YWCA offers aid to victims of sexual violence

The YWCA of Richmond is proud of the Richmond Times-Dispatch for its recent series that brought to light the issue of sexual assaults on Virginia college campuses.

Monday's story on Kathryn Russell's experience after her rape at the University of Virginia — when she says the responding policewoman told her "it's a tough lesson to learn, huh?" — clearly demonstrates that we need to continue our work to change the way rape is perceived, handled and reported. We need to ensure that the victim is heard when she comes forward to tell her story.

The YW is working hard toward this goal. We offer both an immediate response and long-term care to the victims of sexual assault and/or domestic violence.

Our immediate response resources are the RHART program and the 24-hour crisis hotline. RHART, the Regional Hospital Accompaniment Response Team, is a volunteer-driven program that provides a trained advocate to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in local emergency rooms. Upon the request of emergency staff, volunteers respond to the hospital and meet with the patient to provide supportive services and general advocacy while in the hospital.

The hospital systems of Virginia Commonwealth University and Bon Secours have both fully embraced the program. The emergency department staff and social workers now expect and want to see our advocates there to aid the victim. This is a partnership of which we are tremendously proud, and we must thank our partners: Hanover Safe Place, Safe Harbor, Bon Secours, and the VCU Health System. This united front is a big step forward, but we must continue our work.

RHART celebrated its two-year anniversary in November. In that time, we have seen 644 patients in the hospital: 54 percent of these patients have been victims of sexual violence, and an additional 5 percent have been victims of both intimate-partner violence and sexual violence; 26 percent of these victims are college age (19-24).

We also offer a 24-hour crisis hotline that women can call at (804) 643-0888. The hotline is our first point of help for victims.

In 2010, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network estimated that 1 in 6 women will be the victim of a rape or an attempted rape in their life. And besides immediate care, many, if not all, of them will also need long-term care.

Often because of the hospital advocacy of the YW and the support materials we provide, we see women stay with us for long-term care. "Melissa" was raped at a college fraternity party. Afterward, she was joined at the hospital by one of our advocates. The advocate arrived with a change of clothes, a recycled cell phone that could be used to call 911, toiletries and information on resources should she decide to press charges. Melissa continued to use services the YWCA provides, past our immediate response, and took full advantage of the long-term resources offered to her.

It can take six to eight months before a victim is ready to talk about the rape. Our goal is to make women feel empowered after the fact. Empowered and heard, and to give them the tools they need for a full recovery.

To that end, we offer individual and group counseling, emergency shelter, sexual violence support groups and individual counseling at our downtown location and at confidential locations throughout the community.

The YW also partners with universities in order to raise visibility and shed light, so people aren't afraid to talk about this issue. Having a unified system is very important.

Sexual violence does not discriminate. Anyone can be a victim, regardless of gender, race, age, socioeconomic status or education level. Sexual violence can occur between strangers or between people who know each other.

Sexual violence can end in our community if each one of us takes an active part in finding solutions, prevention and intervention. You as a concerned citizen can make a difference. RHART training begins in January. If you would like to be an advocate for women in our community, please contact Natalie Martin, our RHART coordinator at nmartin@ywcarichmond.org.

We once again applaud the RTD for shining a light on this subject. And while victims of sexual assault may often feel alone, like no one in the world can understand what they've gone through, the YW will be there, whenever and wherever they need us. And we'll continue that work until we live in a world where no one ever again has to be the victim of sexual violence.