(Boston Orange 編譯)麻州副州長白莉朵(Karyn Polito)和麻州健康及人民服務卿Marylou Sudders等人今(21)日齊聚，誌記4月為”關注及防止性侵月(Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month)。
麻州內的16個區域性強暴危機中心(Rape Crisis Centers)，性侵護理檢查員項目，以及去年在新冠疫情期間，以新且有創意方式協助受害者的殘障人士保護局內的性侵回應組等，均派有代表出席。
去年4月，查理貝克及白莉朵政府擴大並宣傳了全州性，一週7天，每天24小時的安全鍊(SafeLink)的家暴熱線，把性侵相關電話轉給地方上的強暴危機中心。州政府也為檢測陽性的受害者，在庇護所中設立隔離的恢復場所。
為協助受害者，防止這類事件發生，查理貝克及白莉朵政府在2022年會記年度預算中，編列了9600萬元，比2015會記年度增加了48%，其中包括5030萬元交由公共衛生廳執行防止家暴其性侵，協助倖存者等服務。另有600萬元支持全州性的SANE項目，100萬元推廣健康關係，防止青少年之間的約會暴力等。
因為性侵等情況掙扎的人可隨時撥打安全鏈(SafeLink)熱線， (877) 785-2020，或上網www.mass.gov/service-details/sexual-assault-prevention-and-survivor-services。
Baker-Polito Administration Recognizes April as Sexual Assault
Awareness and Prevention Month, Highlights Providers Who Continue to Support
Survivors During COVID-19
BOSTON – Today, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Health and Human
Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, state officials and community advocates
convened in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and to
raise awareness of the supports available to survivors of sexual assault.
Representatives from the Commonwealth’s 16 regional Rape
Crisis Centers, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program and
the Sexual Assault Response Unit within the Disabled Persons Protection
Commission, who have served sexual assault survivors over the past year in new
and creative ways due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, were recognized
and shared available resources.
"The Governor's Council to Address Sexual
Assault and Domestic Violence has worked with advocates, partners and key
stakeholders to support survivors of sexual assault across the
Commonwealth," said Governor Charlie Baker. "In what has been an extremely
challenging year, I am grateful to the Council under the leadership of Lt.
Governor Polito, for their efforts to support survivors and their families and
ensure their safety as we all work to end sexual assault in
Massachusetts."
“The Baker-Polito Administration is committed
to recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and providing
care, resources and support for survivors of sexual assault across
the Commonwealth to keep them safe and ensure access for all those who need
it,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Chair of the
Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. “Every
individual in every community across our Commonwealth deserves to live a life
free from sexual assault, and while this work has been challenging during
COVID-19, it is critically important that individuals and families know that
they are not alone and that services, safety nets and resources are available.”
“This has been an exceptionally difficult year
in so many ways, and we are still learning the full impacts of COVID-19. For
sexual assault survivors, we know that trauma may be compounded by isolation
and other factors brought by the pandemic,” said Health and
Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “We are grateful for the work of
advocates in rape crisis centers, and other providers and members of this
strong network across our Commonwealth, who have worked to ensure survivors of
sexual assault have access to resources, and we will continue to collaborate
and support them to best help survivors throughout and beyond this pandemic.”
During the COVID-19 public health emergency,
local and regional providers rapidly pivoted to remote services, helping meet
the needs of Massachusetts residents. Last April, the Baker-Polito
Administration expanded and promoted SafeLink —
the statewide 24/7 domestic violence hotline — to refer sexual assault-related
calls to local rape crisis centers. The Administration also established Isolation and Recovery sites
for individuals in shelter who tested positive for COVID-19, offering a safe,
stable location to isolate and recover, and provided PPE and cleaning supplies,
and created appropriate health and safety policies for survivors at the sites.
Throughout the pandemic, Massachusetts’ Sexual
Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program – which includes SANE nurses in 40
hospitals across the Commonwealth – has continued operations, providing
trauma-informed, expert forensic nursing care to sexual assault patients across
the lifespan.
To support adults with disabilities who are
sexual assault survivors, the Commonwealth created a first-in-the-nation
dedicated Sexual Assault Response Unit within the Disabled Persons Protection
Commission. This specific unit helps adults with disabilities navigate through
the barriers they face when accessing trauma services, such as communication,
transportation and accessibility to help ensure that survivors are aware of the
services available and to help meet their unique needs.
“During this Sexual Assault Awareness Month,
let’s remember: unlike the coronavirus, sexual assault is not novel,” said
Isa Woldeguiorguis, Executive Director of the Center for Hope and Healing. “Crisis
situations have historically had the heaviest impact on survivors of violence,
especially those who are also members of marginalized communities, such as
people of color, LGBQ/T+ folks, immigrants, people with disabilities and lower
incomes. The pandemic affirmed for us that our work is vital to respond to
multiple crises – COVID, racism, health disparities, and violence.”
“Sexual assault and rape crisis advocates have
met the challenges of the pandemic with grace and compassion as they continue
to offer a lifeline to those experiencing abuse,” said Debra Robin,
Executive Director of Jane Doe, Inc. “Today we celebrate them and
recommit ourselves to the prevention of sexual violence.”
“Every sexual assault patient deserves the
best possible care,” said Joan Sham, Director of the Massachusetts
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program. “The SANE program,
coupled with other health care and community support services, provides
compassionate, trauma-informed nursing care that can help support healing, and
mitigate the long-term physical and mental health challenges of sexual assault
patients throughout the Commonwealth.”
“We are so grateful to our many partners who
have together made it possible for victims with a disability to get the trauma
informed treatment they need and deserve,” said Jackie Perez,
Central/West Regional Navigator for the Sexual Assault Response Unit at the
Disabled Persons Protection Commission. “With this issue now at the
fore, the momentum will catapult us all forward to provide enhanced services to
those most in need.”
Sexual assault and dating violence, like other
forms of violence, further health inequities. Sexual assault and dating
violence have both short- and long-term health effects for survivors,
contributing to chronic disease, substance abuse, gynecological, and mental
health issues. Child abuse, sexual violence, and partner violence often lead to
homelessness among survivors, which in turn puts people at risk for additional
sexual assault and sexual exploitation or trafficking. Youth who have
experienced trauma, including witnessing or experiencing physical, sexual, or
emotional abuse, are at greater risk for suicide.
Upon taking office, the Baker-Polito
Administration restored the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and
Domestic Violence, chaired by Lt. Governor Polito, and has made significant
investments in services to support survivors of sexual assault and domestic
violence. The administration has advanced several initiatives across the
Commonwealth in support of individuals of all ages, which include the
establishment of the SAECK Tracking System, a statewide sexual assault evidence collection kit tracking
system, the creation of a statewide public awareness campaign, RESPECTfully, to promote healthy relationships
among Massachusetts youth, the implementation of multi-disciplinary Human Trafficking Guidelines for
Law Enforcement, and the awarding of $1 million in grant
funding to promote healthy relationships and prevent sexual
assault and dating violence through prevention education.
The Baker-Polito Administration’s proposed FY22 budget reaffirms
this commitment to survivors of sexual assault through $96 million in total funding to ensure that
survivors have access to critical services and supports, a 48% increase from FY15. This includes
$50.3 million for the Department of Public Health to carry out domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and survivor services, as well as emergency
and transitional residential services for victims and their children, $6 million
to support statewide SANE programs for adults and adolescents in hospital
settings and pediatric SANE programs in child advocacy centers, and $1 million
for the grant program focusing on promoting healthy relationships and
preventing dating violence among youth.
Anyone who is struggling with sexual assault
is reminded that free, confidential, 24/7 support from a local rape crisis
center is a phone call away. Call SafeLink at (877) 785-2020 or visit www.mass.gov/service-details/sexual-assault-prevention-and-survivor-services
