Info & Support




	Blue: Child Abuse Purple: Domestic Violence Teal: Sexual Assault

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network

www.rainn.org

Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault

www.icasa.org

Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence

www.ilcadv.org

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault can be verbal, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention. Examples of this are voyeurism (when someone watches private sexual acts), exhibitionism (when someone exposes him/herself in public), incest (sexual contact between family members), and sexual harassment.

http://www.4woman.gov/FAQ/sexualassault.htm#1

Children: 15% of sexual assault victims are under age 12,

Women: 1 out of 6 women have been victims.

Domestic violence: More than 4000 women each year are killed by their partner.

1. Sexual assault is an act of power and violence, not sexual desire.
2. Acquaintance or “date rape” (where the victim knows the attacker) occurs most often.3. Rapes and other sexual assaults are often unreported or not reported immediately, since victims are often ashamed or afraid no one will believe them.
4. Rapes and other sexual assaults can occur anywhere and at anytime, and can happen to anyone.
5. Rapes and other sexual assaults often involve a set of similar circumstances.
6. Sexual assaults generally occur from Thursday through Sunday between 2200 and 0600.
7. Most sexual assault victims are female, but a male can also be sexually assaulted.
8. Trend analysis and awareness training can help reduce the threat of sexual assault for all personnel.

Abuse is a pattern of coercive control that one person exercises over another. Battering is a behavior that physically harms, arouses fear,
prevents a partner from doing what they wish or forces them to behave in ways they do not want. Battering includes the use of physical and sexual violence, threats and intimidation, emotional abuse and economic deprivation. Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are
married, living together or who are dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.

http://www.ndvh.org/get-educated

What do I do if I’ve been sexually assaulted?
Take steps right away if you’ve been sexually assaulted.
    * Get away from the attacker to a safe place as fast as you can. Then call 911 or the police.
    * Call a friend or family member you trust. You also can call a crisis center or a hotline to talk with a counselor. One hotline is the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673). Feelings of shame, guilt, fear, and shock are normal. It is important to get counseling from a trusted professional.
    * Do not wash, comb, or clean any part of your body. Do not change clothes if possible, so the hospital staff can collect evidence. Do not touch or change anything at the scene of the assault.
    * Go to your nearest hospital emergency room as soon as possible. You need to be examined, treated for any injuries, and screened for possible sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or pregnancy. The doctor will collect evidence using a rape kit for fibers, hairs, saliva, semen, or clothing that the attacker may have left behind.
    * You or the hospital staff can call the police from the emergency room to file a report.
    * Ask the hospital staff about possible support groups you can attend right away.




			If you are sexually assaulted, it is never your fault.


	The Power and Control wheel shows how domestic violence is not only about physical and/or sexual abuse, but can also involve a range of psychological, emotional and financial abuse.


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