Services for victims of sexual assault are at risk of elimination in Kentucky — do your part to preserve these vital resources!
THIS YEAR, THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL BE ASKED TO BUDGET SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO PRESERVE SERVICES FOR MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN AFFECTED BY SEXUAL ASSAULT.
RAPE SERVICES ARE AT RISK OF ELIMINATION IN KENTUCKY FOR KENTUCKY.
• Rape Crisis Centers in Kentucky are experiencing a financial crisis
• Kentucky Employee Retirement System (KERS) creates a 38% budget cut by 2015
• Rape crisis centers have already lost 5% of federal funding due to sequestration
• Lack of available funds leads to:
» Fewer victims served
» Layoffs create a delay for critical services
» Decrease or elimination of community education » Elimination of money for training staff
» Elimination of service delivery system
RAPE CRISIS CENTERS ARE THE SERVICE DELIVERY PROVIDER FOR VICTIMS IN KENTUCKY.
• Rape Crisis Centers (RCC) act as an agent of the state by contract through the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide services to victims of sexual assault (KRS 211.602)
• Kentucky’s 13 RCCs are the only centers providing crisis counseling, medical and legal advocacy to victims of sexual assault, 14% of whom are children
• The Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc. (KASAP) as their association, speaks on their behalf, monitors them for quality services, and is a resource to them as they serve Kentucky’s victims
SEXUAL ASSAULT IS VERY PREVALENT IN KENTUCKY (NISVS Report, 2010)
As of 2010:
• 345,000, 20.3%, Kentucky women have been raped • 812,000, 47.7%, Kentucky women have experienced sexual violence
• 313,000, 19.6%, men in Kentucky have experienced sexual violence
• 420,000, 24.7%, women in Kentucky were victims of stalking
• 638,000, 37.5%, Kentucky women have been raped, stalked, &/or experienced physical violence by an intimate partner
• 495,000, 31%, Kentucky men have been raped, stalked, &/or experienced physical violence by an intimate partner
NEED FOR SERVICES INCREASING IN KENTUCKY
• HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS: Human Trafficking Victims’ Rights Act, HB 3 will increase need for training and services
• MILITARY: RCCs are actively working with the Kentucky National Guard to provide services
• VICTIMS WITH DISABILITIES: Project SAFE
• ELDERLY VICTIMS: currently 14% of Kentucky’s population
• INCARCERATED VICTIMS: Prison Rape Elimination Act, RCCs are providing services through an MOU with the Department of Corrections
CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT THE FUNDING REQUEST FOR RAPE CRISIS SERVICES 1-800-372-7181