Our vision is that Maryland will be a state free of sexual violence.
By working to fulfill our mission, we hope to one day see our vision realized.
Our mission is to help prevent sexual assault, advocate for accessible, compassionate care for survivors of sexual violence, and work to hold offenders accountable.
The Maryland Network Against Rape was renamed the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Inc. (MCASA) in 1982. The organization grew out of a widespread desire to better address the needs of women across the state. Originally formed by the 13 rape crisis centers that existed at that time, the MCASA Board of Directors was made up of representatives from each local program and an elected president.
Today, MCASA is the federally-recognized state sexual assault coalition and responsible for certifying comprehensive rape crisis/sexual assault programs to ensure services are survivor centered. MCASA's core members are the state's 17 rape crisis centers, and the Coalition also represents the voices of many other member professionals, programs, and individuals committed to ending sexual violence. MCASA includes the Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI), which provides direct legal services to survivors of all ages across the state of Maryland. MCASA is the leading public policy advocate for survivors of sexual assault in Annapolis and more information about legislative priorities, public events, and services for survivors can be found on our website.
We also provide technical assistance to professionals and serve as a clearinghouse for information on sexual violence related issues, in addition to providing the following resources: