2008 Woodie Awards
Community unites creating sexual assult response team
Andrea Bartlow
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: News
A group known as the Johnson Country Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) has been formed by representatives from Warrensburg, Central and Whiteman Air Force Base, in order to create a coordinated and comprehensive response for victims of sexual assault.
Representatives from the Sheriff's department, the Warrensburg police department, the prosecutor's office and Whiteman Air Force Base Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and Office of Special Investigations, as well as the Johnson County Community Health and the Domestic Violence Task Force and Survival are among the county-wide members of SART. From Central, the Lighthouse, University Health Services, Public Safety and Counseling and Psychological Services have all taken part in the creation of a team whose mission is to provide support and aid for victims of sexual assault.
Sgt. Kim Drake of Central's Public Safety is the coordinator of SART and said the team has been in the works since December 2004. She said SART allows victims of sexual assault to transition through the process of reporting an assault.
"SART makes it easier for a victim of sexual assault to get the help they need; it is a reactive program," Drake said. "By having all the sources of help interconnected through this team, the process of dealing with an assault is somewhat smoother for a victim."
Amy Kiger, assistant director of University Health Services and coordinator of the Lighthouse, said that SART helps victims receive the advocacy they need, as well as moral support in a time of need and stress.
She added SART counts with specially-trained nurses who know how to collect evidence from a victim's body and clothes while also providing medical care.
"Many times there is a 're-victimization' of sexual assault victims because the nurses and police officers that deal with them are not trained to treat a sexual assault victim correctly," Kiger said.
"SART members and advocates are specially trained in how to talk to a victim, to explain the process of reporting the assault, the procedures necessary at the hospital, etc."
SART victim advocates are taught listening skills and how to spot and interpret common experiences and reactions victims of sexual assault are documented to have.
The advocates are there for two main reasons: to help begin the process of healing and, hopefully, to encourage victims to report their assaults and facilitate the process of prosecution.
Survival, a center in Warrensburg offering aid and counseling for domestic and sexual abuse victims, is also involved in SART.
Lauren Praechter, court advocate for Survival, is one of the follow-up advocates who help victims deal with court proceedings, issue restraining orders and other legal matters. She said Survival plays the role of being a communication hub for SART.
"Survival has its own hotline to report cases of sexual or domestic abuse," Praechter said.
Representatives from the Sheriff's department, the Warrensburg police department, the prosecutor's office and Whiteman Air Force Base Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and Office of Special Investigations, as well as the Johnson County Community Health and the Domestic Violence Task Force and Survival are among the county-wide members of SART. From Central, the Lighthouse, University Health Services, Public Safety and Counseling and Psychological Services have all taken part in the creation of a team whose mission is to provide support and aid for victims of sexual assault.
Sgt. Kim Drake of Central's Public Safety is the coordinator of SART and said the team has been in the works since December 2004. She said SART allows victims of sexual assault to transition through the process of reporting an assault.
"SART makes it easier for a victim of sexual assault to get the help they need; it is a reactive program," Drake said. "By having all the sources of help interconnected through this team, the process of dealing with an assault is somewhat smoother for a victim."
Amy Kiger, assistant director of University Health Services and coordinator of the Lighthouse, said that SART helps victims receive the advocacy they need, as well as moral support in a time of need and stress.
She added SART counts with specially-trained nurses who know how to collect evidence from a victim's body and clothes while also providing medical care.
"Many times there is a 're-victimization' of sexual assault victims because the nurses and police officers that deal with them are not trained to treat a sexual assault victim correctly," Kiger said.
"SART members and advocates are specially trained in how to talk to a victim, to explain the process of reporting the assault, the procedures necessary at the hospital, etc."
SART victim advocates are taught listening skills and how to spot and interpret common experiences and reactions victims of sexual assault are documented to have.
The advocates are there for two main reasons: to help begin the process of healing and, hopefully, to encourage victims to report their assaults and facilitate the process of prosecution.
Survival, a center in Warrensburg offering aid and counseling for domestic and sexual abuse victims, is also involved in SART.
Lauren Praechter, court advocate for Survival, is one of the follow-up advocates who help victims deal with court proceedings, issue restraining orders and other legal matters. She said Survival plays the role of being a communication hub for SART.
"Survival has its own hotline to report cases of sexual or domestic abuse," Praechter said.