Rape Crisis Centers
Encyclopedia
Rape crisis centers, also called Sexual Assault Centers, are often community-based organizations affiliated with the anti-rape movement
that work to help victims of rape
, sexual abuse
, and sexual violence
. Central to a community’s rape response, RCCs provide a number of services, such as victim advocacy, crisis hotlines
, community outreach, and education programs. As social movement organizations
, they seek to change social beliefs and institutions, particularly in terms of how rape is understood by medical and legal entities and society at large. There is a great deal of diversity in terms of how RCCs are organized, which has implications for their ideological foundations, roles in their communities, and the services they offer.
In the United States
, the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE, operated by RAINN) is a partnership by over 1,100 rape crisis centers.
. Central to second-wave feminism was the practice of consciousness raising
, which allowed groups of women to speak openly about their experiences with sexual violence and the shortcomings of law enforcement, health care providers, and the criminal justice system to effectively and constructively respond to victims. Prior to the 1970s and 1980s several barriers existed for rape victims seeking justice, such as the fact that the concept of marital rape did not exist, juries were instructed to be suspicious of the validity of the victim’s accusations, eyewitnesses were required to bring cases to court, and victim blaming
was the norm. Employing a feminist analysis
, second-wave anti-rape activists began working to redefine rape as a direct outcome of patriarchy
and an illustration of women’s subordinate status in society relative to men. Rather than relying on traditional notions of rape as a primarily sexual act committed by deviants who are unknown to their victims, feminists have emphasized the violence of rape, as well how it is embedded in normal social interactions. This redefinition effectively politicized
rape, framing it as a larger pattern stemming from women’s oppression rather than a series of random, unexplainable criminal acts. From a feminist standpoint, the only way to completely eliminate rape is to create a society where women and men have equal status
.
Working from this new feminist definition of rape, anti-rape activists began organizing at the grassroots level, forming the first RCCs. Among the first was the Washington D.C. Rape Crisis Center, founded in 1972 by women identifying with the radical
branch of the women’s movement. The D.C. RCC published a pamphlet entitled How to Start a Rape Crisis Center, which provided a model for other early RCCs to follow. In line with the prevailing values of the women’s movement at that time, early RCCs were nonhierarchical, fairly anti-establishment
, and were largely staffed by volunteers. In addition to providing services for rape victims, such as 24-hour crisis hotlines, legal and medical assistance, referrals, emotional support, and counseling, many early RCCs focused their efforts on raising awareness about rape in their communities by organizing public demonstrations and inviting the media to attend. Such an example is the annual Take Back the Night
march, which has become a mainstay in many communities and a means for women to express uncensored anger about sexual violence against women.
The efforts of local anti-rape activists and RCCs to redefine and politicize rape were instrumental in getting rape put onto the national agenda. Once the National Organization for Women
identified rape as a priority focus, the anti-rape movement gained an even larger organizational base that could mobilize larger numbers of people and lobby for legal reform. Because of efforts by anti-rape activists and RCCs on local, state, and federal levels, the 1970s and 80s saw many important legislative changes that greatly improved the situation for rape victims. Among these achievements are the criminalization of marital rape, rendering a rape victim’s prior sexual history inadmissible as evidence in court (rape shield law
), repealing the requirement for corroboration in rape cases, and eliminating the requirement that victims must have physically resisted the attack in order to prosecute. Another important development was expanding the legal definition of rape to include forced oral and anal sex, penetration by a finger or object, and a number of other acts and situations.
Invididual activists working with RCCs were often responsible for bringing about these legal successes. For example, in 1980 Anne Pride, director of Pittsburgh Action Against Rape
(PAAR) was held in contempt of court for refusing to submit the records of a client to the defence attorney. When the case came to court a mistrial was ruled and the case went to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
, which ruled in favour of PAAR. This forced the issue of RC counsellors and confidentiality on the political and legislative agenda. By 1983 there was no legal doubt that RC record would remain confidential.
Early RCCs also sought to publicize the problematic manner in which law enforcement, health care providers, the criminal justice system, and the media responded to rape. RCCs would write letters to newspapers, hold press conferences, buy radio and television ads, and distribute flyers to draw negative attention to various actors who committed disservices to rape victims. Among their primary targets were law enforcement and hospitals. They criticized police officers for being unresponsive to rape victims and perpetrating what they called a “second rape. For example, it was not uncommon at the time for police officers to question rape victims about their sexual history or accuse them of provoking their attack. Hospitals received criticism for their treatment of rape victims, as they had no infrastructure to appropriately treat them and physicians often minimized the seriousness of rape victims’ injuries. Seen as a threat rather than a resource, RCCs largely had a combative relationship with mainstream organizations, a trend that has since changed. Poor relations between RCCs and mainstream organizations eventually became unproductive as law enforcement and physicians would refuse RCC advocates access to rape victims. Now most RCCs coordinate their activities with law enforcement, hospitals, the criminal justice system, and other mainstream organizations. RCCs also provide mainstream organizations with training and education and work to develop protocols for them to follow. The level of cooperation between RCCs and mainstream organizations and how responsibilities are allocated among them vary from community to community.
and hierarchy and away from the radical activism that defines their roots. Many RCCs, rather than being freestanding collectives, are incorporated into the mainstream organizations that they once worked against, such as hospitals or other social services agencies. These trends are related to the political climate
and also the availability of government money to fund their activities. Despite the fact that RCCs now more closely resemble mainstream organizations, they still occupy an important place in the anti-rape movement. When dealing with rape victims, the fact that RCCs have no interest other than in providing emotional support and assistance to victims distinguishes them from physicians who are primarily concerned with treating injuries, law enforcement officers who are primarily concerned with ascertaining facts, or prosecutors who primarily concerned with building a case. RCCs are further separated from mainstream organizations by their consistent efforts to reform how these organizations respond to rape, primarily through the provision of training in appropriate rape definitions and responses. This cooperation between RCCs and mainstream organizations represents a shift in RCC strategies; they have moved from being outside critics of mainstream organizations to indoctrinating allies with them.
A close relationship between RCCs and mainstream organizations leads to various opportunities and constraints that affect the quality of a community’s responsiveness to rape. Among the opportunities are access to rape victims that first approach mainstream organizations, the ability to teach mainstream organizations about rape, and the ability to develop responsive interorganizational protocols. Constraints include the inability to publicly criticize the unresponsiveness of mainstream organizations, an increased likelihood of cooptation
to mainstream views, a shift of the focus toward victims and away from social and political change, and a greater tolerance for mainstream unresponsiveness. Depending on the particular RCC, the community in which is works, and its relationship to mainstream organizations, there will be different situations in terms of which opportunities or constraints present themselves. Nonetheless, this situation suggests a much-changed picture from the radical origins of the RCC. While RCCs still employ feminist discourse and engage in political activities, such as demonstrations and lobbying
, they have largely lost the radical edge that once defined them.
Communities with RCCs that are integrated into a network with mainstream organizations are the most responsive to rape victims. Each community has different resources, but some relevant mainstream organizations for such a network include hospitals, law enforcement, prosecutors, feminist groups, university rape awareness programs, mental health centers, and battered women’s shelters
. The most effective networks for fostering a community’s responsiveness are those that are coordinated either by the RCC or the RCC in conjunction with the police. Coordination by the RCC entails establishing the linkages between the various organizations in order to streamline the delivery of services to the rape victim. Overly centralized networks are generally not as responsive as those that have more interaction between all members of the network. Overall, RCCs provide a central role in managing a community’s response to rape and foster increased communication among the various factions that deal with rape victims.
Some of the current major sources of federal funding available to support rape crisis centers are the Violence Against Women Act
of 1994(VAWA), the Victims of Crime Act of 1984
(VOCA) and the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant
(PHHSBG). VAWA allocated $1.6 billion dollars to states from 1994-2000, with about one third designated for victims of sexual assault. These funds are administered by the Office on Violence Against Women
in the United States Department of Justice
. VOCA, also administered by the Department of Justice, established a fund made up of fines paid by offenders. These funds are then allocated to organizations providing services to victims, with priority going to those addressing sexual assault, spousal abuse, and child abuse. VOCA funds are also available for statewide programs that provide compensation to victims. The PHHSBG is administered by the CDC
to fund a number of preventive health services and programs, such as those involving rape education and prevention. While the bulk of PHHS funds go to chronic disease, sex offense represented 8.5% of the designated funds in 2010, totaling over $7 million. Other federal sources that provide or have provided funding to RCCs are the National Institute of Mental Health
's National Center for the Prevention of Rape, the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
, and the Department of Labor
’s Comprehensive Employment and Training Act.
In addition to federal funding, state or county funding, funding from other non-profit organizations, corporate funding, and private donations represent possible avenues for RCC financial support. Some states and counties have, for example, set up sexual assault funds through tax revenues as a means to express local support for the important services that RCCs provide to their communities. Non-profits that administer grants for a number of social programs, such as the United Way of America, may fund RCCs or other organizations providing services for victims of physical and sexual violence. Corporations have also stepped up to fund, or attempt to fund, RCCs. For example, the Playboy Foundation
was among the most visible corporate donors for the women’s movement in the mid- to late-1970s, but many groups refused this funding for political and ideological reasons. RCCs also rely on the funds that they can generate themselves, through soliciting donations and fundraising efforts. As with many social service agencies, RCCs are virtually in a constant state of trying to secure funding so that they can maintain their program activities.
Anti-Rape Movement
- Ideological Roots of the Movement :In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a new conceptualization of rape arose out of the second-wave feminist movement, which served as a foundation for the anti-rape movement to come. Within the movement, feminists began a reevaluation of women’s daily lives...
that work to help victims of rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
, sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
, and sexual violence
Sexual violence
Sexual violence occurs throughout the world, although in most countries there has been little research conducted on the problem. Due to the private nature of sexual violence, estimating the extent of the problem is difficult...
. Central to a community’s rape response, RCCs provide a number of services, such as victim advocacy, crisis hotlines
Crisis hotline
A crisis hotline is a phone number people can call to get immediate emergency telephone counseling, usually by trained volunteers. Such hotlines have existed in most major cities of the United States at least since the mid-1970s. Initially set up to help those contemplating suicide, many have...
, community outreach, and education programs. As social movement organizations
Social movement organization
A social movement organization is an organized component of a social movement .SMO usually is only part of a particular social movement; in other words, a specific social movement is usually composed of many social movement organizations - formal organizations that share movement's goals...
, they seek to change social beliefs and institutions, particularly in terms of how rape is understood by medical and legal entities and society at large. There is a great deal of diversity in terms of how RCCs are organized, which has implications for their ideological foundations, roles in their communities, and the services they offer.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE, operated by RAINN) is a partnership by over 1,100 rape crisis centers.
History
The first American RCCs were formed in several states throughout the country in the early 1970s, largely by women associated with the second-wave feminist movementSecond-wave feminism
The Feminist Movement, or the Women's Liberation Movement in the United States refers to a period of feminist activity which began during the early 1960s and lasted through the early 1990s....
. Central to second-wave feminism was the practice of consciousness raising
Consciousness raising
Consciousness raising is a form of political activism, pioneered by United States feminists in the late 1960s...
, which allowed groups of women to speak openly about their experiences with sexual violence and the shortcomings of law enforcement, health care providers, and the criminal justice system to effectively and constructively respond to victims. Prior to the 1970s and 1980s several barriers existed for rape victims seeking justice, such as the fact that the concept of marital rape did not exist, juries were instructed to be suspicious of the validity of the victim’s accusations, eyewitnesses were required to bring cases to court, and victim blaming
Victim blaming
Victim blaming occurs when the victim of a crime, an accident, or any type of abusive maltreatment are held entirely or partially responsible for the transgressions committed against them. Blaming the victim has traditionally emerged especially in racist and sexist forms...
was the norm. Employing a feminist analysis
Feminist theory
Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical, or philosophical discourse, it aims to understand the nature of gender inequality...
, second-wave anti-rape activists began working to redefine rape as a direct outcome of patriarchy
Patriarchy
Patriarchy is a social system in which the role of the male as the primary authority figure is central to social organization, and where fathers hold authority over women, children, and property. It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege, and entails female subordination...
and an illustration of women’s subordinate status in society relative to men. Rather than relying on traditional notions of rape as a primarily sexual act committed by deviants who are unknown to their victims, feminists have emphasized the violence of rape, as well how it is embedded in normal social interactions. This redefinition effectively politicized
Politicized issue
A politicized issue or hot-button issue is a social, economic, theological, spiritual, scientific or legal issue which has become a political issue, as a result of deliberate action or otherwise, whereby people become politically active over that issue....
rape, framing it as a larger pattern stemming from women’s oppression rather than a series of random, unexplainable criminal acts. From a feminist standpoint, the only way to completely eliminate rape is to create a society where women and men have equal status
Gender equality
Gender equality is the goal of the equality of the genders, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.- Concept :...
.
Working from this new feminist definition of rape, anti-rape activists began organizing at the grassroots level, forming the first RCCs. Among the first was the Washington D.C. Rape Crisis Center, founded in 1972 by women identifying with the radical
Radical feminism
Radical feminism is a current theoretical perspective within feminism that focuses on the theory of patriarchy as a system of power that organizes society into a complex of relationships based on an assumption that "male supremacy" oppresses women...
branch of the women’s movement. The D.C. RCC published a pamphlet entitled How to Start a Rape Crisis Center, which provided a model for other early RCCs to follow. In line with the prevailing values of the women’s movement at that time, early RCCs were nonhierarchical, fairly anti-establishment
Anti-establishment
An anti-establishment view or belief is one which stands in opposition to the conventional social, political, and economic principles of a society. The term was first used in the modern sense in 1958, by the British magazine New Statesman to refer to its political and social agenda...
, and were largely staffed by volunteers. In addition to providing services for rape victims, such as 24-hour crisis hotlines, legal and medical assistance, referrals, emotional support, and counseling, many early RCCs focused their efforts on raising awareness about rape in their communities by organizing public demonstrations and inviting the media to attend. Such an example is the annual Take Back the Night
Take Back the Night
Take Back the Night is an internationally held march and rally intended as a protest and direct action against rape and other forms of sexual violence...
march, which has become a mainstay in many communities and a means for women to express uncensored anger about sexual violence against women.
The efforts of local anti-rape activists and RCCs to redefine and politicize rape were instrumental in getting rape put onto the national agenda. Once the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
identified rape as a priority focus, the anti-rape movement gained an even larger organizational base that could mobilize larger numbers of people and lobby for legal reform. Because of efforts by anti-rape activists and RCCs on local, state, and federal levels, the 1970s and 80s saw many important legislative changes that greatly improved the situation for rape victims. Among these achievements are the criminalization of marital rape, rendering a rape victim’s prior sexual history inadmissible as evidence in court (rape shield law
Rape shield law
A rape shield law is a law that limits a defendant's ability to cross-examine rape complainants about their past sexual behaviour. The term also refers to a law that prohibits the publication of the identity of an alleged rape victim.-In Canada:...
), repealing the requirement for corroboration in rape cases, and eliminating the requirement that victims must have physically resisted the attack in order to prosecute. Another important development was expanding the legal definition of rape to include forced oral and anal sex, penetration by a finger or object, and a number of other acts and situations.
Invididual activists working with RCCs were often responsible for bringing about these legal successes. For example, in 1980 Anne Pride, director of Pittsburgh Action Against Rape
Pittsburgh Action Against Rape
Pittsburgh Action Against Rape is the only organization in Allegheny County solely devoted to the issues of sexual violence. It was founded in 1972as a volunteer organisation by Anne Pride, and was the first rape crisis center in Pennsylvania...
(PAAR) was held in contempt of court for refusing to submit the records of a client to the defence attorney. When the case came to court a mistrial was ruled and the case went to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
, which ruled in favour of PAAR. This forced the issue of RC counsellors and confidentiality on the political and legislative agenda. By 1983 there was no legal doubt that RC record would remain confidential.
Early RCCs also sought to publicize the problematic manner in which law enforcement, health care providers, the criminal justice system, and the media responded to rape. RCCs would write letters to newspapers, hold press conferences, buy radio and television ads, and distribute flyers to draw negative attention to various actors who committed disservices to rape victims. Among their primary targets were law enforcement and hospitals. They criticized police officers for being unresponsive to rape victims and perpetrating what they called a “second rape. For example, it was not uncommon at the time for police officers to question rape victims about their sexual history or accuse them of provoking their attack. Hospitals received criticism for their treatment of rape victims, as they had no infrastructure to appropriately treat them and physicians often minimized the seriousness of rape victims’ injuries. Seen as a threat rather than a resource, RCCs largely had a combative relationship with mainstream organizations, a trend that has since changed. Poor relations between RCCs and mainstream organizations eventually became unproductive as law enforcement and physicians would refuse RCC advocates access to rape victims. Now most RCCs coordinate their activities with law enforcement, hospitals, the criminal justice system, and other mainstream organizations. RCCs also provide mainstream organizations with training and education and work to develop protocols for them to follow. The level of cooperation between RCCs and mainstream organizations and how responsibilities are allocated among them vary from community to community.
Structure and Organization
While the goals of RCCs have remained largely unchanged since their creation in the 1970s, they have undergone a number of structural changes. Among these changes is the phenomenon of RCCs moving toward more professionalizationProfessionalization
Professionalization is the social process by which any trade or occupation transforms itself into a true "profession of the highest integrity and competence." This process tends to involve establishing acceptable qualifications, a professional body or association to oversee the conduct of members...
and hierarchy and away from the radical activism that defines their roots. Many RCCs, rather than being freestanding collectives, are incorporated into the mainstream organizations that they once worked against, such as hospitals or other social services agencies. These trends are related to the political climate
Political climate
The political climate is the aggregate, current mood and opinions of a populace about political issues that also currently affect that population. It is generally used to describe a state of change in mood and opinions rather than a state of equilibrium...
and also the availability of government money to fund their activities. Despite the fact that RCCs now more closely resemble mainstream organizations, they still occupy an important place in the anti-rape movement. When dealing with rape victims, the fact that RCCs have no interest other than in providing emotional support and assistance to victims distinguishes them from physicians who are primarily concerned with treating injuries, law enforcement officers who are primarily concerned with ascertaining facts, or prosecutors who primarily concerned with building a case. RCCs are further separated from mainstream organizations by their consistent efforts to reform how these organizations respond to rape, primarily through the provision of training in appropriate rape definitions and responses. This cooperation between RCCs and mainstream organizations represents a shift in RCC strategies; they have moved from being outside critics of mainstream organizations to indoctrinating allies with them.
A close relationship between RCCs and mainstream organizations leads to various opportunities and constraints that affect the quality of a community’s responsiveness to rape. Among the opportunities are access to rape victims that first approach mainstream organizations, the ability to teach mainstream organizations about rape, and the ability to develop responsive interorganizational protocols. Constraints include the inability to publicly criticize the unresponsiveness of mainstream organizations, an increased likelihood of cooptation
Co-option
A co-opting or less frequently co-optation most commonly refers to action performed in a number of fields whereby an opponent is nullified or neutralized by absorption but there are other distinct senses as well....
to mainstream views, a shift of the focus toward victims and away from social and political change, and a greater tolerance for mainstream unresponsiveness. Depending on the particular RCC, the community in which is works, and its relationship to mainstream organizations, there will be different situations in terms of which opportunities or constraints present themselves. Nonetheless, this situation suggests a much-changed picture from the radical origins of the RCC. While RCCs still employ feminist discourse and engage in political activities, such as demonstrations and lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
, they have largely lost the radical edge that once defined them.
Communities with RCCs that are integrated into a network with mainstream organizations are the most responsive to rape victims. Each community has different resources, but some relevant mainstream organizations for such a network include hospitals, law enforcement, prosecutors, feminist groups, university rape awareness programs, mental health centers, and battered women’s shelters
Women's shelter
A women's shelter is a place of temporary refuge and support for women escaping violent or abusive situations, such as rape, and domestic violence....
. The most effective networks for fostering a community’s responsiveness are those that are coordinated either by the RCC or the RCC in conjunction with the police. Coordination by the RCC entails establishing the linkages between the various organizations in order to streamline the delivery of services to the rape victim. Overly centralized networks are generally not as responsive as those that have more interaction between all members of the network. Overall, RCCs provide a central role in managing a community’s response to rape and foster increased communication among the various factions that deal with rape victims.
Typical services offered
Each RCC is unique in the range of services it provides to both victims and the community. Professionals employed by the RCC, many of whom hold an academic degree in women’s studies, psychology, public health, social work, or another relevant discipline, provide these services. Volunteers are also essential to the provision of RCC services and are heavily utilized for a number of essential tasks. Both RCC employees and volunteers are required to undergo a 40-hour training during which they learn a great deal about societal, legal, and cultural aspects of rape.Victim Services
- Crisis hotlines are 24-hour 7 day a week phone lines that are offered by almost every RCC. Rape victims can call and receive crisis interventionCrisis interventionCrisis Intervention can be defined as emergency psychological care aimed at assisting individuals in a crisis situation to restore equilibrium to their biopsychosocial functioning and to minimise the potential for psychological trauma...
counseling free of charge, which may entail comforting the victim, dispelling common rape myths, explaining legal and medical options, or providing referrals for other useful resources. Volunteers often serve as crisis counselors for RCCs. - Counseling services, either short-term or long-term may be provided by RCCs to rape victims in order to promote their psychological well being in the aftermath of a traumatic event.
- Legal advocates may educate victims about the legal process, assist them with getting protective ordersRestraining orderA restraining order or order of protection is a form of legal injunction that requires a party to do, or to refrain from doing, certain acts. A party that refuses to comply with an order faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
against their assailant, and accompany victims to meetings with the prosecutor or to their court date. The criminal justice system can be traumatic for some rape victims and so legal advocates are present as a source of support. RCCs are generally neutral in terms of encouraging victims to take legal action against their assailants. - Medical advocates may educate victims about forensic medical options and accompany victims to the hospital to have a sexual assault evidentiary examination. While RCCs are generally neutral in terms of whether or not to proceed with the legal process, they often encourage all victims to get this examination so that if they later decide to prosecute, they will have evidence to help build their case.
- Sexual Assault Nurse ExaminersSexual Assault Nurse ExaminerA Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner is a nurse who has received special training to conduct sexual assault evidentiary exams for rape victims. Not all, but many SANE programs are coordinated by rape crisis centers rather than hospitals. SANEs are on call 24-hours a day and will arrive at the hospital...
(SANE) are nurses who have received special training to conduct sexual assault evidentiary exams for rape victims. Not all, but many SANE programs are coordinated by RCCs rather than hospitals. SANEs are on call 24-hours a day and will arrive at the hospital emergency room within and hour of the rape victim’s arrival. In addition to the collection of forensic evidence, they also provide crisis intervention counseling, STI testing, drug testing if drug-facilitated rape is suspected, and emergency contraception.
Community Services
- Education programs targeting various members of the community is commonplace among RCC activities. RCCs regularly go into schools, faith-based organizations, neighborhood associations, universities, and other places of social gathering to inform people about rape in their community, foster a feminist understanding of rape, dispel common myths about rape, and raise awareness about available services and resources.
- Training of law enforcement, health care providers, and attorneys has been an essential part of improving mainstream responsiveness to rape. RCCs use their expertise to develop programs that improve how rape victims are treated in legal and medical settings. RCCs also often develop and train mainstream organizations in protocols that create a standard for their collaboration.
- Prevention programs undertaken by RCCs may be part of their educational programs, including teaching definitions of sexual violence, attempts to change victim-blaming attitudes, engaging in role plays, fostering problem solving strategies, and even teaching self-defense to women so that they may fight off a potential assailant. Part of RCC efforts at prevention entail teaching women rape avoidance, i.e. behavioral strategies to reduce one’s chances of getting raped.
- Writing legislation for lawmakers is a means by which RCCs have been able to make important reforms and infuse rape laws with a feminist perspective. RCCs are in a better position to write such laws because lawmakers often lack experience with and knowledge of rape.
- Initiating projects is a way that RCCs can spearhead efforts to get more resources in their communities. RCCs are often seen as ideal candidates to undertake the process of mobilizing support for a particular issue, delegating tasks to various community stakeholders, and applying for funding.
- Outreach programs advertise a Center's existence in the surrounding community. Fundraising and awareness campaigns aid communities in coming together to end sexual violence. In recent years RCCs have begun working on outreach projects with faith based communities, GLBTQ communities, and other groups of individuals who share a cultural identity. Some outreach projects specifically serve non-English speaking people in their respective communities.
Funding
RCCs may receive funding from a number of sources and funding can vary greatly for each RCC depending on its location, if it is affiliated with a host agency, and the type of host agency. RCCs housed in hospitals and county social service and health agencies generally have more funding than those situated in mental health centers, battered women’s shelters, and legal-justice organizations. The funding situation today has changed a great deal from that of the early 1970s when RCCs were just beginning to start up. Operating on small budgets, membership fees and donations from the community made up the majority of early RCC funds. Federal funding sources for sexual assault started to become available from the mid-1970s through the 1990s, which has had implications for how RCCs are organized. To be eligible for federal funding, RCCs have to demonstrate that they had support from the community, organizational stability, as well as the ability to maintain programs beyond initial funding. These funding requirements have been a major force pushing RCCs to become more professionalized and to model themselves on a social service agency structure.Some of the current major sources of federal funding available to support rape crisis centers are the Violence Against Women Act
Violence Against Women Act
The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 is a United States federal law. It was passed as Title IV, sec. 40001-40703 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, , and signed as by President Bill Clinton on September 13, 1994...
of 1994(VAWA), the Victims of Crime Act of 1984
Victims of Crime Act of 1984
The Victims of Crime Act of 1984 is United States federal government legislation aimed at helping the victims of crime through means other than punishment of the criminal. It established the Crime Victim's Fund, a scheme to compensate victims of crime....
(VOCA) and the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant
Block grant
In a fiscal federal form of government, a block grant is a large sum of money granted by the national government to a regional government with only general provisions as to the way it is to be spent...
(PHHSBG). VAWA allocated $1.6 billion dollars to states from 1994-2000, with about one third designated for victims of sexual assault. These funds are administered by the Office on Violence Against Women
Office on Violence Against Women
The Office on Violence Against Women , a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, provides national leadership in developing the nation's capacity to reduce violence against women through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act ....
in the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
. VOCA, also administered by the Department of Justice, established a fund made up of fines paid by offenders. These funds are then allocated to organizations providing services to victims, with priority going to those addressing sexual assault, spousal abuse, and child abuse. VOCA funds are also available for statewide programs that provide compensation to victims. The PHHSBG is administered by the CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
to fund a number of preventive health services and programs, such as those involving rape education and prevention. While the bulk of PHHS funds go to chronic disease, sex offense represented 8.5% of the designated funds in 2010, totaling over $7 million. Other federal sources that provide or have provided funding to RCCs are the National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
's National Center for the Prevention of Rape, the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
Law Enforcement Assistance Administration
The Law Enforcement Assistance Administration was a U.S. federal agency within the U.S. Dept. of Justice. It administered federal funding to state and local law enforcement agencies, and funded educational programs, research, state planning agencies, and local crime initiatives.The LEAA was...
, and the Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
’s Comprehensive Employment and Training Act.
In addition to federal funding, state or county funding, funding from other non-profit organizations, corporate funding, and private donations represent possible avenues for RCC financial support. Some states and counties have, for example, set up sexual assault funds through tax revenues as a means to express local support for the important services that RCCs provide to their communities. Non-profits that administer grants for a number of social programs, such as the United Way of America, may fund RCCs or other organizations providing services for victims of physical and sexual violence. Corporations have also stepped up to fund, or attempt to fund, RCCs. For example, the Playboy Foundation
Playboy Foundation
The Playboy Foundation is a corporate-giving organization that provides grants to non-profit groups involved in fighting censorship and researching human sexuality. It gives grants and in-kind contributions, such as advertising space in the Playboy magazine to organizations concerned with US First...
was among the most visible corporate donors for the women’s movement in the mid- to late-1970s, but many groups refused this funding for political and ideological reasons. RCCs also rely on the funds that they can generate themselves, through soliciting donations and fundraising efforts. As with many social service agencies, RCCs are virtually in a constant state of trying to secure funding so that they can maintain their program activities.
See also
- Rape cultureRape cultureRape culture is a term which originated in women's studies and feminist theory, describing a culture in which rape and sexual violence against women are common and in which prevalent attitudes, norms, practices, and media condone, normalize, excuse, or tolerate sexual violence against women...
- Domestic violenceDomestic violenceDomestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
- Types of rapeTypes of rapeRape can be categorized in different ways: for example, by reference to the situation in which it occurs, by the identity or characteristics of the victim, and/or by the identity or characteristics of the perpetrator...
- History of FeminismHistory of feminismThe history of feminism involves the story of feminist movements and of feminist thinkers. Depending on time, culture and country, feminists around the world have sometimes had different causes and goals...
- SexismSexismSexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
- Sexual harassmentSexual harassmentSexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
- Rape statistics
- International Violence Against Women ActInternational Violence Against Women ActThe International Violence Against Women Act is proposed legislation to address violence against women through United States foreign policy...
- Feminist views of pornography
- Feminist views on prostitutionFeminist views on prostitutionAs with many issues within the feminist movement, there exists a diversity of opinions regarding prostitution. Many of these positions can be loosely arranged into an overarching standpoint that is generally either critical or supportive of prostitution and sex work...
- Emergency contraceptionEmergency contraceptionEmergency contraception , or emergency postcoital contraception, refers to birth control measures that, if taken after sexual intercourse, may prevent pregnancy.Forms of EC include:...
, also known as "the morning after pill" - List of anti-sexual assault organizations in the United States