SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES ORGANIZATION
PO BOX 2723, DURANGO, CO 81302 www.durangosaso.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: SASO IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ADVOCACY TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND PROVIDING EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS AIMED AT INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SAFETY, IN AN ANTI-OPPRESSION FRAMEWORK.

ADVOCACY SERVICES: SASO HOTLINE AND FOLLOW-UP SERVICES ASSIST VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE LONG PROCESS OF RECOVERY FROM A TRAUMATIC VIOLENT CRIME. THESE SERVICES OFTEN ARE THE FIRST, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT STEPS TOWARD REDUCING THE TRAUMA OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY TRAINED VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES AND SASO STAFF INCLUDE: 24-HOUR CRISIS INTERVENTION AND COUNSELING; MEDICAL ADVOCACY DURING SANE EXAMS; LEGAL ADVOCACY DURING LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVIEWS AND COURT PROCEEDINGS; FREE SUPPORT GROUPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUAL THERAPY AND EMERGENCY NEEDS; AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT AGENCIES. IN ADDITION, SASO PROVIDES ON-SITE ADVOCACY TO THE LOCAL SAFEHOUSE, COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROGRAM, COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, AND SCHOOLS. METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING THESE PROGRAMS FOLLOW BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES DEVELOPED AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS INCLUDING PRIORITIZING VICTIM SAFETY AND EMPOWERMENT, NOTIFICATION ABOUT VICTIM RIGHTS, AND STRICT ADHERENCE TO VICTIM CONFIDENTIALITY. SASO COLLABORATES WITH 6TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COMMUNITY PROVIDERS SERVING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE TO CREATE BEST PRACTICE POLICIES FOR PROVIDING SERVICES AND RESPONSE. THROUGH THIS, SASO HAS BEEN ABLE TO INCREASE OUR MEDICAL AND LEGAL ADVOCACY PROGRAMS, PROVIDING GREATER SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS AS THEY NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX AND OFTEN CONFUSING CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. DURING 2019, SASO SERVED 344 UNDUPLICATED CALLERS OVER 818 CONTACTS WITH 1,053 VICTIM SERVICES, AND 885 REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. OF THOSE SERVICES, 115 INDIVIDUALS WERE PROVIDED 181 CONTACTS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS AT THE LOCAL SAFEHOUSE, COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, AND COUNTY DETENTION CENTER LOCATIONS. SASO ALSO OFFERS A THERAPIST-FACILITATED, FREE, COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP FOR SURVIVORS. FIVE SERIES OF FIVE GROUPS WERE PROVIDED IN THE COMMUNITY IN ADDITION TO THE STAFF-LED PSYCHOEDUCATION GROUP HELD WEEKLY AT THE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER. THESE SUPPORT GROUPS ARE FREE OF CHARGE TO PARTICIPANTS SO THAT COST IS NO BARRIER TO HEALING. THESE SERVICES ARE ESSENTIAL SUPPORTS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WE ARE THE ONLY COMMUNITY-BASED ADVOCACY AGENCY FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE SERVING LA PLATA AND SAN JUAN COUNTIES.

PREVENTION EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: SASO'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS SPAN K-12, COLLEGE, AND ADULTS. SASO'S ELEMENTARY PREVENTION PROGRAM, THE NATIONALLY DEVELOPED AND RESEARCHED CHILD ASSAULT PREVENTION PROGRAM (CAPP), WORKS TO BREAK THE CYCLES OF ABUSE BY EDUCATING CHILDREN, TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. CAPP PROVIDES EMPOWERMENT SKILLS THAT TEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN TO IDENTIFY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND WAYS TO SEEK HELP. THE SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAM IS A BYSTANDER INTERVENTION (BI) PROGRAM, BASED ON THE NATIONAL MENTORS IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION MODEL AND THE FAMILY LIFE AND SEXUAL HEALTH PROGRAM OR F.L.A.S.H. BYSTANDER INTERVENTION PROGRAMS TEACH TEENS THEIR POTENTIAL TO STOP SEXUAL VIOLENCE AS BYSTANDERS, WHEN THEY CHOOSE TO INTERVENE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR PEERS. F.L.A.S.H. EMPOWERS AND EDUCATES STUDENTS THROUGH TEACHING EFFECTIVE SKILLS IN COMMUNICATION, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, CYBER SAFETY, AND GENDER NORMING. IN 2019, SASO SERVED 2,194 YOUTH THROUGH OUR PREVENTION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING 500 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND 1,694 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. SASO HAS INCREASED ITS OUTREACH PROGRAMMING, EXPANDING OUR WORK TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY PARTNERING WITH LOCAL AGENCIES SERVING NATIVE AMERICAN, LATINX, LGTBQ, HOMELESS, VETERANS, INTELLECTUAL, DEVELOPMENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, YOUTH, AND ELDERS. SASO RECOGNIZES THAT OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPERIENCE A MUCH HIGHER RISK OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND STANDS TO SERVE THEM WITH SUPPORT AND CULTURAL RESPECT IN THEIR HEALING. AS A RESULT, SASO IS OPENING AN OFFICE IN 2020 TO SERVE THE SOUTHEAST AREA OF LA PLATA COUNTY, INCLUDING THE SOUTHERN UTE RESERVATION. SASO'S OUTREACH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS REACHED APPROXIMATELY 6,751 PEOPLE THROUGH OUTREACH AND AWARENESS PRESENTATIONS, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND TABLING WITH AN ADDITIONAL 568,776 THROUGH RADIO, NEWS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

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