What a Hospital Advocate Does    

A Hospital Advocate believes you and helps protect your rights.

A Hospital Advocate provides support and assistance to you, your family, and friends throughout your hospital visit.

A Hospital Advocate facilitates communication between you and medical personnel.

A Hospital Advocate helps you to access other social programs and services for follow-up care.
 

What a Hospital Advocate Does Not Do  

A Hospital Advocate does not make your choices for you

A Hospital Advocate does not give medical advice and is not a medical professional.

A Hospital Advocate does not release information about you to anyone for any reason without your express consent.

A Hospital Advocate does not state our agency name or who they are if they call to follow up you.

A Hospital Advocate does not do anything you will not know about.
 

Things to Expect with a Forensic Exam

The following is a very brief description of what to expect during a forensic medical exam or "rape kit." Remember to ask questions as you go along if you don't understand something and remember you can refuse any part of the exam if you choose.

You should try not to use the bathroom, eat, or drink before the exam because this may interfere with some aspects of evidence collection.

You must give written consent to have the exam performed.

You will be asked to give a general medical history (i.e. current medications, past illnesses etc...)

You will be asked to give a "sexual assault/abuse history" which is a detailed description of the assault.

If you are wearing clothing you wore during the assault you may be asked to give it to the nurse as evidence.

The nurse will take various "samples" from you (such as fingernail scrapings, hair standards, oral swabs etc...) this is for evidence collection and to establish a difference between your DNA and any other that is found.

If you think you were given a "drug" used to facilitate a rape or sexual assault the nurse will collect a urine sample.

Depending on the time lapsed since the assault, the nurse may also advise the collection of blood.  

The nurse will offer you emergency contraception and medications that may help to prevent contraction of sexually transmitted diseases.

The final stage of the exam is a vaginal/penile exam in which the nurse will check for injuries and evidence.

After the exam is complete you will have toiletries and clothes provided to you by the RCASA advocate (if your clothes are given over as evidence.)

You have the right to be offered an advocate from the Sexual Assault Center.

You have the right to be questioned and treated in a private area .

You have the right to have an additional support person (in addition to the advocate) present during the interview and/or forensic exam.

You have the right to refuse to speak with law enforcement personnel if they arrive at the hospital.

You have the right to refuse any part of the forensic exam.

You have the right to privacy regarding the sexual assault, your sexual history, your sexual orientation, your medical history, and your mental health history.

You have the right to have each step of the exam explained to you before it is performed.

To have a sexual assault counselor come with you to medical, law enforcement, and legal proceedings.

To ask questions and raise concerns you might have regarding your care.

To understand any forms you are asked to sign.

To be assured of strict confidentiality.

You have the right to apply for compensation through Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund.

 You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

To be believed.  

If you are seeking hospital accompaniment please call RCASA 24 hour hotline at (540) 371-1666.

 The following article with suggestions on how to talk to children about sex is saved for your convenience on PDF.

Talking with your kids about the birds and the bees

Teens:

In Touch With Teens Violence Prevention by Peace Over Violence

 In order to help youth develop and maintain healthy, violence-free relationships, Peace Over Violence has been implementing the In Touch With Teens Violence Prevention curriculum in junior high and high schools and other community based youth organizations. The eight-unit curriculum empowers youth to have healthy relationships by providing information about power and control, elements of healthy relationships and healthy sexuality, and media literacy as well as education on sexual harassment, sexual assault, and dating violence. The curriculum further addresses the development of pro-social skills such as empathy, impulse control, effective communication, problem solving, and bystander accountability.

The In Touch With Teens curriculum was selected as one of five model youth-violence prevention programs in the United States (and the only such program from California) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It was also selected as the relationship-violence curriculum for the ‘Life Skills for the 21st Century’ curriculum of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Unit 1-Roots of Violence: Global & Local

The purpose of this unit is to bring some understanding to teens regarding the root causes of violence occurring in broader society.

Unit 2-Roots of Violence: Power & Control

The purpose of this unit is to explore the dynamics of power and control within a relationship and to determine when behavior becomes abusive and harmful.

Unit 3-Relationship Violence

The purpose of this unit is to challenge commonly held myths teens have regarding frequency and severity of violence in their dating relationships. By altering their attitudes regarding violence and relationships, teens will take the first step toward affecting and promoting change.

Unit 4- Cycle of Violence

The purpose of this unit is to provide teens with the foundation for understanding the Cycle of Violence, and how it traps people in relationships. Knowing how the Cycle of Violence works will aid teens in recognizing and preventing potentially abusive relationships.

Unit 5-Sexual Harassment

The purpose of this unit is to help teens define and identify sexual harassment. It also encourages teens to talk about how harassment makes them feel, and assists teens in developing options and responses to sexual harassment.

Unit 6-Issues of Sexual Assault & Coercive Control

The purpose of this unit is to explore basic issues surrounding sexual assault. By challenging current beliefs about sexual assaults, the facilitator can guide students through a process of reeducation and help them to rethink commonly held misconceptions regarding sexual assault.

Unit 7-Media Impact on Gender & Violence

The purpose of this unit is to explore how media impacts violence in our society and influences our perceptions of ourselves and others.

Unit 8-Building Blocks of a Healthy Relationship

This unit will provide information for teens to help them establish criteria to determine what a healthy relationship is and ways to maintain healthy relationships.

The curriculum consists of five components: 

• A nine-session dating abuse curriculum 
• A play about dating abuse 
• A poster contest 
• Parent materials 
• A teacher training outline 
 
All the materials needed to implement the program are included in the Safe Dates binder.

Safe Dates can be used as a dating abuse prevention tool for both male and female middle- and high-school students. Safe Dates would fit well within a health education, family life skills, or general life skills curriculum.

Because dating violence is often tied to the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, you may want to consider using Safe Dates in conjunction with alcohol and other drug prevention programs, as well as any other general violence prevention programs. A school counselor could offer Safe Dates as part of a support group or counseling/education program or it could be used in after school, community youth enrichment, and faith-based youth programs. Safe Dates could also be used as an intervention tool at domestic abuse or crisis centers, in juvenile diversion programs, and with victim support groups.

The goals of this program are:

·     To raise student awareness of what constitutes healthy and abusive dating 
relationships.

·     To raise student awareness of dating abuse and its causes and consequences.

·     To equip students with the skills and resources to help themselves or friends in abusive dating relationships.

·     To equip students with the skills to develop healthy dating relationships, including positive communication, anger management, and conflict resolution.

Safe Dates is an evidence-based program with strong, long-term outcomes. It was the subject of substantial formative research in fourteen public schools in North Carolina using a rigorous experimental design. The program was found to be effective in both preventing and reducing perpetration among teens already using violence against their dates.

Adolescents participating in the program, as compared with those who did not participate, also reported:

·     less acceptance of dating violence

·     stronger communication and anger management skills

·     less gender stereotyping

·     greater awareness of community services for dating abuse

Session 1: Defining Caring Relationships 
Through a bingo game and class discussions, students are introduced to the Safe Dates program and they evaluate how they would like to be treated in dating relationships.

Session 2: Defining Dating Abuse 
Through the discussion of scenarios and the review of statistics, students clearly define dating abuse.

Session 3: Why Do People Abuse? 
Through large and small group discussions and the review of scenarios, students identify the causes and consequences of dating abuse.

Session 4: How to Help Friends 
Through a decision-making exercise, a dramatic reading, and the introduction of the "Friend's Wheel," students learn why it is difficult to leave abusive relationships and how to help a friend if she or he is in an abusive relationship.

Session 5: Helping Friends 
Through stories and role-playing, students practice effective skills for helping friends who are victims of abuse or confronting friends who are perpetrators of abuse.

Session 6: Overcoming Gender Stereotypes 
Through a writing exercise, small-group discussions, and scenarios, students learn about gender stereotypes and how these stereotypes can affect dating relationships.

Session 7: Equal Power through Communication 
Students learn the eight skills for effective communication and practice these skills in a variety of role-plays.

Session 8: How We Feel, How We Deal 
Through the use of a feelings diary and a discussion of "hot buttons," students learn effective ways to recognize and handle their anger, so it doesn't lead to abusive behavior.

Session 9: Preventing Sexual Assault 
Through taking a quiz and holding a caucus and a panel of their peers, students learn about the issue of sexual assault and how to prevent it from happening.

Dating Abuse Play 
As part of the Safe Dates program, a forty-five-minute play about dating abuse and violence, which was written by high school drama students should be presented. Before presenting the play, consider sharing local statistics on the prevalence of teen dating abuse. Following the performance, have the actors lead discussions (preferably in small groups), with the audience about the issues presented in the play. 
 
Consider presenting this play as a schoolwide assembly, as part of your school's drama program, or at other school or community events. You do not need professional actors. Enlist the help of your school's drama department or put on the play with your own students.

Poster Contest 
Hosting a poster contest is a great way to reinforce the concepts learned in the curriculum. Posters on the theme of dating abuse prevention can be displayed in school hallways or other community buildings such as libraries, city hall or community centers, and shopping malls. Students could also use their posters when giving presentations to various school or community groups.

Parent Materials 
As in every strong prevention effort, it is important to get your students' parents or guardians involved in your Safe Dates program. Included with the curriculum is a parent education brochure that you can send to parents or keep on hand, in case you need to talk to a parent about this issue. There is also a parent letter that informs parents of the Safe Dates program. Consider mailing the letter and brochure together.

Teacher Training Outline 
You may want to multiply your efforts by training others to use the Safe Datescurriculum. An outline for a three-hour training is provided in the curriculum. Consider hosting a training session for area schools or other local community youth organizations.

 Choose Respect by CDC

Launched nationally in May 2006, CDC's Choose Respect initiative has come a long way in a short time. Findings from the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated that approximately one in 11 high school students reported being victims of physical dating violence during the 12 months preceding the survey, equating to nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide (1). Those victimized by a dating partner were more likely to engage in episodic heavy drinking, suicide attempts, physical fighting, and current sexual activity (1).

Recently the initiative was awarded the CINE Golden Eagle Award for the public service announcement (PSA) Just Talk.

Just Talk targets parents by encouraging them to learn about dating abuse, talk to their kids about how dating abuse can happen, and teach their kids how to choose respect in all their relationships. In English, Just Talk is available in 30- and 60-second lengths.

Choose Respect is an initiative that seeks to help adolescents form healthy relationships to prevent dating abuse before it starts. The initiative reaches out to adolescents, ages 11 to 14, at a time when they are still forming attitudes and beliefs that will affect how they are treated and how they treat others. The initiative also connects with parents, teachers, youth leaders, and other caregivers who influence the lives of young teens.

Dating violence in adolescents also has been linked to lifelong patterns of violence that carry over into other relationships (2). Healthy relationship skills can have a beneficial effect on the ability of adolescents to prevent dating violence (2).

Choose Respect provides information and support for communities seeking to foster a "Culture of Respect." Focusing on adolescents between the ages of 11 and 14, Choose Respect provides educational information for the development of healthy relationships, skills for managing conflict, anger, and jealousy without violence.

Choose Respect encourages the early development of healthy attitudes, behaviors, and skills (e.g., negotiation or compromise) to help youth interact positively and treat others with respect. The initiative tools are designed to complement other community prevention strategies to change social norms and encourage healthy relationships.

References

1.     CDC. Physical dating violence among high school students---United States, 2003. MMWR 2006;55:532--5.

2.     Wekerle C, Wolfe DA. Dating violence in mid-adolescence: theory, significance, and emerging prevention initiatives. Clin Psychol Rev 1999;19:435--56.

Choose Respect  DVD - Causing Pain: Real Stories of Dating Abuse and Violence, is an award-winning program. This program features true stories of youth, parents, and professionals who have been in, or witnessed, abusive relationships. The video utilizes their experiences and insights so that youth and parents can recognize and prevent dating abuse in their own lives, or in the lives of others.

·     Adult version: 30 minute program

·     Youth version: 13 minute program

Causing Pain: Real Stories of Dating Abuse and Violence Discussion Guide CD

The discussion guide, and accompanying PowerPoint presentation, helps participants recall specific scenes and generate thoughtful conversations about indentifying warning signs and preventing abusive relationships. The discussion guide includes: background for session leaders, helpful hints for addressing the subject of dating abuse and violence, instructions for facilitating group discussions, and interactive activities.

·     Section One provides session leaders with the facts about dating abuse, healthy relationships, and helps with presentation and discussion preparation

·     Section Two aids in outlining the differences in presenting Choose Respect to a youth or adult group, and demonstrates how to get the discussion flowing with an icebreaker, setting ground rules for discussion, and presenting an overview of the Choose Respect initiative

·     Section Three gives participants a chance to talk about the characters in the video and the overall topic of dating abuse and healthy relationships through activities to promote Choose Respect

PowerPoint Presentation– Provides everything a presenter needs to engage the audience in conversation surrounding the components of Choose Respect and promote dialogue about healthy and positive relationships

Dating Abuse and Violence Discussion Handouts and Worksheets

The Causing Pain: Real Stories of Dating Abuse & Violence video is a recipient of two FREDDIE Awards for its content, educational value, originality and production quality, and was also nominated for an Emmy Award.

The RCASA Court Advocate for the Planning District 16 (City of Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline) as well as outlying counties of Culpeper, Westmoreland, and Louisa can help provide you with criminal justice resources, provide advocacy support throughout the legal and court process. They are available to assist victims as they move through the legal system. Court Advocates can answer questions you have about:               

Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund               

Counseling Options               

Safety Planning

Provide other criminal justice information (county police department, victim witness, legal aid, etc.) 

If you wish to seek court advocacy representation you would need to contact RCASA at 540-371-6771 to speak with a Community Outreach Specialist to schedule an initial intake appointment. This process is provided no matter of ability to pay for services. Following the intake, we would want to schedule a meeting with the client’s County Victim Witness and the Commonwealth Attorney to find out upcoming trial dates.  

COURT ADVOCACY 

How can the Advocate help victims at law enforcement investigative interviews?

Investigative interviews may be emotional when re-telling the specifics of the case. The advocate is there to provide emotional support to the client. These services are available with the consent of the survivor and the law enforcement agency.

What is the purpose of advocacy during legal proceedings?

The Advocate is available to provide emotional support, as well as to answer basic questions about the court process. The advocate encourages the survivor and family members to direct all questions about specific legal matters to the District Attorney’s office. Any information shared between the victim and the advocate is confidential. 

What is the CA’s role in the legal process?

The Advocate has no legal standing with the courts; however, the advocate has basic knowledge of the court process. This knowledge is beneficial to survivors in ways that help prepare them emotionally and mentally for their role in the legal process. 

At what point does court advocacy services terminate?

Follow-up services can be terminated by survivors request or at any time. Court Advocacy may no longer be needed when support systems are in place. 

What if the case does not go to court?

Certain requirements must be met for a case to be prosecuted. The final decision to prosecute is made by the District Attorney’s office. Even when the case is not prosecuted the advocate will continue to work with the victim and encourage involvement in support activities such as counseling, support groups, etc.

offered by RCASA, please call: (540) 371-6771

Office hours are 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday.

Every hour of the day, there is someone available. Our Resource Line Advocate Counselors/Crisis Response Staff help thousands of people. Confidential crisis intervention, information and referral, medical advocacy, and general advocacy is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This vital resource is for anyone needing support or information regarding sexual assault, sexual abuse and stalking.

 24-hour crisis line

Calls on the crisis line may include a call from

• a man or woman who was recently assaulted or at some point in the past; 
• a significant other (friend or family member) wanting information on how they can support the person in their life who has been sexually assaulted
• a person requesting information or support with the medical/legal system
• a caller asking for information on the Center and services offered
• someone with questions about child sexual abuse
• a person requesting information on avoidance

One-on-one Crisis Counseling
Short-term crisis counseling is available. A trained crisis counselor is available during office hours to provide information and support. Please call the office for an appointment.

Information and Referral
Information on rape, child sexual abuse, and other sexual assault violence is available by calling or dropping by the office. Referrals for longer-term or specialty trauma counseling in our center are available. Referrals to additional community resources are also available.

RCASA provides crisis response and medical accompaniment 24-hours a day.  We accompany victims seeking medical care and evidence collection to Mary Washington Hospital Emergency Department to provide the following services:

• Crisis support through medical care and evidence collection
• Bathing supplies and fresh clothing for victims to wear home
• Crisis support counseling for victims, their partners and their families
• Informational books on sexual assault
• Hospital advocacy
• Follow-up calls to assess for needed services
• Referral services for programs in-house and in the community

 All services are supported through donations and grant funding and provided free of charge. 

Since 1987, RCASA has been the agency to turn to for crisis services assisting victims of sexual assault, their family, friends, and partners. After the immediate trauma of sexual assault, survivors benefit greatly from long-term counseling services as they continue to heal from the effects of sexual violence.

In the past it was customary for our agency to refer these clients to outside therapists for ongoing treatment. The high demand and long wait lists for therapists in our community and the feedback from clients that switching therapists can be difficult for survivors who have established a strong rapport with their RCASA therapist, has caused us to expand our services to meet this important community need. This change appears to ease burdens from survivors who find RCASA a safe haven where they can meet a variety of the needs associated with healing from their trauma in one agency.

Our licensed therapists are trained in various modalities of trauma treatment and are able to provide services to all age groups. RCASA will continue providing free crisis counseling and support groups and we will accept a variety of insurances for ongoing individual therapy. If you do not have insurance, please call our office to discuss alternative methods of cost coverage for participating in ongoing therapy with our agency. Individual and Group Counseling for:

• Children (ages 3-12) and Teenagers (ages 13-18) who have been sexually abused
• Adults who were abused as children
• Rape survivors of all ages and genders
• Parents/Caregivers, family members, and significant others of those who have been raped or sexually abused
• Spanish-speaking clients
  
  
  
  
  For more information call:  540-371-5502  or email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

New Legislation Passed

• HB 2400 - This is new legislation requiring Commonwealth Attorneys to coordinate the establishment of a multidisciplinary response to criminal sexual assault by creating sexual assault response teams to improve serivces to victims in each locality.  This bill was introduced by Delegate Rob Bell.   

If you have questions about any sexual or domestic violence related bill, please contact staff at the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

See the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance website: www.vsdvalliance.org for the crossover or final report. 

For actual votes and language of the bills, go to the General Assembly website at www.legis.state.va.us

Attorney General's 2008 Annual Report:  Domestic and Sexual Violence in Virginia

On an average day in Virginia:

• Sexual violence service providers respond to 34 crisis situations, including 24-hour hotline calls and 10 in-person requests for assistance. 
• Law Enforcement Officers across the Commonwealth make nine arrests for violations of protective orders.

Last year:

• 1 in 3: Almost one in three forcible sex offenses reported to law enforcement agencies in 2007 involved victimization by a family or household member, or an intimate dating partner. 
• 1 in 3: Roughly one in three homicides from 1999 to 2006 were related to family and intimate partner violence.

You can download the report in PDF at www.oag.state.va.us - look under Key Issues and then Domestic Violence.

There are many steps to take if you have been assaulted.  While it can be discomforting to have to think about medical and law enforcement procedures, it is important to follow the recommendations in order to receive appropriate medical care, get evidence collected and collaborate with law enforcement so they may investigate the crime and prosecute the offender. 

• Go to the emergency department immediately - evidence needs to be collected within 72 hours
• Identify yourself as a sexual assault victim
• Do not change your clothes or bathe - if you have changed your clothes bring them to the hospital in a paper bag
  • RCASA crisis responders will bring you socks, underwear, pants and a top to wear home
• Do not eat or drink anything
  • RCASA crisis responders can get you water or a drink when released by the nurses
• Do not urinate, if possible