Each Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we honor those in our community who provide vital services to our sexual abuse survivors. Our SAVS Stars are those who stand by our survivors’ side, day-in and day-out. This week, we honor the Forensic Interviewer of the Courage Center.

Our community is lucky to have a team of dedicated and compassionate professionals be part of someone’s toughest moments in their lives. Jessica is one of those people as the Courage Center Forensic Interviewer. When a child or teen has to tell their story about physical or sexual abuse, Jessica is that person for them. She gives them the safe space to speak their truth. It is not an easy job but she does it with such patience and grace. We thank her whole-heartedly for her work and collaboration with SAVS.

This April, NEWS shares our appreciation for Jessica because every part of the journey toward hope and justice matters to our clients.

If you are experiencing abuse or would just like some information, please call our help line, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

On April 24th, wear jeans to take a stand against victim-blaming in honor of Denim Day

Denim Day grew out of a 1998 Italian Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction because the victim wore “tight jeans.” The judges reasoned the victim’s tight jeans meant that she had to have helped her assailant remove them, implying consent. People all over the world were outraged, and wearing jeans became an international symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes and myths surrounding sexual assault.

Join NEWS and people across the globe in wearing denim on April 24th to show solidarity with survivors and take a stand against victim blaming. Flood social media with photos of your denim using #denimday and tag NEWS @news4peace.

This past January was pretty busy for our SAVS team. We were in and out of the office throughout the month leading up to and during the trial of Benjamin Casas. This case came onto our radar around 2020 with a referral from the District Attorney’s Office. SAVS provided advocacy for those victims at the time. Then, in 2022 another victim came forward. By the time of his arrest in October 2022, seven victims had come forward.

Going through sexual abuse is traumatic, and reliving the stories and experiences through the trial process is incredibly trying for our clients. Throughout the trial process, our SAVS team were right by the sides of the survivors, providing emotional support, navigation, and resources and help. After a hearing, our Advocates would take their clients to lunch, listen to their thoughts, and help them reset and collect themselves. We learned one client’s favorite cake flavor—champagne cake. So, after he testified, we surprised him with a champagne cake as a way to celebrate this milestone and boost his confidence. It’s these little moments that we cherish with our survivors to help them get from one day to the next.

By the end of the trial, the courtroom was packed for the defendant’s testimony. It was a huge relief when the jury came back with a guilty verdict on all 22 counts. We were relieved that our clients gained some justice that day.

Interested in more stories like this one? Check out our Annual Impact Report at the link below!

Check out what NEWS is up to this Month!

SAAM Window Display
at DA Office at 1127 First Street in Napa throughout April!

“What Were You Wearing?” Display
at NVC’s McCarthy Library and Café throughout April!

Denim Day
on April 24th

Tabling and Outreach
at NVC, Pacific Union College,
and other community locations throughout the month!

For more information about these events,
please visit our SAAM 2024 webpage HERE