Speaking Out About Rape® (SOAR®)

About me:

SOAR® (Speaking Out About Rape, Inc.®) runs national awareness, education and prevention programs to empower survivors of sexual violence and enhance the public's understanding and acceptance of rape victims. WHAT exactly does SOAR do? * Provides presentations on rape awareness, focusing on the healing process. * Educates groups who work with sexual assault victims (such as law enforcement, medical professionals, mental health workers, and advocates) on victim sensitivity and related issues. * Provides financial assistance to victims when other funds are not available or don’t cover a certain expense (e.g., counseling, transportation, security systems, moving expenses, daily living expenses). * Provides survivors and their families and friends with referrals for counseling, medical assistance, victims’ rights information, legal assistance, advocacy, etc. * Works to improve the response system for victims by writing new laws, strengthening old laws, collaborating on national protocols to create a national unified response, etc. * Advocates for the advancement of DNA technology and the reduction of the rape-kit backlog, to help promote accuracy and success in the prosecution of rapists. * Hosts Operation Freefall® each year to increase awareness and raise funds. * Hosts SOAR SPA® (Something Positive Afterward®) to offer survivors and their loved ones an opportunity for healing and bonding. * Provides the media with information and tools to discuss sexual assault in productive ways. * In Orlando, SOAR is currently working on establishing a specialized center to provide individual and group therapy to persons effected by sexual violence.