violence. This month we are spotlighting our talented Hospital Response Team Volunteer, Chloe Lehman
Flor Olivo, Outreach Volunteer.
The Rape Recovery Center volunteer team consists of nearly 150 incredible individuals who give their time, talents, and passion to furthering our mission of serving survivors and educating the community about sexual violence. This month we are spotlighting our talented Hospital Response Team Volunteer, Chloe Lehman
Chloe has been an amazing part of our Hospital Response Team (HRT). She is a loving and compassionate advocate and we are so lucky to have her on our team. Thank you for your continuous work and huge heart, Chloe!
What motivated you to become a volunteer at the Rape Recovery Center?
I know so many friends and family members who have been affected by sexual violence and deal with the effects daily. I wanted to do more to help prevent sexual violence and support survivors so I started looking for ways to help in my community and I found the Rape Recovery Center.
What have you enjoyed most about your time as an RRC volunteer?
I've really enjoyed getting to know all of the different people who care about these issues. There are so many incredible people involved and I've enjoyed learning, expanding my perspectives, and using my voice to help advocate for and empower survivors.
What is most challenging about your volunteer work at the RRC?
I think the most challenging thing is being so aware of just a fraction of the sexual violence that takes place in my community and then also seeing how it affects survivors and their friends and family. I have heard the statistic 1 in 3 women in Utah experience sexual violence but seeing that in real time is heartbreaking and devastating. It can feel really overwhelming some days, but I’m also really glad that I’m more aware and that I have the opportunity to do something small to help.
Tell us a little more about how you spend your time outside of volunteering for the RRC - hobbies, passions, work, school?
I currently work for a Civil Rights law firm downtown, but I'm hoping to go back and get an MSW at the U. In my free time I love to hike and trail run with my pup. I love spending as much time as possible outside. I love reading. And I love getting coffee with friends and talking about politics, spirituality, good books and movies, and zombie apocalypses.
You have immersed yourself in the very difficult work of addressing sexual violence. What gives you hope as you approach this work?
I feel hope when I see how many people care about this. Connecting to a community that is passionate about this has been so incredible. I feel less lonely in my advocacy and my passion for this work when I'm connected with so many smart, compassionate, amazing people who work so hard to support survivors and prevent sexual violence.
What is your message to others looking to get involved in this work, or considering volunteer work at the RRC?
I think there is something for every comfort level at the RRC. I believe that everyone has their gifts and talents and the RRC can find a place for yours. I also think it's important to find connection with survivors, the RRC staff, and other volunteers. It helps sustain me to see that there are so many around me that understand, want to support me, and are dedicated to this work.
How do you use their voice to support survivors of sexual assault?
I try to have conversations with people who may not know, understand, or have experience with sexual violence and talk about it in a trauma-informed, survivor-focused way. I also try to pay attention to legislation that would support or harm survivors and write or call my representatives. And I try to stay connected to people who care about this to learn other ways or better ways to support and advocate.
Virtual #HopeandHealingGala2020 Speaker Highlight Sonya Martinez-Ortiz
We are thrilled to announce our final #hopeandhealinggala2020 Speaker, our very own Sonya Martinez-Ortiz, MSW, LCSW. Sonya has spent over twenty years integrating an equity, inclusion, and anti-oppression lens into her work. She brings experience in grassroots advocacy, community development, nonprofit management and leadership, complex trauma, and sexual violence. Sonya fearlessly leads the RRC as the Executive Director, working from her experience as an Assistant Clinical Professor, Non-profit Consultant, Licensed Therapist, and community volunteer. Sonya believes in communities’ ability to heal collectively. She is passionate about social justice. In her free time she enjoys quality time with family, listening to music, reading, writing, and volunteering. We hope you will join us on Friday, September 18th to hear from Sonya and tune in to our virtual #hopeandhealinggala2020
Spanish Translation: Estamos encantados de anunciar nuestra última oradora # hopeandhealinggala2020, nuestra propia Sonya Martinez-Ortiz, MSW, LCSW. Sonya ha pasado más de veinte años integrando una lente de equidad, inclusión y anti-opresión en su trabajo. Ella aporta experiencia en defensa de base, desarrollo comunitario, gestión y liderazgo sin fines de lucro, trauma complejo y violencia sexual. Sonya lidera sin miedo el RRC como directora ejecutiva, trabajando desde su experiencia como profesora clínica asistente, consultora sin fines de lucro, terapeuta con licencia y voluntaria comunitaria. Sonya cree en la capacidad de las comunidades para curarse colectivamente. Es una apasionada de la justicia social. En su tiempo libre disfruta de tiempo de calidad con la familia, escuchando música, leyendo, escribiendo y haciendo trabajo voluntario. Esperamos que se una a nosotros el viernes 18 de septiembre para escuchar a Sonya y sintonizar nuestro virtual # hopeandhealinggala2020
Virtual #HopeandHealingGala2020 Pillar of Hope Award
English: The #hopeandhealinggala2020 is right around the corner, and we are honored to present Billy Palmer with our Pillar of Hope Award this year.
This award recognizes those who are making substantial contributions to the movement to end sexual violence. Billy partnered with the RRC to host a series of conversations on KRCL’s RadioActive on consent, and challenged us to dig deep into the nuanced issues that impact the topic, like masculinity and youth empowerment. Billy continually amplifies the stories of survivors and advocate for changed future through his work on KRCL’s RadioActive and as a community leader. As RadioActive’s Co-host and Associate Producer, Billy has spent over 15 years empowering his community as an activist, organizer, and advocate. In addition to his work with KRCL, Billy volunteers his time and leadership skills to organizations like Neighborworks SLC, the Utah Poor People's Campaign, and the Friends of Arches and Canyonlands. Tune in on Friday, September 18th as we recognize Billy Palmer with the 2020 Pillar of Hope Award.
Spanish: El # hopeandhealinggala2020 está a la vuelta de la esquina, y nos sentimos honrados de presentar a Billy Palmer con nuestro premio Pillar of Hope este año. Este premio reconoce a quienes están haciendo contribuciones sustanciales al movimiento para poner fin a la violencia sexual. Billy se asoció con el RRC para presentar una serie de conversaciones en RadioActive de KRCL sobre el consentimiento, y nos desafió a profundizar en los matices que afectan el tema, como la masculinidad y el empoderamiento de los jóvenes. Billy amplifica continuamente las historias de los sobrevivientes y aboga por un futuro cambiado a través de su trabajo en RadioActive de KRCL y como líder comunitario. Como co-presentador y productor asociado de RadioActive, Billy ha pasado más de 15 años empoderando a su comunidad como activista, organizador y defensor. Además de su trabajo con KRCL, Billy ofrece su tiempo y habilidades de liderazgo a organizaciones como Neighborworks SLC, Utah Poor People's Campaign y Friends of Arches y Canyonlands. Viernes el 18 de septiembre unete a nosotros para reconocer a Billy Palmer con el Premio Pillar of Hope 2020.
Virtual #HopeandHealingGala2020 Volunteer of the Year
@sothea_s and @amoderngentandlady on Instagram
English: Each year, the RRC recognizes one volunteer who demonstrates outstanding dedication to this work. We are so pleased to present the 2020 Volunteer of the Year to Sothea Soumphonephakdy!
Sothea is a community advocate who volunteers as a member of the Rape Recovery Center’s Board of Directors. She has been on the board since 2017, serves as the Board Treasurer, and diligently works to protect the rights of survivors while educating her community. She has worked on the Hope and Healing Gala for the past three years and is the current gala chair. In her free time, Sothea and her husband enjoy hosting dinner parties and entertaining. They host a holiday party each year to raise money and donations for the Candy Cane Corner. Along with her friends, Sothea has hosted many events over the years to help local non-profits. She also enjoys spending time with her family, reading, watching sports, traveling, working out, and supporting the arts.
Tune in on Friday, September 18th to see Sothea host our virtual #hopeandhealinggala2020 and join us in recognizing her tireless support of the RRC.
Spanish: Cada año, la RRC reconoce a un voluntario que demuestra una dedicación sobresaliente a este trabajo. ¡Estamos muy contentos de presentar al Voluntario del año 2020 a Sothea Soumphonephakdy!
Sothea es una defensora de la comunidad que se ofrece como voluntaria como miembro de la Junta Directiva del Centro de Recuperación de Violaciones. Ha estado en la junta desde 2017, se desempeña como Tesorera de la Junta y trabaja diligentemente para proteger los derechos de los sobrevivientes mientras educa a su comunidad. Ha trabajado en la Gala Hope and Healing durante los últimos tres años y es la actual presidenta de la gala. En su tiempo libre, Sothea y su esposo disfrutan organizando cenas y entreteniéndose. Organizan una fiesta navideña cada año para recaudar dinero y donaciones para Candy Cane Corner. Junto con sus amigos, Sothea ha organizado muchos eventos a lo largo de los años para ayudar a organizaciones sin fines de lucro locales. También disfruta pasar tiempo con su familia, leer, ver deportes, viajar, hacer ejercicio y apoyar las artes.
Sintonice el viernes 18 de septiembre para ver a Sothea presentar nuestra # hopeandhealinggala2020 virtual y únase a nosotros para reconocer su incansable apoyo al RRC.
Tools for Healing: Healing through Groups
Our groups create environments and spaces tailored to connecting survivors to other survivors. We center our group content around approaches and practices aimed at healing from sexual assault trauma. We believe that groups provide survivors with an opportunity to be validated. Being part of a group can help you:
Know that you are not alone
Express your feelings in a space with others experiencing similar trauma
Gain helpful information on post-traumatic symptoms and resources towards combating them & healing.
Improve your interpersonal-effectiveness to be in healthy, respectful, and meaningful relationships
Improve your ability and sense of self to foster and create new relationships with family, friends, and community that inspires
Gain hope
Reduce symptoms of trauma
Increase an understanding of yourself and the ways trauma has affected you
Help others
Access services that are of high quality with minimal financial barriers
Deepen relationships with others and learn how to trust
Trauma has the ability to alter the way we relate to ourselves, our surroundings, and others; We recognize the symptoms of trauma and understand the importance of providing community space to engage in topics of healing with other survivors. As follows are brief overviews of our groups, groups marked * are currently on hold as we refocus the group process/mission. If you would like to be added to the waitlist or information when these are open please email
If you have any questions about the groups the RRC offers, please refer to the information as follows, emails are provided as a way to connect with the staff in charge of a group. *These groups are currently on hold as we refocus the group process/mission. If you would like to be added to the waitlist or information when these are open .
Connections Group
Grupo de Apoyo
Wise Mind-Led
Women’s Process Group
This group is open to all self-identifying women. The group aims to foster support, advocate for oneself, and share vulnerabilities. We hope to create a space to increase confidence and deepen self-understanding.
Healing Arts Group
This group is open to all genders. Members are invited to engage in a playful curiosity with the use of art and other creative expressions. In this group, we will incorporate mindfulness, awareness, and other approaches to reconnect with the self.
*Women of Color Support Group
A support group aimed to build connections between Women of Color* impacted by sexual violence, and to provide support to each other as we navigate (re)traumatization from invalidating and oppressive environments. For more information on how to be on the waitlist please contact Cristina.
*Men’s Process Group- Led by Camie Oka, LCSW c.oka@raperecoverycenter.org
This group is for self-identifying men who have been impacted by sexual violence and abuse.
The group aims to provide support in connection with others. Group discussions focus on relationships, developing a deeper understanding of the self, and the complexities of being a male survivor. For more information on how to be on the waitlist please reach out to Camie.
Virtual #HopeandHealingGala2020 Speaker Highlight: Carol Matthews-Shifflett
We are excited to spotlight another fantastic speaker that will be featured at the #hopeandhealinggala2020. Meet, Carol Jean Matthews-Shifflett, Owner and CEO of The Sojourner Group!
We are excited to spotlight another fantastic speaker that will be featured at the #hopeandhealinggala2020. Meet, Carol Jean Matthews-Shifflett, Owner and CEO of The Sojourner Group! Carol holds a Master of Arts in Community Leadership and a BA in Anthropology, with a focus on culture. Her career is focused on the well-being of women and children. She is committed to ensuring that survivors who identify as Black, are
defined as Black, and those who identify with the historical context of the African American
experience find healthy spaces to convey their underlying trauma.
We hope you will tune in on September 18th to hear from Carol Matthews-Shifflett and learn about the partnership between The Sojourner Group and the RRC at our virtual Hope and Healing Gala! To register to attend, host your own Gala, or sponsor the event, check out our website for links and information on holding your own viewing party.
Virtual #HopeandHealingGala2020 Speaker Highlight: Jim Struve
In honor of our upcoming Virtual #hopeandhealinggala2020 on Friday, September 18th! We would like to highlight the incredible speakers and awardees who will join us during this event.
Meet, Jim Struve, LCSW, one of the incredible speakers to be featured at the event
In honor of our upcoming Virtual #hopeandhealinggala2020 on Friday, September 18th! We would like to highlight the incredible speakers and awardees who will join us during this event.
Meet, Jim Struve, LCSW, one of the incredible speakers to be featured at the event. We are excited to have Jim join us and dicuss more around the work of MenHealing, his long history advocating for Male Survivors, and how the RRC has been a partner in that work.
As a reminder, you and your friends can log in and join the #hopeandhealinggala2020 from anywhere this year! We are excited to bring our annual celebration to a living room near you Register to receive the live stream link and more info on our website.
Jim Struve, LCSW is a lifelong social justice activist. He created one of the earliest Peace Studies Programs in the country at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the late 1960s. He began to work with male survivors in 1976 and has experience working in a wide range of clinical settings: child protective services, residential treatment, in-patient hospitals, community agencies, and private practice. Jim was a co-organizer of one of the earliest conferences (1988) to address concerns of non-offending male survivors. In 1995, he was a founding member of the National Organization Against Sexual Victimization of Males (currently MaleSurvivor.org). He has been a member of the Weekends of Recovery Facilitator team since 2003. In 2017, Jim was instrumental in the incorporation of MenHealing and has served as Executive Director since that time. He is a nationally known Conference presenter and frequently conducts clinical workshops and trainings. His has a wide range of clinical expertise, including trauma, conflict resolution, mindfulness, dissociation, and resilience. In 2010 he was the recipient of the Richard Gartner Outstanding Services Award. Publications for Jim include: “Dancing With the Patriarchy: The Politics of Sexual Abuse” (1990); The Ethical Use of Touch in Psychotherapy (co-author: 1997); “Beyond the Gay/Straight Binary: Gender and/or Sexually Diverse Male Survivors” (co-author: 2018); “Empowering Male Survivors to Heal Through Community and Peer Connections” (co-author: 2018) and “Clinical Perspectives About Male Sexual Victimization: The Cultural and Historical Context of Gender (co-author, 2020).
In addition to his work with social justice concerns, he is an avid outdoor adventurer, including
skiing, biking, and hiking.
We look forward to hearing Jim speak during our event as well as celebrating this years event! Check back throughout the month leading up to the #hopeandhealingala2020 for more highlights.
Volunteer Spotlight: Ember Bradbury
Ember has been volunteering for the crisis line since 2017. She is an extraordinarily kind, and caring individual. We recently had an experience where Ember had to hold the crisis line for over 24 hours, and she did it with such grace and kindness. We are so grateful for her hard work and collaboration. Thank you, Ember!
Volunteer Ember Bradbury
The Rape Recovery Center volunteer team consists of nearly 150 incredible individuals who give their time, talents, and passion to furthering our mission of serving survivors and educating the community about sexual violence. This month we are spotlighting our talented Crisis Line Volunteer, Ember Bradbury
Ember has been volunteering for the crisis line since 2017. She is an extremely kind and caring individual. We recently had an experience were Ember had to hold the crisis line for over 24 hours and she did it with such grace and kindness. We are so grateful for her hard work and collaboration. Thank you, Ember!
What motivated you to become a volunteer at the Rape Recovery Center?
Holding space for survivors and victims in my community is incredibly fulfilling. I wanted to be able to take an active role in helping people connect with the resources and support, instead of just passively advocating for change. Utah’s 1 in 3 sexual violence experience rates in womxn is absolutely horrifying and being a part of the RRC community is a great way to help to support survivors and prevent perpetration.
What have you enjoyed most about your time as an RRC volunteer?
I love talking to the people that call into the crisis line. It is an incredible honor to be trusted with the most difficult and vulnerable parts of an individual’s lives and I have learned and grown so much from being given that trust.
What is most challenging about your volunteer work at the RRC?
It is hard to balance being totally empathetic and emotionally invested in every client interaction with maintaining enough distance that the heavy things we hear don’t dramatically impact our lives. The most demanding part of the work is really after we hang-up the phone or leave the interaction because you are left with processing and feeling through how awful the world can be without the armoring of being there for another person. Even though we don’t experience the events first-hand, we have to emotionally invest in the clients to be good at talking with them about their experiences, and it can be tricky to just cut-off that investment once the call ends.
Tell us a little more about how you spend your time outside of volunteering for the RRC - hobbies, passions, work, school?
I am attending graduate school in the fall at the University of Michigan for my M.S. in Conservation Ecology. I have a degree in Biology with a Chemistry minor from Westminster College and will be focusing on Ornithology in my graduate studies. I absolutely love being a scientist and am beyond excited to continue pursuing this work. Right now, I’m working for my local domestic violence shelter and humane society. In my free time, I hike and climb, play lots of music, and sit in the sunshine with friends and family.
You have immersed yourself in the very difficult work of addressing sexual violence. What gives you hope as you approach this work?
When I first started this work, it was easy to dismiss all perpetrators as genuinely evil people, and I still think that in some cases that is true. However, the sheer number of individuals who experience sexual violence points to the fact that this is a systemic issue and a public health crisis more than anything else. I think working from that view has helped me have hope because we know that like any other public health crisis, there are things we can do as a community to prevent sexual violence and to stand together with a clear message that perpetration will not be tolerated. Working with survivors is also a big place of hope for me. It takes so much energy, time, and strength to survive a sexual assault, but so many people demonstrate this immense resilience every day. No matter what gender, sex, race, orientation, or point in the metabolizing the experience, processing and coping with trauma is an incredible feat and it gives me so much hope to be a part of being there for folks who are doing it.
What is your message to others looking to get involved in this work, or considering volunteer work at the RRC?
Preventing sexual violence and advocating for survivors is the responsibility of every community member and in every space. Advocates should be the norm, not the exception. No matter who you are or what your profession is, take training, get involved in a justice organization, speak up when you see something happening. Getting involved in this work will allow you to be an active part of changing the culture and will likely be one of the most fulfilling and challenging things you will experience. Don’t be worried that you won’t be good at it or that it will take too much time because everyone who wants to say: “survivors deserves humanizing support and care and perpetration is not welcome here” can do it and you get to choose how much time it takes up. The important part is that we get people engaged and educated to make us more empathetic and move us in a better direction as a whole.
Tools for Healing: Trauma Response and Collective Healing
At the Rape Recovery Center, our framework stems from feminist-multicultural therapy which focuses on anti-oppression and anti-racism practices. We know that systems in this country were created and continue to be enacted that bring about violence, separation, and trauma in communities, particularly communities of color.
This month we want to provide information on the trauma response that is held in bodies, as well as provide some practices on how to bring awareness to your body and the body’s response to racism, oppression, and violence.
“Without inner change, there can be no outer change. Without collective change, no change matters.”
-Angel Kyodo Williams
At the Rape Recovery Center, our framework stems from feminist-multicultural therapy which focuses on anti-oppression and anti-racism practices. We know that systems in this country were created and continue to be enacted that bring about violence, separation, and trauma in communities, particularly communities of color. This month we want to provide information on the trauma response that is held in bodies, as well as provide some practices on how to bring awareness to your body and the body’s response to racism, oppression, and violence.
Trauma and healing are not just private experiences. Trauma is a collective experience, therefore our healing must happen both on an individual level and as a community. We are currently being asked to heal on a collective level and step into discomfort as we need to actively change systems that further traumatize people. When trauma is present, it is critical that we understand the body’s process of connection and settling. It is about slowing ourselves down, grounding ourselves, and getting closer to feeling the pain that is stored in our bodies.
When trauma occurs or we are triggered by present day events, humans respond in many different ways. It is completely normal to feel any and all of these experiences. This list is not exhaustive but as you read this please notice how your body responds to the information.
Physical reactions: aches and pains (headaches, stomach aches, nausea), easily startled, sudden sweating and heart palpitations, changes in sleep patterns, appetite, interest in sex.
Emotional reactions: shock, fear, anxiety, grief, disorientation, hyper-alertness, hyper-vigilance, irritability, restlessness, outbursts of anger or rage, worry/rumination, feelings of helplessness, emotional swings, depression, feelings of shame and guilt, disconnection from self, numbing of emotions.
Behavioral reactions: diminished interest in activities, social isolation, minimization of lived experience, avoidance of anything related to trauma, difficulty concentrating or remembering, self harming behaviors.
Relationship reactions: concern that your feelings may overburden others, detachment from family/friends, feelings of detachment, difficulty trusting, feelings of betrayal from others, loss of sense of fairness or order in the world, disconnection in relationships.
Our bodies and brains respond to trauma as it is an event or a lived experience that brings about fear, danger, and our animal instincts to survive which disrupts our nervous systems. Our senses are heightened and reactions are intensified. Dr. Dan Siegel, a trauma specialist, coined the term, “Window of Tolerance.” Our Window of Tolerance describes how our nervous systems respond to distress. As you can see from the image below, our nervous systems respond in hyper-arousal, neutral or in the window of tolerance, and hypo-arousal. To bring awareness to our trauma response, we must engage in somatic practices that support the slowing down and feeling the discomfort of whatever is happening to us in the moment.
Renowned therapist and activist, Resmaa Menakem LICSW, speaks about racialized trauma and somatic awareness and practices that are critical for collective healing and change. In his book, My Grandmother’s Hands, Resamaa invites readers to understand their own historical trauma and ancestral trauma that is stored in our bodies. He states that although we may have inherited trauma, it does not mean it is our destiny and change can happen as we become more aware of ourselves and the discomfort that we feel.
He speaks to “clean pain” and “dirty pain.” “Clean pain is the pain that mends and can build our capacity for growth. It is the pain we experience when we don’t know what to do, when we are scared, and when we step forward into the unknown anyway, with honesty and vulnerability” (Menakem, R., 2017, pg. 19). Experiencing clean pain enables us to engage in our integrity and when we can move with it, metabolize it, we can grow. “Dirty Pain” on the other hand, is the pain of avoidance, blame, and denial. When people respond from their most wounded parts, become cruel or violent or run away, we experience dirty pain” (Menakem, R., 2017, pg. 20). When we avoid pain and discomfort, we also create more of it for ourselves and for others.
To heal collectively, we must be willing to engage and feel clean pain. To experience clean pain, it is critical to slow down, drop into our bodies, and learn how we are responding to our present moment. This does not mean that we need to be perfect or we need to be calm all the time, but it is important to understand the history of our responses so that we can engage in our lives with presence and vulnerability.
We invite you to engage in a body centered practice to begin the work of collective healing. This practice is from Resmaa’s book where you can find many others.
Take a moment to ground yourself in your own body. Notice the outline of your skin and the slight pressure of the air around it. Experience the firmer pressure of the chair, bed, or couch beneath you-or the ground or floor beneath your feet.
Can you sense hope in your body? Where? How does your body experience that hope? Is it a release or expansion? A tightening born of eagerness or anticipation?
What specific hopes accompany these sensations? The chance to heal? To be free of the burden of racialized trauma? To live a bigger, deeper life?
Do you experience any fear in your body? If so, where? How does it manifest? As tightness? As a painful radiance? As a dead, hard spot?
What worries do you accompany the fear? Are you afraid your life will be different in ways you can’t predict? Are you afraid of facing clean pain? Are you worried you will choose dirty pain instead? Do you feel the raw, wordless fear-and perhaps, excitement that heralds change? What pictures appear in your mind as you experience that fear?
If your body feels both hopeful AND afraid, congratulations. You’re just where you need to be.
(Menakem, R., 2017., pg. 24).
Resources:
Menakem, R. (2017). My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized trauma and the pathway to mending our hearts and bodies. Central Recovery Press.
Courses and Practices on Racialized Trauma
On Being Podcast: Resmaa Interview
Volunteer Spotlight: Flor Olivo
Flor has been an incredibly valuable community partner, and has consistently volunteered her time to support the Rape Recovery Center's Outreach and Education programming. Whether she is facilitating part of our 40 hour training, or collaborating with our team during community workshops, we can always find Flor sharing her expertise on the intersections of social justice and sexual violence advocacy.
Flor Olivo, Outreach Volunteer.
The Rape Recovery Center volunteer team consists of nearly 150 incredible individuals who give their time, talents, and passion to furthering our mission of serving survivors and educating the community about sexual violence. This month we are spotlighting our talented Outreach Volunteer, Flor Olivo
Flor has been an incredibly valuable community partner, and has consistently volunteered her time to support the Rape Recovery Center's Outreach and Education programming. Whether she is facilitating part of our 40 hour training, or collaborating with our team during community workshops, we can always find Flor sharing her expertise on the intersections of social justice and sexual violence advocacy. Thank you Flor!
What motivated you to become a volunteer at the Rape Recovery Center?
I feel like I've had a non-traditional life trajectory. I kinda do things here and there and while doing this, I met a friend who started working at the RRC. She's someone I always looked up to. If she was on board, I had to see what it was all about. When I first began my involvement, I was struggling with my own personal encounters with sexual violence. I realized I was doing more harm than good by not healing first. I distanced myself a bit and did many other things. When I reconnected with the RRC, I was in my current role at the U of U Women's Resource Center and found ways to interconnect my own healing, my community work and my professional life to remain a more sustainable partner/volunteer.
What have you enjoyed most about your time as an RRC volunteer?
The opportunity for growth and critical reflection. I also love to see for myself the story of generational healing unfold in small and large, but also consistent ways through the work that y'all do.
What is most challenging about your volunteer work at the RRC?
Remembering to disconnect and remain an individual who deserves love and compassion. I find this challenge in most community work.
Tell us a little more about how you spend your time outside of volunteering for the RRC - hobbies, passions, work, school?
My primary passion in life right now (these change with the seasons) is growth, in all the way. Spiritual, healing, knowledge, family and then also in my garden! I've recommitted to a really big garden. I also am a visual communicator so I take lots of pictures (including my garden and kids), draw things that give me peace and write/document so I can remember all of it.
You have immersed yourself in the very difficult work of addressing sexual violence. What gives you hope as you approach this work?
I have personally experienced a lot of sexual violence in my own life, through my own body but also as an ally to others. I see power in community, education and empowerment opportunities. This gives me hope. Most recently, seeing my own children, I have 5, creating beautiful systems of growth and accountability for themselves, gives me the most hope.
What is your message to others looking to get involved in this work, or considering volunteer work at the RRC?
I'd say, consider it. Heal from your own wounds and engage because your own freedom from sexual violence is bound with the collective. I truly, truly believe that every single living being deserves to be free of sexual violence and its repercussions.
A Message From Our Executive Director During This Time
My name is Sonya, preferred pronouns she/her/hers.
Over the past several months I have been transitioning into my new role. Today is my first full day as the new Executive Director of the Rape Recovery Center. It is with heaviness in my heart that I speak to you, our community and supporters, about the collective trauma being experienced right now, especially in the black community. We stand in solidarity with the Black community. We firmly believe that Black Lives Matter, and to stay silent is to be complicit.
The Rape Recovery Center woks from an anti-racist and anti-oppression framework. One of our guiding values is that we recognize the disproportionate impact of sexual violence on marginalized communities and strive to provide services that are responsive to individual identities. We acknowledge that in order to truly end sexual violence, we must systematically end the violence that is racism. I am, along with the staff, committed to doing this work collectively. I invite you all to reflect deeply on this embodied pain that is being experienced and ask yourself how you can join us.
In Community and Solidarity,
Sonya
Mi nombre es Sonya, mis pronombres preferidos son ella/suya.
Durante los últimos meses he estado en transición a mi nuevo papel. Hoy es mi primer dia completo como la Directora Ejecutiva del Centro de Recuperacion de Abuso Sexual. Es con un corazón acongojado que les estoy hablando hoy, nuestra comunidad y los que nos apoyan, sobre el trauma colectivo que ahora estamos viviendo, especialmente en la comunidad de los Afroamericanos. Nos paramos en solidaridad con la comunidad de Afroamericanos. Creemos firmemente que las Vidas de Afroamericanos Importan, y permanecer en silencio sería ser cómplices.
El Centro de Recuperación de Abuso Sexual opera desde una estructura anti-racista y anti-opresión. Uno de nuestros valores rectores es que nosotros reconocemos el impacto desproporcionado que la violencia sexual tiene a las comunidades marginalizadas, y nos esforzamos para proveer los servicios que son responsivos a las identidades individuales. Reconocemos que, para verdaderamente llevar la violencia sexual a un fin, tenemos que sistematicamente parar la violencia que es el racismo. Yo, junto al personal, estoy comprometida a hacer este trabajo colectivamente. Los invito a reflexionar profundamente con este dolor encarnado que estamos sintiendo y a preguntarse cómo pueden unirse con nosotros.
En Comunidad y Solidaridad,
Sonya