Sexual Assault Services Organization

A nonprofit organization

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.

Testimonials

"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

*names have been changed to protect the women and men we serve

Mission

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.

Background Statement

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 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 of local underserved community members such as Native Americans, Latino/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 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 practice in serving victims of sexual violence and all our community members.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Sexual Assault Services Organization

other names

SASO

Year Established

1989

Tax id (EIN)

74-2531585

Category

Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy

Address

701 Camino del Rio, Suite 312
Durango, CO 81301

Mailing

PO Box 2723
Durango, CO 81302

Service areas

La Plata County, CO, US

Phone

970-259-3074

Other

970-247-5400

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