SEXUAL ASSAULT:

Family Services, Inc. Provides

 

By Dawson Cooper

 

For victims of sexual assault, the

world seems to have caved in on

them. Thanks to the Safe

Relationships Division of Family

Services, Inc., many of these victims

are able to find support and closure.

For others, the Safe Relationships

Division provides prevention methods

that aim to educate and inform about

healthy relationships and, most

importantly, respect for oneself and

others.

Sexual assault is defined as “any

sexual behavior against another

person that is forced, coerced, or

manipulated, such as rape, child

molestation, incest, or same-sex

assault.” What many do not realize is

that 73% of rapes occur between

acquaintances. DeWanna T. Hamlin,

Coordinator, Prevention and

Education, Safe Relationships

Division, explains that because of this

many victims are hesitant to come

forward and receive help. “Rape is

the most underreported crime,” says

Hamlin, “It is often difficult for

victims to confront the event if the

perpetrator is someone the victim

must see again, particularly if there

was a prior consensual sexual

relationship.”

The Safe Relationships Division of

Family Services, Inc. offers victims a

variety of services including: advocacy;

counseling and support for survivor,

friends, and family; 24 Hour Crisis

Line; and the Forsyth County Nurse

Examiner Program, affiliated with

Forsyth Medical Center. Throughout

the process of reporting, prosecuting,

and/or gaining closure, Family

Services, Inc. is able to help victims

and their families in a confidential and

caring manner.

Hamlin also emphasizes that victims

should know that it is not their fault,

nor does anyone deserve to be

sexually assaulted. She also says that

it doesn’t matter how long it has been

since the assault, whether looking to

prosecute or not. Oftentimes victims

need assistance in moving past the

traumatic event.

 

Awareness and Assistance

Another aspect of what Family Services, Inc. does is to provide

emphasis on prevention. Lloyd Leonard, Rape Prevention

Education Specialist, Safe Relationships Division, leads the

Raising Awareness Prevention (RAP) to End Sexual Violence

Against Women. This program takes place thanks to a grant

from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and takes place at

community based sites which serve youth. Leonard works

with groups of middle and high school males, along with the

help of male college mentors. According to Family Services,

Inc., “RAP is building awareness, transforming attitudes, and

prompting men to teach the next generation that sexual abuse

is wrong.”

Through discussion, role-plays, and support and accountability

from leaders and mentors, Leonard says that he has seen the

positive reactions from the males as they interact well and

process the information. “This is a unique program,” explains

Leonard. “ Males tend to not want to open up emotionally,

and through this program we are creating a safe place where

they can open up.”

Both Hamlin and Leonard agree that they hope to see the

participants act as leaders and positive bystanders, meaning

they are willing and able to be an ally to women, speaking up

on their behalf as well as pointing out to other males that

women are equal and deserve complete respect. Leonard says

that he has already seen the mentors’ attitudes change as they

become positive bystanders when it comes to certain popular

music. After having gone through extensive and rigorous

training, some of the mentors realized that some of the music

and other media sources are derogatory towards women

something that they don’t want to support. Hamlin explains

that the mentors have “a sense of accountability to each other,

and to themselves when no one else is around.”

Both note it is important that people see that, through

programs like these, both males and females can redefine their

respective manhood and womanhood, thus redefining

humanity itself in a more equal and respectful manner. “For

females, we want to encourage them to speak up, raise their

hands in class, break occupational gender barriers, and

understand that they have a voice that can and should be

heard,” says Hamlin. For males, Hamlin and Leonard hope

that manhood can be redefined from physical qualities, to the

qualities of respect and responsibility.

For many, the past has made their present dim due to sexual

assault. But for those whose present is dim today, the future is

looking bright for all through both the intervention and

prevention that the Safe Relationships Division of Family

Services, Inc. offers the community.

For more information call (336) 722- 8173.

The 24 hour crisis lines: sexual assault (336) 722-4457 --

domestic violence (336) 723-8125.

Family Services is currently located at 610 Coliseum Drive,

27106, but will be moving to 1200 S. Broad St. 27101 at the

end of April.