MCASA Newsletter : Frontline

  April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. This year’s theme, Prevention is Possible, resonates with us here in Maryland. With the recent passage of Erin’s Law through both the House of Delegates and the State Senate, there has never been a better time for us to come together and ensure that all children receive appropriate prevention education. As Frontline goes to press, Maryland’s legislative session is in its last days. In addition to Erin’s law, the General Assembly has approved bills to expand the basis for peace orders to include

This month marks the beginning of the new legislative session in Maryland. MCASA continues to have an active voice in Annapolis and looks forward to continuing to advocate for policies to end sexual violence. This legislative session, we will continue to press forward with bills to maintain funding for services for sexual assault survivors, limit the parental rights of rapists, and require age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse education in all schools. We also look forward to working with Senator Susan Lee and Delegate Kathleen Dumais on legislation to vacate convictions for petty crimes committed as a result of being a

In the field of sexual assault prevention and response, money is an often-discussed topic. Whether it’s a shortage of vital services due to under-funding or staff burnout due to low wages, it has long been a trueism that working to end sexual violence or helping survivors of that violence is not a financially lucrative field. However, some companies have recently begun using price-gouging and scare tactics to try to turn public concern about the issue into a source of profit. New, private enterprises are now charging steep fees for trainings, promoting their services and certification programs as essential

It is now back-to-school season for families throughout Maryland, and students from kindergarten through college are turning their focus towards returning to school. As we mark this season, it is important that we continue to address sexual violence affecting students of all ages. College sexual assault remains a top priority for MCASA, as our College Policy Project continues to work towards improving collaboration and resource availability for college students throughout Maryland. Stopping college sexual violence requires strong and appropriate prevention efforts. In this vein, two features this quarter are focused on this issue of preventing sexual violence at colleges. Our

June 12, 2015 Sexual assault continues to receive unprecedented attention in national media.  Sexual assault in the military, at college campuses, and in prisons have all been in the media spotlight.  Awareness of human sex trafficking and sex assault of children has increased.  Survivors of all ages, genders, and backgrounds are being recognized.  Through it all, Maryland’s rape crisis and recovery programs continue to do what they have done for decades:  respond to survivors and educate their communities.  This issue of Frontline spotlights For All Seasons, the sexual assault program serving the mid-Eastern Shore.

  This month marks the start of a new term for Maryland’s policymakers. We welcome a new Governor, new administration, and a record number of new legislators. MCASA continues to have an active voice in Annapolis and looks forward to continuing to craft policies to end sexual violence. On January 22nd at Harry Browne’s, we will be honoring leaders in the anti-sexual violence movement for their work. Delegate Luke Clippinger, from Baltimore City; Rosalyn Branson, the Executive Director of Baltimore’s rape crisis center, TurnAround; and Laura Neuman, a survivor of sexual violence and

  What can we do to prevent sexual violence? It’s the question we hear from community members, policymakers, educators, and colleagues. In many ways, all of our work touches on prevention.   Perpetrators are punished, in part, to provide deterrence. Protective orders and peace orders are issued to prevent future violence. Even counseling can have a preventative effect as we work with clients to help them set boundaries and recognize abusive behavior. This issue of Frontline looks at current issues in primary prevention. In the past, prevention efforts often focused on potential victims — primarily women and

August 15, 2014 1 in 5 women has been sexually assaulted while in college. This is the startling fact the White House Council on Women and Girls reported in their report, Rape and Sexual Assault:  A Renewed Call to Action.  To increase the nation’s response to this sexual assault, the administration created a Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault, which issued its first report, Not Alone in April.  This report provides important guidance about responding to sexual assault on campuses and has renewed energy for addressing the issue. Key to an effective response is