sexual assault prevention resources and immediate needs

IMMEDIATE SUPPORT

National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline (GET HELP 24/7: call 800.656.4673)

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) provide direct services, local rape crisis support.

Find a rape crisis and recovery center in Maryland

Help for Teens & Teen Dating Violence Prevention

Domestic violence and rape crisis center with offices in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). If you or someone you know is thinking of hurting themselves, others, and/or attempting suicide call 911 or your local emergency number.

National Center on Missing and Exploited Children

LGBTQIA+ Resources:

The Anti-Violence Project– serves people who are LGBTQ
Hotline 212-714-1124 Bilingual 24/7
LGBT National Help Center
National Hotline (1-888-843-4564) or National Youth Talkline (1-800-246-7743)
Online Peer Support Chat glbthotline.org/peer-chat or Weekly Youth Chatrooms glbthotline.org/youthchatrooms
The Trevor Project
Crisis Text Line

Trans Crisis Resources:

Glad Transgender Resources
Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860

Teen Dating Violence Resources:

House of Ruth Maryland 24-Hour Hotline: 410-889-7884
National Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474
National Domestic Violence Hotline – 1-800-799-7233
Love Is Respect, Online Chat: www.loveisrespect.org

KNOWLEDGE / INFORMATION

Government site of Womenshealth.gov on relationships and safety

What are the laws in my state around sexual assault?: Sexual Assault Statutes in the United States Chart (note this is from 2016 and some laws may have been changed)

Child Safety Resources LifeBridge Health’s Center for Hope

Evaluating Restorative Practices

Examples of Sexual Harassment – Webinar

Experts answer questions about witnessing sexual harassment among children – Webinar

Discussion for Sexual Violence Survivors and their loved ones to learn and heal – Webinar

Conversation Starters for Kids by the Global Boyhood Initiative

Equal Rights Advocates + Examples and Definitions of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault

Knowing the online platforms for Safe Use of Social Media and Technology Prevention commonsensemedia.org & staysafeonline.org

Teen Dating Violence Information

TERMINOLOGY

The Sexual Violence Umbrella: Terminology (terms contain graphic descriptions):

- - - Sexual Violence: An all-encompassing, non-legal term that refers to crimes like sexual assault, rape, and sexual abuse. Sexual violence is accomplished through threat, coercion, exploitation, deceit, force, physical or mental incapacitation, and/or power of authority.
      - Forms of sexual violence include:
        
        Rape or sexual assault
        
        Child sexual assault and incest
        
        Sexual assault by a person’s spouse or partner
        
        Unwanted sexual contact/touching
        
        Sexual harassment
        
        Sexual exploitation and trafficking
        
        Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to other(s) without consent
        
        Masturbating in public
        
        Watching someone engage in private acts without their knowledge or permission
        
        Nonconsensual image sharing
    - Consent: Words or overt actions by a person who is legally or functionally competent to give informed approval, indicating a freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact.
    - Sexual Harassment: is an umbrella term for any unwelcome comment, action, or behavior of a sexual nature. Harassing comments include catcalling, inappropriate/unwanted comments about a person’s body or sexual orientation, slut-shaming, and explicit and unwanted jokes.
    - Sexual Exploitation: Non-Consensual or abusive sexual advantage for one’s own benefit or the benefit of another.
    - Sexual Trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.
    - Non-consensual sexual contact: Intentional touching of intimate parts or causing someone to touch one’s intimate parts.
    - Sexual intimidation: Threatening to sexually assault another, stalking, indecent exposure.
    - Rape: Non-Consensual penetration of the victim’s body (vaginal, anal, or oral penetration).
    - Stalking: Acting in a way that would cause a person to fear for their safety.
    - Dating Violence: Violence committed by a person in a romantic relationship.
    - Child Sexual Abuse: Any act that involves sexual molestation or exploitation of a child by a parent or other person who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of a child, or by any household or family member. Sexual abuse includes allowing or encouraging a child to engage in obscene photography, films, poses, or similar activity; pornographic photography, films, poses, or similar activity; or prostitution; human trafficking; incest; rape; sexual offense in any degree; sodomy; and unnatural or perverted sexual practices.
    - Sexual grooming: Involves an abuser befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child, and sometimes the family, to prepare a child for sexual abuse.
    - Sexual Assault: Sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the victim. This can include attempted rape, fondling/unwanted sexual touching, incest, statutory rape, or penetration of the victim’s body (rape).
      - Rape and attempted rape
        
        Unwanted touching or groping
        
        Sexual harassment
        
        Unwanted showing of private parts
        
        Sexual exploitation
        
        Child sexual abuse
        
        Incest
        
        Sexual coercion
        
        Sexually obscene communications (in person, by phone, texting, email, or social networking)

Every person is unique and may respond differently to being sexually assaulted. However, it is important to know that after a sexual assault you may experience:

- - - - Nervousness and anxiety
        
        Fear and social isolation
        
        A decrease or increase in appetite
        
        Sleeplessness or nightmares
        
        Depression and withdrawal
        
        Drug and alcohol abuse
        
        Relationship problems
        
        Flashbacks
        
        Physical ailments, headaches, stomach aches, and other pain
        
        Thoughts of suicide

Sexual Assault can happen to anyone at any time, no matter how old you are, what you look like, what you wear, or what you do. Offenders can be strangers, but most often they are friends, family members or acquaintances that we thought we could trust.

Disclaimer: *There are varied forms and definitions of sexual assault that fall under the umbrella of sexual violence, every person is unique and experiences things differently. If you have experienced sexual assault, it was NOT your fault. Help is available to you. You are not alone.*

If you are experiencing any of these reactions, you are not alone. Advocates at your local Rape Crisis and Recovery Centers are available 24 hours a day to provide support. Click here to find your local center.

Terms provided by the Maryland State Department of Education

CONTENT REFERENCES:

The Teacher Talk Program & #ICANHELP Content is informed by the Erin Levitas Initiative for Sexual Assault Prevention at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. The content of the Teacher Talk Program was adapted by Laurie M. Graham, PhD, from her CREATES: Creating Respectful Environments and Teaching and Encouraging Safety sexual violence prevention curriculum for presentation as the Teacher Talk program. The adaptation of the official program will be completed with consultation and contributions from Chimi Boyd-Keyes, MA, and Quince Hopkins, JD, LLM, JSD.