Sexual Assault Services Organization

SASO IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ADVOCACY TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND PROVIDING EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS AIMED AT INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SAFETY, IN AN ANTI-OPPRESSION FRAMEWORK.

ADVOCACY SERVICES: SASO HOTLINE AND FOLLOW-UP SERVICES ASSIST VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE LONG PROCESS OF RECOVERY FROM A TRAUMATIC VIOLENT CRIME. THESE SERVICES OFTEN ARE THE FIRST, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT, STEPS TOWARD REDUCING THE TRAUMA OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY TRAINED VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES AND SASO STAFF INCLUDE: 24-HOUR CRISIS INTERVENTION AND COUNSELING; MEDICAL ADVOCACY DURING SANE EXAMS; ADVOCACY DURING LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEWS AND COURT PROCEEDINGS; FREE SUPPORT GROUPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUAL THERAPY AND EMERGENCY NEEDS; AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT AGENCIES. IN ADDITION, SASO PROVIDES ON-SITE ADVOCACY TO THE LOCAL SAFEHOUSE, COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROGRAM, COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, AND SCHOOLS. METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING THESE PROGRAMS FOLLOW BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES DEVELOPED AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS INCLUDING PRIORITIZING VICTIM SAFETY AND EMPOWERMENT, NOTIFICATION ABOUT VICTIM RIGHTS, AND STRICT ADHERENCE TO VICTIM CONFIDENTIALITY. SASO COLLABORATES WITH 6TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COMMUNITY PROVIDERS SERVING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE TO CREATE BEST PRACTICE POLICIES FOR PROVIDING SERVICES AND RESPONSE. THROUGH THIS, SASO HAS BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE OUR MEDICAL AND LEGAL ADVOCACY PROGRAMS, PROVIDING GREATER SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS AS THEY NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX AND OFTEN CONFUSING CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. DURING 2021, SASO SERVED 228 UNDUPLICATED CALLERS OVER 900 CONTACTS WITH 1,255 VICTIM SERVICES AND 476 REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. SASO OFFERS A THERAPIST-FACILITATED, FREE, COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP FOR SURVIVORS. GROUPS AT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND THE JAIL WERE SUSPENDED DURING THE PANDEMIC. THESE SUPPORT GROUPS ARE FREE OF CHARGE TO PARTICIPANTS SO THAT COST IS NOT A BARRIER TO HEALING. THESE SERVICES ARE ESSENTIAL SUPPORTS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WE ARE THE ONLY COMMUNITY-BASED ADVOCACY AGENCY FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE SERVING LA PLATA AND SAN JUAN COUNTIES.

PREVENTION EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: SASO'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS SPAN K-12, COLLEGE, AND ADULTS. SASO'S ELEMENTARY PREVENTION PROGRAM, THE NATIONALLY DEVELOPED AND RESEARCHED CHILD ASSAULT PREVENTION PROGRAM (CAPP), WORKS TO BREAK THE CYCLES OF ABUSE BY EDUCATING CHILDREN, TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. CAPP PROVIDES EMPOWERMENT SKILLS THAT TEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN TO IDENTIFY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND WAYS TO SEEK HELP. THE SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAM IS A BYSTANDER INTERVENTION (BI) PROGRAM, BASED ON THE NATIONAL MENTORS IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION MODEL AND THE FAMILY LIFE AND SEXUAL HEALTH PROGRAM OR F.L.A.S.H. BYSTANDER INTERVENTION PROGRAMS TEACH TEENS THEIR POTENTIAL TO STOP SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS BYSTANDERS, WHEN THEY CHOOSE TO INTERVENE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR PEERS. F.L.A.S.H. EMPOWERS AND EDUCATES STUDENTS THROUGH TEACHING EFFECTIVE SKILLS IN COMMUNICATION, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, CYBER SAFETY, AND GENDER NORMING. IN 2021, SASO PROVIDED WORKSHOPS FOR OVER 300 LA PLATA COUNTY YOUTH. SASO HAS INCREASED ITS OUTREACH PROGRAMMING, EXPANDING OUR WORK TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY PARTNERING WITH LOCAL AGENCIES SERVING NATIVE AMERICAN; LATINX; LGTBQ; HOMELESS; VETERANS; INTELLECTUAL, DEVELOPMENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES; YOUTH; AND ELDERS. SASO RECOGNIZES THAT OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCE A MUCH HIGHER RISK OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND STANDS TO SERVE THEM WITH SUPPORT AND CULTURAL RESPECT IN THEIR HEALING. AS A RESULT, SASO OPENED AN OFFICE IN 2020 TO SERVE THE SOUTHEAST AREA OF LA PLATA COUNTY, INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN UTE RESERVATION. IN 2021, SASO PROVIDED 44 GENERAL AND CULTURAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO 1,208 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON TOPICS SUCH AS OUR VIOLENCE AGAINST NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN SYMPOSIUM, COLLABORATIVE TALKS WITH RAINBOW YOUTH CENTER, COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, LA PLATA YOUTH SERVICES, COMPANEROS, 4 THE CHILDREN, ETC. OUR COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMMING TRAINED 17 NEW VICTIM ADVOCATES OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.