Sexual Assault Support Services

SASS provides a comprehensive range of services for survivors of past and recent sexual assault, their family members, and significant others. SASS services include a 24-hour crisis and support line; 24-hour emergency legal and medical advocacy; a drop-in advocacy center; criminal and civil legal advocacy, including access to legal advice; survivor support groups; counseling; trafficking intervention; and outreach and community education. As one of only two stand-alone sexual assault specific agencies in the state of Oregon, SASS fills an essential role. As a result of working specifically with survivors of sexual violence, our staff have in-depth expertise and understanding of the unique issues they face, particularly those who have experienced sexual violence outside of an intimate partner relationship. While our service area is primarily Lane County, we are frequently contacted by survivors from throughout the state and in other regions of the country who may feel that the services in their local community are not appropriate for them.In 2021, SASS had 2,214 contacts with survivors and family and friends of survivors. Of those people served, 940 were brand new to SASS services. During the same period, SASS responded to 1,622 calls to our 24/7 crisis and support line, had 380 participants in survivor support groups, provided emergency medical advocacy/accompaniment 154 times (i.e. hospital call-outs), supported 11 survivors while making police reports, accompanied survivors to court proceedings 3 times, and provided general legal advocacy 162 times. These figures demonstrate some adjustments to the "new normal" of COVID-19 and slow movement towards a return to in-person services. Support groups were held via virtual platforms, medical and legal advocacy were conducted over the phone, and in-person meetings with clients was on an as-needed basis.SASS operates from an empowerment-based, survivor-centered philosophy; we believe every survivor has the right and ability to make their own choices and decisions and that those decisions define our role and level of involvement. As SASS advocates, our role is to provide information and referrals, as appropriate and as requested by the survivor, nonjudgmental support and options, and to respect and advocate for the survivor's choices, rights, and goals. SASS believes that oppression is inextricably linked to sexual violence and creates a culture in which sexual violence is minimized, dismissed, normalized and glamorized. To that end, SASS staff actively engage community partners and fellow responders to improve the system response to sexual violence through increased project partnerships, collaborations, and agency cross training. Additionally, staff participate in a wide array of community events throughout the year to increase community awareness about the issue of sexual violence and SASS services. SASS takes an active leadership role at both the state and local levels. At the state level, SASS is actively involved and regularly participates in statewide legislative advocacy efforts and is active on various legislative workgroups which focus on survivor issues. At the local level, SASS continued its participation on the sex-trafficking task force, or MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team) which includes police, FBI, sexual assault advocates, youth advocates, and other community partners. A part of this task force is the CSEC (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children) where we partner through a VOCA-Funding Initiatives grant with Kids First. SASS continued to partner with Oregon Law Center to provide legal assistance to survivors; Centro Latino Americano to provide advocacy, counseling, and support groups to Latinx survivors; and Hope and Safety (formerly Womenspace) to provide rural outreach services and transitional housing emergency assistance in two OVW grants.