SARC, MHPS partner for better survivor assistance

By Jeremy Appel on September 21, 2017.

jappel@medicinehatnews.com @MHNJeremyAppel

The Sexual Assault Response Committee and Medicine Hat Police Service announced a collaborative project to offer enhanced assistance to adult survivors of sexual assault.

The project, which launched in June, was unveiled at police headquarters on Wednesday by SARC executive director Chris Johnson and MHPS Insp. Brent Secondiak.

The announcement was also attended by Medicine Hat MLA Bob Wanner, as well as numerous advocates, including victim navigation specialist Liz Burritt and program manager of victim assistance Bobbi Jo Walker.

“The purpose of this program is to enhance adult survivors of sexual assault’s informed participation in the justice system and reduce the trauma they experience,” said Johnson.

The impetus for this initiative was an assessment of the institutional limitations faced by sexual assault survivors who come forward, she said.

“It started with each of our organizations being honest and vulnerable about the scope of our limitations of our services, as well as just a deep and proactive desire to do better and to be better for those that we serve,” said Johnson.

The project was funded by a $222,000 grant from the federal government and is slated to last three years.

“We’re hoping if all goes well that it becomes a sustainable program,” said Secondiak. “There’s such a need for it.”

Secondiak said sexual assault survivors are more likely to involve themselves in crime if they don’t get the help they need, which makes this an issue of heightened importance for law enforcement.

“We know that victims of sexual assault can resort to activities, including drug use and prostitution, as ways of coping with the trauma they have endured.

“It’s our goal to reduce the trauma on the victims by providing them immediate access to resources,” he said.

The partnership was modeled after the work of the Child Advocacy Centres, which assist young victims of abuse, said Johnson.

“Should survivors that are survivors of sexual violence not receive the same wraparound services that are currently being planned for children?

“These adults are our neighbours, our friends, co-workers and our family members,” she said. “They are the parents that are raising the children here.”

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