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SASO offers survivors of sexual violence support, compassion, hope, and healing. We work to end sexual violence through survivor-led advocacy and prevention education that recognizes the connection between oppression and sexual violence. Support victims and survivors of sexual assault in their healing journey. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 17 men in Colorado experience sexual violence during their lifetime. Join us as we provide healing advocacy and prevention education to our community to stop sexual violence before it happens. With your support, we can continue to work on educating our youth about how to reduce sexual violence in our community.
"There are no words that could ever express how deeply grateful I am. No way that I could ever repay you for all that you've done for me. So doing the same for other sexual assault survivors seems like the next best thing...Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You gave me my second chance. " Jennifer, 2015
I LEARNED...
"I learned a lot about the SASO organization and what some green vs. red flags are."
"I learned what ideas I can do in a situation to see what I help or do."
"I learned that there are ways to keep each other safe from sexual assault."
"I learned what to do in a situation when we are alone with someone that isn't respecting our boundaries."
-La Plata County Student Take-Aways
*names have been changed to protect the women and men we serve
SASO is dedicated to providing advocacy to victims of sexual assault and providing education and prevention programs aimed at increasing public awareness and safety to stop sexual violence through an anti-oppression framework.
SASO seeks to empower ALL victims of sexual violence regardless of immigration status, sexual orientation, religion, genre, income level, race or ethnicity, age, and/or disability.
Sexual Assault Services Organization, originally known as the Rape Intervention Team, was established in 1977 by a handful of grassroots volunteers recruited by a hospital social worker who had grown frustrated by the difficulties encountered by women seeking assistance for sexual assaults. Initially, services were offered only to victims seeking care at the hospital, but soon a 24-hour crisis line was added to enable SASO to anonymously and confidentially serve many more victims. Incorporated in 1989, SASO presently offers support and assistance provided by trained volunteer advocates and SASO staff that includes: 24-hour crisis intervention and counseling; medical and legal advocacy during forensic exams, law enforcement interviews, and court proceedings; emergency funding support for medicine, safe lodging, and food, weekly support groups and financial assistance for individual therapy; and multiple referrals to other agencies.
Over time, SASO developed more community awareness and prevention programs. In 1990, SASO added its first comprehensive prevention program, the Child Assault Prevention Program (CAPP), a school-based national curriculum that aims to lessen children's vulnerability to all forms of abuse including sexual abuse. In 2002, after determining that a third of SASO's hotline calls concerned teen victims, SASO developed comprehensive teen prevention programs. In 2009, the SASO prevention program was incorporated into the 9-R school district's curriculum. In 2011, SASO started the first-ever male support group for male victims of sexual assault in our region. In 2016, staff member and Assistant Director of Advocacy, Rhonda Ferguson was named recipient of the "Excellence In Sexual Assault Advocacy" by the Colorado Coalition on Sexual Assault (CCASA), a statewide honor.
During 2016, SASO staff recognized the increased need for local underserved community members such as Native Americans, Latinos/Latinas, LGTBQ, and the increasing Elder populations. We expanded our Outreach position into Cultural Outreach to better access and inform our community as a whole. All underserved populations experience a higher risk for sexual violence and assault and through this position, SASO has provided programming and presentations to 4,085 community members to increase skills, dialogue, and education on how to stop sexual violence. We continue to look for best practices in serving victims of sexual violence and all our community members.
What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual act or a sexual act that occurs without the consent or permission of parties involved. This can include a large range of behaviors that violate a person's space and safety in a sexual way. Sexual violence is a tool used to hold power over another person.
No one deserves to be sexually assaulted, and no one asks to be sexually assaulted because of their clothes, behavior, or lifestyle.
Organization name
Sexual Assault Services Organization
other names
SASO
1989
Tax id (EIN)
74-2531585
Category
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy
Address
701 Camino del Rio, Suite 312Mailing
PO Box 2723La Plata County, CO, US