Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 14 UCW APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021 Local advocates, volunteers raise awareness of sexual assault prevention efforts by KEYURI PARAB FEATURE Ever y 73 seconds an American becomes a v ictim of sexual assault, according to R AINN, the Rape Assault Incest National Net work. The month of April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, or SA AM, and many groups continue to raise awareness of these crimes and prevention efforts. Many organizations offer resources locally for v ictims and their families affected. One local organization has been work ing since 1976 to achieve zero tolerance for crimes of sexual v iolence and to reduce its trauma. Rape Crisis of Cumberland Count y was established to prov ide ser v ices to v ictims of sexual assault, and they now also assist those affected by domestic v io- lence and human traffick ing. The agency's team consists of several v ictim advocates including cold case, sexual assault and domestic v iolence advo- cates and the directors and volunteers to prov ide direct v ictim ser v ices, and a con- tracted counselor. They offer free ser v ices to those in need, and assistance is not con- tingent on a police report. "We have a 24-hour crisis line that is staffed either w ith staff members or volunteer advocates, holidays, weekends, 2 o'clock in the morning — whenever someone might need to reach out and talk to us," said Deanne Gerdes, execu- tive director Rape Crisis of Cumberland Count y. Some of the ser v ices offered include hospital calls where advocates respond to v ictims in the hospital and walk them through the steps of the rape k it, their rights, address what happened, help iden- tif y medical needs and more. "Since the beginning of the pandemic, the number of cases [reported] has been ver y low," said Gerdes. "I don't think the crime has dropped, but because people in the beginning of the pandemic were unsure who was open, or how to safely make contact and they were stuck at home, there's been a dip in reporting. But in the years to come we w ill have those numbers figured out." The organization receives its funds from the Governor's Crime Commission, North Carolina Council for Women, the Department of Justice and donors. Board member and volunteer Juaneza Viv ian raises money by selling arts and crafts from her business "Cook ie's Crafts 4 Crisis." "W hen I started the funding was low, and all my proceeds go to RCC," Viv ian said. "My mission is to help eradicate sexual assault the best I k now how, sel- ling my crafts to give into RCC is my way of helping." Matthew Kelley, a v ictim advocate of four years said he responds to emergency room calls and prov ides support to v ic- tims. Advocates ask if they have a ride home, if they're going home to a safe env ironment, or if they have clothes to leave the hospital w ith, Gerdes mentioned. "Advocacy is really what we do, and it looks completely different for ever yone," Gerdes said. "We explain resources, their rights, what options they have as far as law enforcement or militar y or job related issues. We do leave it up to indiv iduals to determine their path, we don't create their path for them." The v ictim advocates also attend court appearances w ith v ictims if needed, wal- k ing them through the courthouse proceedings. "It's scar y to even figure out where par- k ing is at the courthouse, it's scar y to walk in and we k now that. We actually walk them through, so we'll meet them in the park ing lot or at the agency," Gerdes said. "We understand the courthouse website and where to be." Rape Crisis currently offers v irtual sup- port groups for v ictims during the pande- mic, along w ith in-person counselling. In situations where the v ictim doesn't have a safe place to go to, they offer funds for tra- vel and a short-term hotel stay. The organization takes on cold cases as well, where someone doesn't imme- diately come for ward follow ing an assault. The state of North Carolina has no statute of limitations for rape. Gerdes said they helped 560 indiv iduals in the year before the pandemic. W hile the ratio of men to women sur v ivors differs by location and there are lower reports in men possibly due to stigma, the crisis cen- ter sees more male v ictims from Fort Bragg. U.S. Air Force units located at Pope Army Airfield on Fort Bragg offer various ser- v ices and help v ictims of sexual assault through their Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, or SAPR, program for acti- ve-dut y members and their family mem- bers. These ser v ices include restricted reports, medical, mental and behav ioral health ser v ices, and legal aid. The SAPR office does not prov ide men- tal health ser v ices in-house, but con- nects v ictims w ith those ser v ices located at Womack Medical Center and mental health ser v ices available outside post, said SAPR Victim Advocate Elenah Kelly. "Sometimes v ictims feel uncomfort- able seek ing mental health ser v ices on post in concerns w ith their records or further employment," she said. "So as a v ictim advocate it is my responsibilit y to give them options like the Vet Center, and Steven Cohen Militar y Family Clinic at Cape Fear Valley where there are no records kept and doesn't require any pay- ment for veterans." Through Cookie's Crafts 4 Crisis, Juaneza Vivian makes arts and crafts such as jewelry, soaps and crocheted items to sell. Vivian, also a volunteer and board member, donates the proceeds to Rape Crisis of Cumberland County.