When sexual assault or domestic violence occurs, the survivor
has a variety of needs, but may not, for a variety of reasons, tell
someone what they are.
Morgan Hill – When sexual assault or domestic violence occurs, the survivor has a variety of needs, but may not, for a variety of reasons, tell someone what they are.
That’s where the Morgan Hill-based human service provider Community Solutions comes in, with advocates trained to provide assistance. But the agency, which services the entire South County area, would like to have more advocates available, so it’s offering a 60-hour state-certified sexual assault and domestic violence volunteer advocate training beginning Feb. 20.
They will also host a women’s sexual assault support group this month.
“With the help of committed volunteers, we can work together to educate others,” said Amy Molica, assistant director of the Solutions to Violence Program. “This training is an opportunity for community members to come forward and show their support to survivors, to help us create a community where survivors feel safe coming forward and attackers are held accountable for committing these unjust acts.”
Molica said the agency needs more advocates in part to help staff the 24-hour crisis line.
After completing the training, volunteers will provide help in several areas, including advocacy. Volunteers may work for the crisis line, provide prevention education at schools and work at the shelter.
Molica said on average, the agency provides direct crisis intervention services to approximately 150 sexual assault clients per year in both Santa Clara and San Benito counties. The agency provides domestic violence direct crisis intervention to approximately 500 women per year and
domestic violence prevention education to about 1,000 people per year.
Molica said that statistics show one out of three girls and one out of five boys will be sexually assaulted before the age of 18, and 85 percent of the time the victim knows the perpetrator personally.
These types of crimes are rarely committed by strangers, Molica added. Survivors who have been battered or assaulted by someone close to them are faced with a dilemma when it comes to reporting.
“It’s much easier to report crimes committed by strangers, but what if it’s a family member, friend, partner, co-worker, etc.,” said Molica. “Victims tend to feel like they won’t be believed or supported. You can imagine the stress of reporting something like this, if it might mean excommunication from your family, your job, your church, your community, etc. This idea alone tells us these crimes occur far more than what’s recorded.”
Morgan Hill police Cmdr. David Swing said officers are trained to investigate these difficult crimes when they are reported, and training also focuses on insuring that officers treat survivors with compassion.
“These are certainly very traumatic events for someone, and our role in investigating those types of cases are to care for the victim, make sure their needs are met physically or emotionally as best as we can,” Swing said. “Often the fear of testifying in court prohibits them from reporting the crime. That’s a very real fear, and our goal in building these cases is to build a case that is less dependent on the victim’s testimony.”
MHPD statistics show six forcible rapes last year, down from 11 in 2005 and eight in 2004. But statistics for domestic violence and sexual abuse can be harder to track.
Swing said it is important that people understand that sexual battery is not just rape, but also unwanted touching, and domestic violence is not just physical but also emotional abuse.
“Fortunately, we have Community Solutions here in the South County to provide advocacy services, and they are very active in meeting those needs,” he said.
To apply for the advocacy training, which runs from Feb. 20 to March 29 with sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30-9pm plus three Saturday sessions, contact Amy Molica, assistant director of the Solutions to Violence Program, at 776-6288 or e-mail her at am**@****************ns.org.
The women’s sexual assault group will be meet for a six-week period. To attend the peer counseling sessions, women must be survivors of rape or sexual assault over the age of 18.
