Annual Report 2011-2012

ur mission is to reduce the trauma and risk of sexual assault and child abuse. Project Sister Family Services (PSFS) pursues a two-pronged approach addressing sexual assault and child abuse: providing services to those in crisis with follow-up treatment and delivering sexual assault prevention education programs. By alleviating the devastating effects of rape and molestation, PSFS assists end the cycle of family violence that occurs through generations by helping survivors to heal. PSFS prevention programs empower people of all ages to avoid dangerous situations in the hope that they will never experience the trauma of sexual assault or child abuse. All services are provided in both English and Spanish. PSFS is the only state-designated provider of sexual assault crisis and prevention services in our service area. This year PSFS served a total of 23,853 individuals residing in the eastern portion of Los Angeles County and the western portion of San Bernardino County. We are pleased that an additional 20,150 individuals visited our website for a total of 27,470 visits.

Sexual assault crisis intervention programs include:

• 24-hour HOT-LINE, offering crisis assistance.  PSFS responded to 717  hotline calls, 168 from kids under 18.
• Accompaniment/Advocacy, trained volunteers provide support to survivors at the hospital, police station, and during court appearances.  PSFS provided 134 hospital, court, and/or police station accompaniments to survivors, 60 of whom were under the age of 18.
• Professional Counseling Services, available to female and male survivors and their non-offending significant others. Counseling services help survivors overcome the trauma of sexual violence and child abuse. PSFS counselors served 252 individual clients (222 female and 30 male) with2,855 hours of individual counseling.
• Counseling for Children who are survivors of sexual and other physical and/or emotional abuse. Our youngest clients attend counseling sessions that help them to heal, recover their childhoods and regain the confidence to pursue happy and productive futures. Non-offending family members are also treated, enabling them to support their children more effectively while managing their own anxieties. Of all individual counseling clients, 32% were under the age of 18.
• Support Groups, for adult and teen survivors of sexual assault and molestation. PSFS provided 18 support group clients, including 2 teenagers, with 273 hours of group therapy sessions.

Sexual assault outreach and prevention programs include:

• Community Education Programs, provided for organizations at their request. PSFS reached 4,224 individuals through 37 community education presentations and health fairs.
• Senior Safety Programs, in rape awareness, personal and home safety, provided to local senior centers and residential group settings. Seniors are taught safety measures that decrease their vulnerability to sexual assault, robbery, burglary, and financial exploitation. PSFS reached 378 individuals through 29 senior safety education programs.
• Adult Prevention Education, in rape awareness and personal safety, provided to residents of our service area. PSFS reached 879 individuals through 65adult education presentations.
• Young Adult Prevention Education, involving rape prevention programs for college students. Topics include date and acquaintance rape, personal safety, and sexual harassment. PSFS reached 1,026 unduplicated individuals through 27 presentations.
• Teen Prevention Education, involving rape prevention programs for middle school and high school aged teens. Topics include date and acquaintance rape, personal safety, sexual harassment, child abuse awareness, and internet safety. PSFS reached 14,178 teenage individuals through 357presentations.
• Young Child Prevention Education, programs in which children aged 5 to 12 receive instruction focused on the difference between “good and bad” touching, as well anti-bullying and harassment curriculum. This year 1,283 children participated in 16 presentations.
• Kids Going Places, a program that teaches girls the fundamentals of healthy relationships including violence prevention and healthy behaviors.  This program starts in 5th grade with the intention of following the girls into high school.  This year, 17 5th grade and 4 6th grade girls participated in our 20-week educational program with parents and teachers weighing in on the course-end evaluation with anecdotal stories.
• Self-Defense Education, in which instructors teach self-defense and other personal safety skills. This year, 393 individuals learned self-protection skills through 25 self-defense presentations.
• Denim Day, is a campaign to raise awareness and educate the public about rape and sexual assault. This movement arose from the outrage that followed an Italian Supreme Court decision in 1998 to overturn a rape conviction because the victim wore tight jeans.  Approximately 350 people attended our 2012 Denim Day celebration held on April 25on the plaza in front of Pomona City Hall.

Please visit our website, www.projectsister.org, or our Facebook page to keep up-to-date on current happenings.