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in Santa Clarita News August 16, 2017 – 2:32 pm
Strength United officials want the community to know that, regardless of whether a victim reports a sexual assault to police, regardless of whether it happened as a child, teen or adult, there’s a 24-7 hotline and local sexual assault counseling available.
“You can talk to somebody and get help,” said Kim Roth, executive director of Strength United.
Strength United was formed as a rape crisis center more than 30 years ago, and serves the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys, Roth said, but its mission has grown over the years, and now provides comprehensive services for individuals of all ages who have experience with child maltreatment and all cases of sexual violence.
The Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita Valley works with Strength United in partnership to see where the two agencies are able to support each other. One of these supports has been through community outreach, with the two teaming up for programs aimed at stopping teen dating violence and other educational efforts in Santa Clarita.
“Strength United provides an array of invaluable services for survivors of sexual trauma,” said Linda Davies, executive director of the Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita, mentioning some of the resources Strength United shares with DVC clients. “The legal services provided through Strength United’s Family Justice Center in Van Nuys are an asset for Santa Clarita residents, and it would be amazing to bring those services closer to home for the community.”
Roth, who’s been with the organization for 16 years, noted the trauma is significant for victims of sexual assault for a number of reasons, but sharing information about resources is critical.
“Many people who are victims of sexual violence choose not to report these crimes for very obvious reasons,” Roth said, “but we want them to know that they don’t have to be alone, and there’s help to recover from these experiences.”
The conversation started Wednesday morning in the KHTS Newsroom with a call from Roth in response to a story noting the local lack of a forensic crime lab for sexual assault victims, such as the one Strength United has at its Van Nuys facility.
Whether it’s offering directions, a ride or even companionship during a visit to the Center for Assault Treatment Services — a partnering facility that provides assault treatment services on the kind of forensic level required if a victim wants to prosecute an assailant — Strength United is dedicated to helping and supporting those dealing with the trauma, Roth said.
And locally, a host of services already exist at Strength United’s Newhall office, she said.
The counseling aspect is one of the most critical component of services offered in Newhall, because the lingering effects of living through such a trauma can have a painful impact.
“I think you can imagine, you can never want to spend a lot of time visiting the darkest and most painful times in our life,” Roth said, explaining one of the most common obstacles for victims who might be in need of help after an assault.
“But what we do know is, if we don’t talk through (the trauma) in (a) meaningful and supportive, nonjudgmental way, (these experiences) tend to halt and potentially shape our lives,” she said. “And so our goal is to really provide a safe and supportive experience for clients to process these experiences and to be able to move forward in life so they can be as successful as they choose to be.”
Strength United’s origins on CSUN’s campus started as “an interdisciplinary approach to ending abuse and violence through the collaboration of mental health professionals, educators, researchers, students and volunteers,” according to the organization’s website. “This collaboration enhances the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities through our 24-hour response team, advocacy, intervention, education, prevention and work for social change.”
Anyone interested in more information regarding treatment for trauma or to discuss an assault, can reach out to Strength United by calling the 24-hour local hotline at 661-253-0258 or visit the organization’s website by clicking here.