New Group
In late October, SARP will be starting a support group for sexual assault survivors. For more information, contact Sinem Bertling, SARP's prevention education specialist, at 558-5486.
MONROE - Green County's Sexual Assault Recovery Program (SARP) is looking for a few good volunteers.
An increasing number of sexual assaults in Green County has created a need for more advocates. In 2007, SARP helped 28 victims. By the end of August 2008, SARP had helped 37.
SARP will host an open house at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at 1505 Ninth St. in Monroe to recruit more volunteers.
Besides three staff members, of which only one is full-time, eight volunteers help with crisis response 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Director Pennie Meyers says the volunteer level is far from sufficient.
"There are times where one of us has to respond to a call at 2 a.m. and spend three to four hours at the hospital," Meyers said. "And then we have to get home, change clothes if we're lucky and get to a school presentation at 8 a.m., or start an eight-hour day on no sleep."
SARP advocates for sexual victims in Green and Rock counties. Among their duties are helping victims immediately after a sexual assault has been reported, informing them of their rights and advocating for them through the court process. SARP also does preventative education in Green County middle and high schools.
Meyers said misinformation that volunteers may have to testify in sexual assault court cases has kept some people away. Meyers said SARP volunteers are exempt from testifying in court cases.
Meyers also said there is a need for male volunteers. Presently, all of SARP's volunteers are female.
"Across the country, males typically don't volunteer as much as females do," Meyers said. "And since it's believed that a majority of victims are female and the abusers are male, males tend to stay away from us."
Meyers hopes to change that. She said there are many cases when a significant other of a sexual assault victim needs another male to talk to rather than a female.
"We need male advocates," Meyers said. "We would like a diverse group of advocates."
An increasing number of sexual assaults in Green County has created a need for more advocates. In 2007, SARP helped 28 victims. By the end of August 2008, SARP had helped 37.
SARP will host an open house at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at 1505 Ninth St. in Monroe to recruit more volunteers.
Besides three staff members, of which only one is full-time, eight volunteers help with crisis response 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Director Pennie Meyers says the volunteer level is far from sufficient.
"There are times where one of us has to respond to a call at 2 a.m. and spend three to four hours at the hospital," Meyers said. "And then we have to get home, change clothes if we're lucky and get to a school presentation at 8 a.m., or start an eight-hour day on no sleep."
SARP advocates for sexual victims in Green and Rock counties. Among their duties are helping victims immediately after a sexual assault has been reported, informing them of their rights and advocating for them through the court process. SARP also does preventative education in Green County middle and high schools.
Meyers said misinformation that volunteers may have to testify in sexual assault court cases has kept some people away. Meyers said SARP volunteers are exempt from testifying in court cases.
Meyers also said there is a need for male volunteers. Presently, all of SARP's volunteers are female.
"Across the country, males typically don't volunteer as much as females do," Meyers said. "And since it's believed that a majority of victims are female and the abusers are male, males tend to stay away from us."
Meyers hopes to change that. She said there are many cases when a significant other of a sexual assault victim needs another male to talk to rather than a female.
"We need male advocates," Meyers said. "We would like a diverse group of advocates."