2022 In Review
Updated: Dec 23, 2022
As we all slowly made our way out of quarantines and lockdowns, this year allowed us to get back to "normal" and reach more Survivors and members of the community, in person. We not only supported Survivors but really focused on educating the community and bringing awareness to important issues. Here's a breakdown of some of our work this year. Please note, reporting reflects FY2022, which runs July 1st through June 30th. Averages include 2020, 2021, and 2022. Events were throughout the 2022 calendar year.
Supporting Survivors
Counseled 1,921 Survivors by listening to their needs, referring to community resources, building coping skills, and more.
We help Survivors all year by answering crisis hotline calls, meeting with Survivors in our offices, and going on outreach calls to hospitals in order to support Survivors during and after sexual assault forensic exams. We also assign specific Advocates to stay with each Survivor throughout any and all processes, like court dates or follow-up appointments.
Everything we do supports our goal of providing a safe place for Survivors to heal and find support. All of our services are available at no cost to Survivors, their significant others, and family members.
Our services are designed to not only alleviate the suffering of Survivors of sexual assault but also to help end sexual violence. They are facilitated by trained trauma-informed professionals.
In the Community
Educated 15,824 people on prevention and recovery through relationships with local high schools, colleges and universities, and communities.
Coffee with a Cop
We partner with the Morongo Basin - San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the San Bernardino Department of Behavioral Health to provide support to Survivors in as many ways as we can. This year, we popped by “Coffee with a Cop” at the 29 Palms Starbucks, where several deputies and other support staff mingled with the community.
Color Run
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Sexual Assault Prevention Response (MCCES SAPR) on board the 29 Palms Marine Base hosted their annual Colorful Consent Color Run to bring awareness to Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Members of our team participated in this 5k to show our support to this local resource that we partner with to ensure our military members get the services they need.
Cheers for Volunteers
Trained 40 volunteers in sexual assault crisis intervention and trauma response at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin.
We also partnered with The Army's SHARP (Sexual Harassment Assault Response Prevention) team to bring specialized training to their military advocates and leaders. All 40 attendees completed the exam and obtained certificates of completion.
As of December 2022, we have 45 active Volunteers (but can always use more!) Our Volunteer Advocates answer call to our crisis hotline, respond to emergency response callouts for sexual assault Survivors, and assist with workshops and fairs at local schools and throughout the community.
Volunteer Advocates go through 40 hours of Office of Emergency Services Crisis Counselor training to be certified regardless of educational background or experience in related fields.
Our Director of Volunteers and Training Services, Arlinda Wilson, was honored by the City of Rialto and Council member Rafael Trujillo for her outstanding advocacy on Denim Day 2022. She also walked the walk by sharing information about Denim Day, our services, and how residents of Rialto can support Survivors and end violence.
Here for Students
Gave access to more than 15,000 high school students to an efficient referral process and services on school sites.
This year, we finalized an agreement with the San Bernardino Unified School District so that we could develop an efficient referral process. We also created partnerships with school officials, which allows us to provide services on school sites to students and their families in need of different services.
We also connected with college students at local colleges and universities, including California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) and CSUSB Palm Desert, Copper Mountain College (CMC), and College of the Desert to spread awareness during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), The Redzone, and back-to-school events.
Teen Toolkit
The second installment of our Teen Toolkit Program was launched this October, focusing on mental health in teens. Since then, more than 400 students have accessed this toolkit (more than 8,000 since our first installment in 2021).
Elementary and Middle Schools
Our team also makes sure to reach out to younger students as well. We've had the opportunity to participate in some community and educational events throughout this year, including Dollahan Elementary School's Harvest Festival, Cedar Middle School’s Health and Wellness Fair, and Barstow Junior High School's Back-to-School Night.
Programs with Promise
Continued the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Program, reaching 32 detention facilities, providing communication and informative videos, and an enhanced letter-writing program for detained Survivors.
We are consistently developing programs for our Survivors, their families, and the community at large. Our Teen Toolkit Program for high school students, our Prevention Program, and PREA to name a few.
Awareness & Events
During Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) we hosted open house events at our San Bernardino, Morongo Basin, and Coachella Valley locations. The open houses allowed us to network with community partners and officially reestablish our agency under our new name. We were also able to have an art installation at each event, called "What Were You Wearing." The installation was impactful in bringing awareness to the harsh realities of what Survivors face during the reporting process.
An Evening Under the Stars
This year we had the pleasure of hosting a Hollywood-themed fundraising event, bringing in much-needed funds to help Survivors.
Thank you for all of your support this year and we look forward to continuing to make a difference in the lives of Survivors throughout our community in 2023.