1. An Advocates Role in Sexual
Assault Crisis Intervention
Children
Elderly
Disabled
LGTBI

2. Define Advocate
1.Somebody giving support
Somebody who supports or speaks in
favor of something
2. Helper
Somebody who acts or intercedes on
behalf of another

3. Working with kids
Gather as much information about the case as
possible before determining if you as an
advocate should be responding. Know your
agencies policy. Know protocol for your service
area.
Most cases are the responsibility of the
Department of Family Services.
In what types of cases would this not be true?

4. Advocates Role
(support)
• Believe the child
• Do not question the child
• Tell the child that it is not their fault
• Answer questions asked of you by the
child as honestly as possible.
• Know the componants of the rape kit to
explain what is happening
• Make sure you give the child the care and
support he or she needs

5. Support for Family
• Have additional advocate present if
possible to assist family
• Learn family dynamics through interview
process
• Share the process with them
• Do not make promises
• Do allow them to be angry
• Do not get angry

6. NOT part of your role as Advocate
• Do not interview child- changes your role
• Do not become an assistant to hospital
staff
• Do not make promises about case and
anything you are not 100% will happen

7. Working with the Elderly
Older victims can be vulnerable to sexual
assault because…
• He/ She is predictable
• Less able to physically defend
• More dependant on other for assistance
• Live alone, not a lot of outside contact

8. What seniors need of Advocate
• Non-judgmental emotional support
• Protection from access by the abuser
• Medical care
• Legal remedies when appropriate and
wanted

9. Crisis Advocacy
• Understand that this generation seldom mentioned the
word rape or believed it only happened to bad girls.
• Women who were raped were ruined and it was their
fault.
• Because of this they may be reluctant to share thus a
greater need for advocate.
• Young advocate need to be extremely respectful- do not
refer by first name unless asked to.
• Follow victims lead as far as language about assault.
They may be very uncomfortable about sexual terms
used in society today.
• Consider needs of survivor as to other needs that may
have come from the assault. –money taken, doors or
windows broke, if caregiver perpetrator, transportation
problems.

10. Crisis intervention with the Disabled
• Survivors with disabilities are not helpless, do
not assume you know what the survivor can and
cannot do.
• It is important to take time to build trust plan for
extra time (slow down entire process) medical
and law enforcement.
• Be aware of the number of people involved in
victims life.
• Be careful to treat an adult as an adult
• Understand that wheelchair is part of their
personal space.

11. • Get eye level with victim.
• Use simple language
• Be patient
• Many people with disabilities have limited
knowledge about private parts sexual
activity and have been to not to take about
sexuality.

12. Lesbian, Gay, Transgender,
Bi-Sexual, inter-sexual Crisis Intervention
• Do not assume to know unless they self identify
• Educate yourself and others to better serve
victims.
• Know your own beliefs, do not work with
population if you are homophobic.
• Be able to refer out to another advocate or
agency.
• They may not be “out” to friends and family.
• Use all-incusive erms like partner instead of
husband or girlfriend
• Never “out’ your client in any setting

13. • May perceive that assault as punishment meted against
them for their life.
• Victim is hyperaware of personal weaknesses.
• Focus on empowerment
• Victim does not need to identify to anyone including Law
Enforcement, medical or Advocate.
• The possibility of pregnancy or sexually transmitted
diseases may be concerns Victim isn’t used to thinking
about .
• Be aware that survivor may find questions, such as What
is your method of birth control?, uncomfortable or
inappropriate.

14. General Guidelines for Helping
Victims of Sexual Assault
• Believe the victim. The greatest fear of sexual assault
survivors is that they will not be believed or that their
experience will be minimized as "not important."
Remember that victims are raped by someone they
know four times more often than by strangers. Accept
what you hear - even if the perpetrator involved is as
popular, desirable person, and even if the victim appears
confused and unable to put thoughts together clearly.
After a sexual assault, the victim is in shock. She or he
may appear either calm and collected, or very emotional.
Both extremes are possible and normal reactions. Also,
a sexual assault which does not involve a completed
rape can be as traumatic as a rape, so treat any sexual
assault victim with the same care and concern.

15. • Listen. Let the victim talk and tell the story
at her/his own speed. Be patient if the
victim is silent and just needs you to sit
with her/him

16. • Reinforce that the sexual assault was not the
victim's fault. Avoid questions that seem to
blame the victim such as 'Why didn't you
scream?" and "Why did you go to his room?"
Allow the victim to talk out feelings of self-blame,
but help her/him to see that the perpetrator is
responsible for the sexual assault.

17. • For recent assaults, encourage the
victim to report the assault and
preserve evidence. The sooner a sexual
assault is reported, the better the
likelihood of charges being filed and of the
offender’s convicted.

18. • Reporting an assault does not necessarily
mean pressing charges- that decision is
made later, but it is important to collect
evidence to keep that option open.

19. • You or the police can assist the victim in
obtaining a post-assault examination This
exam must be done as soon as possible
(within 120 hours), and the victim should
not wash, brush teeth, or change or
destroy clothes.

20. • Encourage the victim to seek medical
attention. Victims of sexual assault are at
risk for internal injuries (which may not be
immediately apparent), sexually-
transmitted disease, and unwanted
pregnancy. Even those who were not
assaulted in the recent past should be
encouraged to get tested for sexually-
transmitted infections which may have no
obvious symptoms.

21. • Suggest seeking counseling and other
support services. This does not mean the
victim must report the rape to the police. A
trained counselor can guide the survivor through
the first critical hours after an assault. Support
services are also available for those who have
been sexually assaulted in the past.

22. • Help the victim to organize her/his thoughts,
but let her/him make decisions on how to
proceed. The survivor needs to gain a feeling of
being in control. Try to separate how you feel
about what has happened from what is best for
the victim's recovery. If the victim decides not to
report it, let her/him know that you support that
decision, even if you do not agree.

23. • Take care of yourself. Assisting a friend in
need can be stressful. Set aside time for yourself
and your daily responsibilities so that you don’t
feel overwhelmed by her problems. Seek help if
you need to, and don’t feel that you have to “do
it all.”

24. • Acknowledge your limitations. Realistically identify
your abilities to assist the victim. Refer the victim to an
experienced professional, who is knowledgeable about
sexual assault issues.