MISSION
We, the women and men of United Against Sexual Assault, working in partnership with the
community, strive to eliminate all forms of violence, with a special focus on sexual assault
and abuse. Sexual assault is an unacceptable and unconscionable form of oppression, which
is destructive to the lives of survivors, their families, and friends. UASA facilitates
healing and promotes the prevention of violence by providing counseling, advocacy,
intervention, and education, in our communities.
PHILOSOPHY
We promote social justice and equality for all women, men and children who have been
sexually assaulted. We are committed to ending sexual violence by working to eliminate those
conditions that cause or tolerate it. We recognize that the process of ending violence in our
community involves a partnership of individuals, groups and institutions. We are an active
partner in that effort as a member of the community.
BRIEF HISTORY
United Against Sexual Assault of Sonoma County (UASA) was founded in 1974 as Women Against
Rape, a grassroots organization for women who were traumatized by rape. The agency consisted
of a phone number women could call for emotional support. That crisis line is still the only
one of its kind in Sonoma County, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Today UASA is governed by a board of directors numbering up to 12, with day-to-day operations
performed by a paid staff of 14 and more than 40 volunteers.
Over the past 30 years, the organization has undergone many changes and greatly expanded
the services it is able to offer the people of our community. Staff and volunteers complete
an extensive training, learning specific ways to help victims, which include not only women
and girls, but also men, children and the families of victims. They learn about the
devastating effects of rape trauma syndrome and other health issues – both physical and mental
- law enforcement and court procedures, and all the resources available in our community.
This is just a portion of the training and information each person receives. These individuals
not only give their time to work the crisis line phone, but they also accompany victims and
their families when asked. This may be for any number of different reasons – police reporting,
court appearances and testifying, medical-legal exams at the hospital, for which support is
needed.
Milestones of which we are proud:
- 1980 – Implementation of the first child abuse prevention program (CAPP) in Sonoma
County. CAPP empowers children to protect and seek help for themselves, and help one another.
- 1985 – Expansion of the prevention program to include a teen assault prevention program
(TAPP). UASA spearheaded a consortium of anti-violence groups and designed an anti-violence
curriculum for teens dealing with issues of incest, abuse, family violence, date rape, myths,
victim blaming, and relationship violence. (See below for UASA’s prevention program details.)
- 2000 – Organization name change from Women Against Rape to United Against Sexual Assault
(UASA) to reflect the current mission of serving BOTH male and female sexual assault victims.
- 2001 – Establishment of a unique men’s program featuring men educating men and working
together to promote social change, learning what they can do to actively participate in the
elimination of sexual assault.
- 2002 – Expansion of violence prevention outreach with the establishment of a bilingual
Spanish/English section, ‘Teens Speaking Out’ on UASA’s website
www.uasasonoma.org/teens
to serve Hispanic teens whose cultural orientation might otherwise prohibit discussion or
education; a customized curriculum for at-risk youth residing in group/foster homes; teen
peer education training (teens teaching teens about non-violent dating); a teen support group;
and an anti-racism curriculum which addresses the growing violence against lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender populations and all people who face human rights violations.
- 2003 – UASA plays a key role in creating the county’s pioneering SART (sexual assault
response team) program, which unites law enforcement, mental health, legal, and advocacy
agencies into a single team dedicated to supporting the victim and her/his family. SART
defines and outlines a compassionate and thorough protocol for the handling of victims of
violence from the point of first contact. By consolidating all local services and making
them easily accessible, this collaborative effort strives to minimize the stress felt by
victims and reduce the risk that they or their affected family members might “fall through
the cracks”.
- 2004 – UASA implements comprehensive website to help sexual assault and abuse victims and their families understand and heal from their ordeal.
- 2005 – MOST (“Men of Strength”) Club implemented. MOST targets men 14 – 18 and stresses “My Strength is Not for Hurting”. One of only 6 agencies state-wide, UASA was selected by California Coalition Against Sexual Assault to participate in a campaign focused on preventing perpetration of sexual violence by young men.
- 2006 – Translation of UASA’s website www//UASASonoma.org into Spanish language.
UASA’S PREVENTION PROGRAMS
UASA’s prevention outreach programs are directed toward elementary, middle, and high school
audiences, school personnel, and parents. The tiny UASA staff provides prevention education in
schools almost every day throughout the year, reaching approximately 6,000 youth every year.
UASA is a member of the Sonoma County Public Health Department Teen Violence Prevention
Initiative Steering Council, and in 2002 was presented with the Redwood Empire Award for
Outstanding Contribution to Sonoma County Youth in the Prevention of Violence.
UASA’s elementary and high school programs (CAPP/TAPP) are in compliance with
the 1984 statute of the Welfare and Institutions Code, Chapter 1638, that recognizes child abuse
as a “severe and increasing problem in California…and that school districts are able to
provide an environment for training of children, parents and all school district staff.”
Read more about our Prevention Programs here.
FUNDING
The long-term mission of United Against Sexual Assault is to eliminate ALL forms of sexual violence.
It is only through the generous support of the community that our vision can be realized.
UASA is a non-profit, 501(C) 3 organization in the State of California. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by law.
UASA receives funding from the Crime Victims Restitution budget through the Office of Emergency Services to fund elements of crisis intervention services and provide the state-mandated training for the county of Sonoma for certification as a crisis line counselor. Funding also comes from the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to provide a portion of the sexual violence prevention services in Sonoma County. The remaining funds required to support the agency are derived from foundation and corporate grants, individuals, and special events such as the annual Acordia of California Insurance Services, Inc. Golf Tournament. (Acordia was formerly known as Feeney Durler West Insurance Services, LLC.)
All UASA services are free to individuals, schools and groups. Several new UASA programs, such as the diversity prevention education program, need to find funding support in order to become public services. Some programs, such as CAPP/TAPP, require ongoing support in order to meet the demand for services at the current levels. Still other programs, such as in-person sexual assault counseling, require increased funding in order to meet a growing need. UASA has had to increase counseling staff from two in 2002 to seven therapists in 2004 in order to eliminate waiting lists of survivors and their families seeking healing from rape and incest.
HOW CAN YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION HELP?
Make a financial contribution
United Against Sexual Assault’s 24/7 sexual assault crisis hotline is at the heart of all our services for survivors of rape and sexual assault, and an entry-point to other services we offer. Rape crisis counselors let survivors know they are not alone, and that the assault was not their fault. We support survivors in making their own decisions, and empower them to take back control of their lives.
- Your gift of $40 will help support an entire day for survivors, their friends and family members who call our 24/7 crisis hotline. Our counselors are available 365 days of the year. Your gift can help sustain this lifeline and ensure that survivors can get support whatever the day or time. If you would like to sponsor a day on the hotline, or sponsor a special day in honor of or in memory of someone, please contact the Development Department at (707) 545-7270 x10.
- Your gift of $50 will provide one Prevention Education workshop to elementary or high school students in Sonoma County.
- $50 will help teach self-defense techniques to 10 teenaged girls or 10 adult women.
To make a donation of stock, please contact your financial advisor.
Become a UASA Volunteer
Please give consideration to these volunteer positions. By volunteering at any level in the organization, you will learn about the true nature of sexual assault and how it affects each and every person in our society -- from the actual victims and their families and loved ones, to the many prejudices and misconceptions that surround sexual violence and abuse (example: the way people are taught to fear all men just because some men rape). The rewards are great. As a UASA volunteer, you not only have the opportunity to help people at a very fragile time of their life, but you now become a part of positive social change as well.
Volunteers are needed in all of the following areas:
- CAPP/TAPP presenters – we will train you to speak to youth on sexual assault, sexual harassment, and alternatives to violence. Leave a message in the Prevention Education Coordinator’s voice mailbox (707) 545-7270 x13.
- Crisis line counselors working the 24 hour crisis line – we will train you in listening skills, crisis counseling and community resources. Please leave a message in the Crisis Line Coordinator’s voice mailbox at (707) 545-7270 x19.
- Board of Directors – we are looking for energetic people committed to ending sexual violence. No previous board experience required, and we will train you. Please leave a message in the Executive Director’s voice mailbox at (707) 545-7270 x21.
- Administrative support and fundraising – staff a table at a health fair, help in the office or join a committee sponsoring a fundraising event. Please leave a message in the Executive Assistant ’s voice mailbox at (707) 545-7270 x10.
2006 Statistics
- Responded to 1,016 Crisis Line Calls, an average of 84.6 calls per month
- Provided accompaniment to 58 victims of sexual assault for forensic DNA evidentiary exams
- Provided one on one individual counseling to 320 victims of sexual assault,
and group counseling to 84 sexual assault survivors
- Trained and certified 66 Crisis Line Counselors and Prevention Educators
- Provided information, referrals, and advocacy to more then 1,134 survivors of sexual assault
- UASA’s Prevention Department taught self-defense workshops to 386 Sonoma County women and girls
- Taught Prevention Education Skills to 7,494 students throughout Sonoma County
- Made 212 Child Abuse Prevention Project & Teen Assault Prevention Project
presentations to 39 Elementary, Middle, and High Schools
- Volunteers donated a total of 10,050 hours to UASA’s Intervention & Prevention Departments
United Against Sexual Assault of Sonoma County (UASA) began in 1974 with a handful of
volunteers and a vision to reach people in Sonoma County who experienced sexual violence.
Today our program includes prevention education, crisis intervention, advocacy, and counseling.
UASA is the only Rape Crisis Center in Sonoma County and the only 24/7 Sexual Assault Crisis
Line in Sonoma County staffed by certified sexual assault counselors. We offer individual
counseling and support groups, supervised by licensed therapists, for sexual assault and incest
survivors, and for family members and other support persons as well. Our diverse, custom
designed prevention curricula are available to youth ages 5-20, adults and agencies.
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