Key Players in Sexual Violence Prevention
Since 1995, West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (WVFRIS) and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources have co-facilitated a committee, Key Players in Sexual Violence Prevention, that identifies and addresses sexual violence prevention needs in the State. The Committee, comprised of multidisciplinary professionals in both the prevention and intervention fields, has created a comprehensive prevention plan for West Virginia, developed prevention resources, collected data regarding prevention activities, and assisted in creating strategies to eliminate sexual violence.
Rural Advocate Network
In 2007, WVFRIS and the rape crisis centers in seven rural counties formed the Rural Advocate Network (RAN). RAN connects advocates who respond to victims of sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking and provide sexual violence prevention programs. Counties being served under the RAN are Fayette, Hampshire, Jackson, Marion, Lincoln, Morgan, Preston, Barbour, and Upshur.
SANE Advisory Board
WVFRIS established a statewide SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) Advisory Board in 2001 to examine the feasibility of establishing a network of SANE programs in the West Virginia. This Board works collaboratively with WVFRIS to develop protocols and policies, with the goals of ultimately reducing the traumatic impact for victims and their communities and increasing the conviction rate of perpetrators.
WV Intercollegiate Council on Sexual Violence
West Virginia’s residential college campuses, the Higher Education Policy Commission and rape crisis centers partnered with WVFRIS in 2002 to create the West Virginia Intercollegiate Council on Sexual Violence, to address the issue of sexual violence and stalking among college students. The Council continues to provide a forum for sharing resources, policies and prevention programming ideas. Additionally, it creates materials that are available to all colleges/universities.
WVSARTT
Five statewide agencies and six rape crisis centers partnered in 2008 to establish the West Virginia Sexual Assault Response and Technical Team (WVSARTT). This multidisciplinary team provides technical assistance and training to counties throughout West Virginia to increase collaboration among first responders of sexual assault, build their capacity to do this teamwork and help establish SARTs and SANE programs.
Active Participation in Other Collaborations
In addition to coordinating the above collaborations, WVFRIS actively participates on the below statewide collaborations.
WV Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) Commission: This Commission was established in 2014, by the WV Legislature to “establish, manage, and monitor a statewide system to facilitate the timely and efficient collection of forensic evidence in sexual assault cases.” The Commission is tasked with establishing statewide protocols for conducting sexual assault forensic examinations, including designating locations and providers to perform examinations, minimum qualifications and procedures for their performance, minimum training requirements for providers conducting exams and a basic standard of care for victims of sexual assault. The Commission is overseeing the creation of county plans for how and where services and exams are accessed.
WV Human Trafficking Task Force: This Task Force is comprised of, among others, representatives from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, service providers, victim advocates, educators and the WV Attorney General’s Office. WVFRIS has sponsored statewide trainings for advocates on this issue and developed a human trafficking course as part of its Sexual Assault Services Training Academy (SASTA). Rape crisis centers in the State serve as the points of services for victims of human trafficking in West Virginia.
WV Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children: This Task Force was statutorily created in 2015 to make recommendations on policies and practices to prevent child sexual abuse in West Virginia. West Virginia’s mandatory reporting laws have been updated and, beginning in 2019, all students K-12 receive body safety programs annually and all school staff are trained on recognizing and responding to child sexual abuse.