In 1974, five women and one man organized a joint task force from the Norfolk and Virginia Beach chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) to address issues of women’s health. Rape was identified as a specific issue of concern and in 1974 Tidewater Rape Information Services (TRIS was organized). TRIS was one of the first three rape crisis centers in Virginia.
Work began with a staff of four in donated office space at Family Services. After the first year, TRIS moved to a storefront on Bute Street where, with the help of CETA funds, the staff grew to 10 persons. In 1982, TRIS moved to a suite of offices in the YWCA building where RESPONSE still resides with a staff of twelve. TRIS became a United Way Agency in 1977. In 1984 the Board of Directors voted to change the name of the organization to Response Sexual Assault Support Services. In the summer of 2000, the Board of Directors of RESPONSE voted to merge with the YWCA South Hampton Roads to become Response Sexual Assault Support Services of the YWCA.
 Today RESPONSE provides comprehensive services to women, children and men who have been victimized by sexual violence. Both free and sliding scale fee counseling services are available to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and community members at large in our main office in Norfolk and satellite offices in Suffolk and Virginia Beach.
When the program began thirty five years ago RESPONSE employed just four individuals and depended largely on volunteers to provide services. This was a daunting task as Response was, and remains, the only sexual assault crisis center in all of South Hampton Roads. Today, the program has almost tripled its grant funding and has grown to a program employing 3 full-time licensed clinical therapists, 3 crisis counselors, a legal advocate, a campus based outreach coordinator and a volunteer coordinator. Response now offers a variety of professional mental health services (individual and group therapy), court advocacy, hospital accompaniment for victims, outreach and community education, 24-hour crisis hotline support, as well as an internship program for Master’s level students seeking a career in counseling. Last year alone, Response provided therapeutic services to over 2000 individuals and fielded over 3000 hotline calls.
In addition to providing services to meet the needs of sexual and domestic violence victims, the leadership of the RESPONSE program, Director Kristen Pine and Assistant Director, Dr. Courtney Podesta has been instrumental in community efforts to change the way sexual assault victims are treated. Kristen aided in the creation of a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) for each of the South Hampton Roads cities. These SART teams were formed to help facilitate and provide comprehensive services for victims of sexual assault. Each SART team includes allied professionals from Response, the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, the police force, and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, thus bridging any communication gaps that might have previously existed between these different services agencies. The development of SART teams has allowed for the generation of more victim-friendly services and provided a forum for advocacy on their behalf.
These partnerships have led to not only increased cooperation among law enforcement , the courts and sexual assault support service providers but has resulted in a large team of professionals joining in the YWCA’s 1st Annual “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” event being held Thursday, October 13th at 4:30 p.m. at Waterside Festival Marketplace.
“Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” is a fun, community event where dozens of men will take to the streets in high heeled shoes and walk the downtown Norfolk Waterside area in a light hearted attempt to build awareness of the very serious issues of sexual and domestic violence and its impact on the community. Tagged as “a men’s walk to end rape, sexual assault and gender violence” the event allows men to experience the world through a woman’s point of view. Everyone, both men and women alike are encouraged to participate and yes, men can participate in the walk without heels if they wish to show support for the cause but simply can’t bear the idea of putting on a pair of huge heels.
 The event marks the 30th birthday of the RESPONSE Sexual Assault Services Program as well as the 100th birthday of the YWCA South Hampton Roads. Check in begins at 4:30 p.m. and the walk will begin after opening remarks from Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, Commonwealth’s Attorney Greg Underwood, and New York Times Best Selling Author, Janine Latus author of “If I Am Missing or Dead: A Sister’s Story of Love, Murder and Liberaton” an international best seller which chronicles Janine’s heartwrenching journey of discovery as she traces the roots of her own -- and her sister's – victimization, and ultimately her sister’s murder at the hands of the man she loved, with unflinching candor.
The YWCA hopes that you will plan to invite your friends and co-workers to form a team of walkers (and female sideline supporters) and to learn more about the many activities taking place this month to raise awareness about sexual, domestic and intimate partner violence. Registration and information about the YWCA’s services for victims of sexual and domestic violence can be found at www.ywca-shr.org |
