H.A.V.E.N. Update
By Cathleen Osborne-Gowey (Program Admin – Crime Victim Advocate) 918.554.2836 or COsbornegowey@estoo.net
Upcoming Events:
Support Group: Please call our office for details.
Program Update:
Hello all –
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, an opportunity to listen and honor survivors in our community. One of the ways we can do that is by educating ourselves on Denim Day, learning about ways we can support survivors, and brainstorming strategies for helping victims.
Information for this article is available at Share Center Yale University, denimday.org, and Denim Day Emory College.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is a time for advocates, survivors, their loved ones, and the community to come together to talk openly about sexual violence to support survivors, increase knowledge and awareness, and identify strategies and resources to prevent sexual violence. Let’s all join efforts to end sexual violence in our communities.
Every year in April we focus our Sexual Assault awareness outreach on raising awareness about listening to victims and honoring survivors. One of the ways we do that is through Denim Day events, Haven advocates wear denim and encourage tribal employees to wear denim to show support.
What is Denim Day
Denim Day is recognized on the last Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court to overturn a rape conviction because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove them, thereby implying consent. Following the reversal, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.
Since then, many organizations like ours around the US and world, wear Denim and hold Denim Day events in April to bring awareness about Sexual Assault, consent, and support survivors.
This year, look for Denim Days in our community and participate!
What else can you do in addition to wearing denim?
- Recognize that sexual violence impacts all members of our community—regardless of gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or any other demographic.
- Recognize that people neither ask for nor deserve to be victims of sexual violence—ever.
- Familiarize yourself with Haven’s services for sexual assault victims.
- Talk with Haven Advocates to find out how you can support friends or family impacted by sexual violence.
- Don’t blame survivors for the violence perpetrated against them & speak up when someone makes a comment that blames survivors.
- Talk to your kids or kids in your life about consent; know and teach that silence does not equal consent.
- Think critically about how the media depicts sexuality and relationships & challenge portrayals that perpetuate violence, oppression, and discrimination.
Strategies for Helping with a Victim
- Listen and demonstrate that you believe them. Be sure your friend/family member knows you will be supportive. It is important for your friend for family members to know they are believed and not judged. If you find yourself doubting your friend’s story or experience, don’t express it. That is not helpful and is often re-traumatizing. When you can, call Haven to talk through your own feelings and concerns.
- Let your friend/family member lead the conversation. Allow your friend/family member to determine the pace and focus of the conversation. Sexual misconduct is often a disempowering experience. An essential part of support is allowing the survivor to maintain control over what happens next.
- Inform yourself about resources. Spend some time learning what options your friend/family member might have, and offer information as appropriate. Be sure to let your friend/family member be the one to make the decisions about who to talk to, what services to access, and what actions to take next. You may disagree with some decisions but the important step is to listen and not judge. Help them to understand the available options, but they should be the one to decide how to proceed.
- Be reassuring. Avoid judgmental questions or statements and avoid using labels that the person has not used to describe their experience. Remind your them that they are not at fault. The blame lies only with the person(s) who committed the acts of sexual misconduct.
Remember, you are NOT ALONE! For more information on the services we can provide please reach out to Haven to speak with an advocate.
Haven Office Hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Monday – Friday
HAVEN Does NOT provide 24- hour service. After hours please call:
StrongHearts Native Helpline https://strongheartshelpline 1-844-762-8483 (call or text) or Community Crisis Center, Miami, OK 1-800-400-0883
StrongHearts and Community Crisis Center have 24 hour service
Please call the HAVEN office during business hours for more information.
918-554-2836 or Text Line: 918.533.3070
Program Website: https://havenprogram.com/
Program Email: havenprogram@estoo.net Facebook: HAVEN Tribal Program, Twitter: @ProgramHaven, Instagram: HAVENTRIBALProgram.
Program Website: https://havenprogram.com/
Program Email: havenprogram@estoo.net
Facebook: HAVEN Tribal Program, Twitter: @ProgramHaven, Instagram: HAVENTRIBALProgram.
