YWCA OF HAWAI'I ISLAND

SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT SERVICESTHE SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT SERVICES (SASS) PROGRAM OF THE YWCA OF HAWAI'I ISLAND PROVIDES SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES ACROSS THE ISLAND, WITH OFFICES IN HILO (EAST HAWAI'I) AND KONA (WEST HAWAI'I). SERVICES ARE FOR THE HEALING AND PREVENTION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, WITH A GOAL TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DISABILITY TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED. THE SASS PROGRAM IS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE IN IT'S THIRD DECADE OF HELPING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WHO ARE MEN, WOMEN, GIRLS AND BOYS, THEIR FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES. SERVICES INCLUDE THE ONLY 24 HOUR SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT HOTLINE ON HAWAII ISLAND, CRISIS RESPONSE, ADVOCACY, INTERVENTION, CLINICAL SERVICES AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINATION (SAFE) PROGRAM FOR THE COUNTY OF HAWAII. SASS PROGRAM SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK VIA THE SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORT HOTLINE TO THE ENTIRE ISLAND. FACE TO FACE, CRISIS RESPONSE, ADVOCACY AND INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE CITIES OF HILO AND KONA, ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE ISLAND; AS ARE COORDINATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS (SAFE). CLINICAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN THE CITIES OF HILO AND KONA. INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE ISLAND ARE ENCOURAGED TO TRAVEL TO THE OFFICES FOR NEEDED AND DESIRED SERVICES. THIS FUNDING, COMBINED WITH ALL FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM, ALLOWED THE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SERVICES 24/7 FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON HAWAII ISLAND. DURING THIS TIME FRAME, WE RESPONDED TO AND CREATED 164 CASES FROM PHONE CALLS TO THE CRISIS LINE. AS A RESULT OF THOSE CALLS, AN ADDITIONAL 1,375 CALLS WERE MADE TO COORDINATE SERVICES AND 136 OF THOSE CASES RECEIVED FOLLOW-UP CALLS AND CARE. 123 OF THE CASES WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 17 WITH 63 OF THOSE CASES BELOW THE AGE OF 12. 71 OF THE CASES DEALT WITH THE VICTIM THEMSELVES AND 22 OF THE CASES PROVIDED SERVICES FOR A SECONDARY VICTIM (FAMILY MEMBER, SIGNIFICANT OTHER). OF THE CLIENTS WHO DISCLOSED INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR CASE, 109 VICTIMS KNEW THEIR OFFENDER. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO PROVIDE 1,991.08 HOURS OF THERAPY TO SURVIVORS. ALL SERVICES ARE AT NO COST TO THE VICTIM/SURVIVOR OR THEIR FAMILIESDURING THE SHELTER IN PLACE RESTRICTIONS ISSUED BY GOVERNOR IGE, THE SASS PROGRAM REMAINED OPEN AND AVAILABLE FOR SERVICES. DURING THIS TIME, ALL STAFF WORKED REMOTELY. SERVICE REQUEST FOR SANES AND CJC WERE DRASTICALLY REDUCED, HOWEVER, IN LOOKING AT THE CLIENTS THAT WERE SERVED, THERE WERE MANY PREVIOUSLY SERVED CLIENTS WHO CALLED IN FOR ASSISTANCE. THERE WERE MORE REQUESTS FOR COPING SKILLS IN DEALING WITH ISOLATION, CONCERNS ABOUT AVAILABLE SERVICES AND REQUEST FOR REENTRY INTO THE PROGRAM. AS THE SHELTER IN PLACE HAS RELAXED, THE PROGRAM IS SEEING AN INCREASE IN FACE TO FACE REQUESTS. THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GENERALLY WORK REMOTELY AND IS OFFERING TELEHEALTH OPPORTUNITIES TO VICTIMS/SURVIVORS. DURING THIS TIME, TELEHEALTH ATTENDANCE TO MEETINGS WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHEN MEETINGS WERE HELD IN PERSON. AS A RESULT, AND BECAUSE COVID19 RESTRICTIONS ARE STILL FLUCTUATING, THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE WITH REMOTE WORKING, FOLLOWING SAFE DISTANCING, MASKING AND TRAVEL CHECKS FOR IN-PERSON ASSIGNMENTS, AND TELEHEALTH THERAPEUTIC SERVICES