CCASA

THIS Week’s Policy Podcast from CCASA! Action Needed!

Editor — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:23:33 +0000

The CCASA Public Policy Committee does legislative advocacy work around services for survivors and accountability for offenders. Check this website frequently for updates and urgent action alerts. View our weekly Policy Podcasts for current information about what is happening this session! For more information about the CCASA Public Policy Committee, please contact Karen Moldovan, Program Manager, at advocacy@ccasa.org.

Register NOW for LEAD!

Editor — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:41:29 +0000

The Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) sponsors an annual Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD) for service providers here in Colorado. This year, CCADV and CCASA are working together to make LEAD 2012 even more accessible to service providers across the state! Federal-level policy-making will be the focus of this year’s annual LEAD event.Our special guest speakers will include: Rosemary Rodriguez, State Director for Sen. Michael Bennet; Sue Windels, District Education Advocate for Rep. Jared Polis; and Monika Johnson Hostler from the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence.
Click HERE to learn more about LEAD and to REGISTER!
Deadline: February 23, 2012!

NEW Sexual Assault Awareness Month Resources and Webpage

Editor — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:58:34 +0000

Visit the CCASA SAAM webpage for resources and up-to-date information about SAAM 2012. You may also easily add YOUR SAAM events to the CCASA Calendar of Events.

The month of April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in the United States. Each year CCASA’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month Planning Committee convenes from December through May to coordinate resources and events across Colorado. The 2012 SAAM Committee has worked to expand and enhance the SAAM initiatives for this year, and they also adopted the national SAAM theme, “It’s time…to talk about it!” for Colorado. The resources developed by the Committee are contained on the SAAM Resource CD which was mailed to member agencies on February 15th. For information about SAAM resources or for support in developing outreach and events in your community, please contact Alexa Priddy, Outreach Coordinator, at outreach@ccasa.org or 303.839.9999.

CCASA Supports Position Statement about Miramonte Elementary

Editor — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:54:33 +0000

CCASA has signed-on to support the position statement by Alianza Latina en contra la Agresión Sexual (ALAS) regarding the recent events at Miramonte Elementary School. The position statement is an urgent attempt to give voice to the broad implications of the events that took place at a particular school. The families of Miramonte Elementary School are no different from those who reside in las colonias of “el valle” in Texas, or any other state that has large or growing Latin@ communities, especially in non-metro counties. Sexual violence will continue unchecked — in all of our communities — until our messages of prevention and support reach everyone. We encourage you to view the position statement and learn more about this issue.

SAVE THE DATE! CCASA and CCADV Annual Conference June 11-13, 2012

Editor — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:28:59 +0000

The Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) and the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) are collaborating on our Annual Conference again this year. Please look for additional conference details soon, and plan to join us in Vail from June 11-13. Registration details coming in March!

Winter 2012 Edition of CCASA Connection

Editor — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:55:44 +0000

We are pleased to announce that the Winter 2012 edition of our quarterly newsletter, CCASA Connection, is out! The newsletter contains important information, including dates for CCASA Spring Regional Meetings in May.

National Survey Sheds New Light on Scope of Sexual Violence: Nearly 1 in 4 women in Colorado have been raped in their lifetime

Editor — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:06:58 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Denver, Colorado, December 15, 2011 – This week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2010 Summary Report. This latest data suggests that sexual violence in Colorado communities may be more prevalent than previously estimated. The findings show that nearly 1 in 4 women living in Colorado report being raped in their lifetime. When other sexual crimes are added (e.g., unwanted sexual contact and other types of coercion), that number rises to 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men in Colorado who have experienced sexually violent crimes in their lifetime.

Overall, the CDC report reveals that sexual violence is one of the most pervasive and serious public health issues in the United States. Consistent patterns in the data show that women, young people, and people of color are the most heavily affected populations in the United States, with over 50% of assaults of women perpetrated by current or former partners. Most violent victimization, including sexual assault, is first experienced in childhood and adolescence. Among female victims, 30% reported being first raped when they were between 11 and 17 years old; 12% were 10 or younger. Among males, 28% of male victims were first raped when they were 10 or younger. “The alarming rate of sexual violence, including child sexual abuse,” said Erin Jemison, Executive Director of CCASA, “demonstrates the need for fully-funded, comprehensive prevention and intervention services for youth and adults, including those in Colorado’s communities who may experience increased discrimination and barriers to receiving assistance.”

The survey is ongoing, and will track trends in sexual violence, stalking and intimate partner violence. The NISVS 2010 Summary Report is available on the CDC Injury Center’s website at: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs.

The CDC has also released a summary, fact sheet, and toolkit. The toolkit provides information on the survey methodology, best ways to interpret and use the data, and answers to frequently-asked questions. A brief fact sheet comparing NISVS to previous national surveys is available at National Research on Sexual Violence A Look to the Future.

The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) advocates for comprehensive sexual assault state laws and policies and provides educational programs, training, and technical assistance to sexual assault victim service providers in Colorado.

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