Health Happenings
Outreach 83: Until the Violence Stops
By Tina Godby Ware, RN
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
Program Coordinator for Otero/Lincoln County
The 2005 New Mexico sexual assault survey reflected national data that stated 83% of sexual assault victims do not report the crime to law enforcement and many do not receive needed medical and mental health services. A large part of this is due to the fact that sexual offenders are usually family members or people that are known and trusted. Barriers to reporting can include that the victim is a child; the shame and guilt that a victim feels may cause fears of not being believed or upsetting family members; and fear of reprisal or violence.
It is the hope of the SANE Program staff to reach those 83%, so we have created a website, www.sexhealthnews.org, to provide easy access to valuable information. We welcome input from the community and have also created an e-mail address, sane.alamogordo@gmail.com, in the hope that this means of communication will increase access to us. It is important to note that confidentiality is a high priority and also medical/forensic/mental health services are available without a police report. Our focus is on victim-centered care to give a victim choice and dignity. We would like to know what information you think would have been of benefit to you, how we can help you now, or if you just need someone to listen.
If you are a survivor and would like to help bring education and awareness to the community, we will be having a large Take Back The Night planning meeting on Friday, September 5 at 4:00 pm at the NMSU-A campus.
Two U.S. Surgeon Generals, C. Everett Koop and David Satcher, have declared violence as a Public Health issue. It is time to reclaim our bodies as sacred, our dignity, and our self worth. No one has the right to violate these. It is time to Stop The Violence Now.
Otero County Community Health Council
700 E. 1st St.
Suite 720
Alamogordo, NM
88310
(575) 443-8100
Fax (575) 437-2949
oterochc@tularosa.net
oteromch@netmdc.com