Category: VSRC

Survivor Love Letters

Posted on by Haley Mangette

Originally started by Tani Ikeda in 2012, Survivor Love Letters allowed for Tani, other survivors and allies to create love or support letters for individuals who have experienced sexual assault. Posts can be found on the organization’s Tumblr page: https://survivorloveletter.tumblr.com/

Website: https://www.survivorloveletter.com/

K’s Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Advocacy has adapted this program to provide a community of support from fellow members of K campus. As a victim-survivor, we understand the difficulties you may face. This collection aims to spread the message to you as a survivor that  not only are you believed, not only are you supported, but you are loved.  These letters can include, but are not limited to, written letters, photos, paintings, drawings, songs, poetry, etc.

We ask you to please consider the following guidelines when creating “survivor love letters”:

  • It should be supportive of victims/survivors.
  • Your letter should not use graphic language. We urge you to use caution when using potentially triggering language.
  • No more than 5 pages.
  • No identifying information; if you as the author want to identify yourself, you are able to. However, we ask you not to identify other individuals.

All submissions are anonymous, unless author provides name.

The collection can be found here: Survivor Love Letters

If you would like to submit, you can upload your Survivor Love Letter here: Submissions

Survivor Support Facebook Group

Posted on by Haley Mangette

Created by a survivor, this group is for survivors of assault, rape, or abuse. The groups focuses on the intersectionality of gender-based violence, racism, bigotry, etc. The group hopes to offer a safe space for fellow survivors to offer support to people going through the similar experiences. Survivors are able to share resources, healing exercises, videos, and articles that enable survivors to better understand and take control of their healing.

The group is private, and all posts are hidden to anyone but members. To join this group, you must be a survivor who is committed to healing and supporting fellow survivors, and follow the groups rules. To join, please fill out the form at Survivor Support.

The Trevor Project

Posted on by Haley Mangette

The Trevor Project is a nation-wide organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention specific to the LGBTQIA+ community under 25.

The Trevor Project offers a support center that includes resources discussing different identities in the community, as well as questions specific to those identities. Resources can be found here: Trevor Support Center

Hotline: 1.866.488.7386

Textline: Text START to 678.678

Chat: Confidential online instant messaging

Isurvive

Posted on by Haley Mangette

Isurvive is a online community for abuse survivors. The organization provides resources and resources specific for individuals who have experienced abuse as a child.

The organization offers resources for individuals in the US and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and the UK. Resources specific to the US include:

  • Domestic Violence Survival Kit
  • The Addiction Center- Addiction and Domestic Violence
  • Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA) by the Morris Center.
  • and many more located throughout the US.

Several forums are provided through the organization. Discussions are separated into 7 parent forums: General Discussion; Survivors; Breaking the cycle; Addictions, Self-Harm, and Unhealthy Coping Strategies; Family, Friends, and Relationships; Lighthearted and Off Topic; Creative Corner and Art Gallery. A number of sub-forums are offered if the individual becomes a member of the organization. Memberships is free.

Malesurvivor.org

Posted on by Haley Mangette

MaleSurvivor is a non-profit organization that focuses on preventing, healing, and eliminating sexual victimization of boys and men. The organization offers support, treatment, education and advocacy. MaleSurvivor facilitates dialogue among fellow survivors and professional therapists, through online forums, moderated discussion boards, and an 24-hour online chat.

The Online Forums include a wide variety of topics such as survivor stories, resources, questions, and advice from other survivors. The forum offers specialized forums for individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals who experienced as a child or as an adult, and topics for lighthearted discussions. The Chat Room requires the individual to create a free account to interact.

MaleSurvivor provides a list of other resources that address other intersections (i.e. Veterans, religious resources, LGBTQIA+). Resources can be found here: Healing Resources

VictimConnect Resource Center

Posted on by Haley Mangette

VictimConnect offers a referral helpline where victims of crimes can receive information about their rights and options through confidential and compassionate services.

VictimConnect can offer financial assistance to victims of crimes. The compensation only pays for what insurance won’t or another type of payment is available. The compensation can cover medical or dental costs, counseling, lost wages, funeral or burial expenses in cases of homicide. In order to be eligible for compensation, a victim must have:

  • Reported the crime to police within a certain amount of time from the crime
  • Cooperated in the investigation and prosecution of the case (some exceptions are made for sexual or domestic violence cases)
  • Filed a compensation claim within a certain amount of time.

Hotline: 855.4.VICTIM (8.55.484.2846)

Online Chat: Chat Online

MCEDSV

Posted on by Haley Mangette

Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCEDSV) is a statewide organization to develop and promote efforts to eliminate domestic and sexual violence in Michigan.

MCEDSV offers a database of providers divided by county and/or type of service. Individuals are able to find domestic violence educational resources, domestic violence services, or sexual assault services. Provider Directory

Website: Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence

Hotline chat: https://mcedsv.org/hotline/hotline-chat/

Hotline: 866.238.1454

After Silence

Posted on by Haley Mangette

After Silence aims to support, empower, validate, and educate survivors of sexual violence by providing a safely moderated online support group, message board, and chat room. These spaces offer survivors the opportunity to connect with other survivors in real time. Survivors can share their stories, ask questions, and heal through support. The organization offers a library for survivors and supporters, providing information on types of sexual violence, legal information, and articles on recovery.

After Silence staff members can provide referrals to local assistance, and to agencies and organizations.

Website: After Silence

Survivor Library: Aftermath

Sex after Sexual Violence

Posted on by Haley Mangette

Provided below are a number of articles focused in on the topic of sex for a victim-survivor after their experience with sexual violence.

What It’s Like to Reclaim Your Sex Life After Sexual Assault

  • This article includes survivors’ stories about processing and mastering difficulties that have developed due to sexual violence.

How to Have a Healthy Sex Life After Sexual Abuse

  • This article addresses difficulties survivors of sexual violence can experience after their incident of abuse. The author includes important communication points for the survivor to include when they are ready to engage in sex again.

When Is It Sex, and When Is It Sexual Abuse or Assault?

  • This article focuses on deciphering Sexual abuse and assault from Sex. When an individual has experience sexual violence it can be difficulty to transition beliefs about sex back to a safe action. The author explores defining sex with consent and breaking down some pop culture influence on perspectives of sex.

FORGE

Posted on by Haley Mangette

FORGE is a national transgender anti-violence organization. The organization provides direct services for transgender, gender non-binary survivors of sexual assault.

Resources for trans communities can be found here: Resources for Trans Communities

FORGE also offers a survivors’ listserv. Participation for the listserv is primarily comprised of transgender/gender non-conforming individuals and loved ones. The listserv offers an opportunity for individuals to share their stories, experiences, and resources for healing and recovering from sexual violence.

  • To subscribe, send mail to: majordomo@lists.forge-forward.org
  • In the body of the email type: subscribe sv-support

FORGE can provide referrals to a provider in your area, by contacting 414.559.2123 or emailing askFORGE@forge-forward.org.