Location-Specific Communities United States Territories In addition to the 50 states and District of Columbia, the United States also consists of multiple island territories in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Department of State defines “territory” as an area over which the U.S. government exercises sovereignty. This section focuses on SARTs on the...

Across the Lifespan The SART Toolkit’s focus is adult victims of sexual assault. SARTs may choose their primary focus, such as sexual assault across the lifespan, sexual assault of adults and individuals later in life, or child victims. This section of the SART Toolkit addresses issues of sexual assault across the lifespan. Victims of Sexual...

Gender and Sexual Identity “When we’re thinking about addressing the needs of the victims and survivors, it’s really important we do not gender the term victim. The minute you start saying victim, she, victim, she, then you are shutting down a huge group of folks out there — male-identified people, trans and gender non-conforming folks...

HIV-Affected Communities Individuals living with HIV who are sexually assaulted deserve the same culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and victim-centered care as all victims. SARTs have an important role in developing system responses that ensure victims living with HIV do not experience discrimination in the services and supports they receive. In 2013, approximately 1.2 million people aged...

Victims Who Have Disabilities Most people will experience a disability at some point in their lives. The disability could be — permanent, something an individual was born with or acquired early in life; temporary, such as a broken leg; connected to aging, such as hearing or vision loss; the result of a disease, such as...

Cultural and Ethnic Communities SARTs should consider racial justice critical in addressing and ending sexual violence. Committing to racial justice propels sexual violence prevention work forward and helps to dismantle power imbalances that have long existed in the United States. SARTs should commit to using their power and privilege to ensure that the needs of...

Sexual Violence and Faith SARTs should be aware of faith-based resources and their potential implications for victims of sexual assault. Sexual violence affects victims not only physically, but also personally and spiritually. Sexual assault has the potential for tearing families and communities apart, and victims may find themselves “lost,” wondering why this happened. These questions...

Meeting Needs for Language Assistance Providers The diversity of demographics and languages among the American population has important implications for SARTs. Victims of sexual assault may have limited English proficiency, be Deaf or hard-of-hearing, or have sensory or communication disabilities. According to 2011 Census data, approximately 21 percent of Americans ages 5 years and older...

Cultural Responsiveness Victim-centered SART responses need to provide competent, culturally relevant, and responsive care. SARTs and member organizations can choose from a variety of trainings based in cultural competency or cultural responsiveness. The concept of “cultural competency” often includes a well-meaning but misguided notion that service providers can reach some predetermined level of expertise in...

What is a Sexual Assault Response Team? “Collaboration strengthens the response of individual agencies and unites them into a coordinated team approach. No one agency can successfully handle all aspects of a sexual assault. Each agency is important and has its strengths and limitations. Effective multidisciplinary teams generate a stronger response and produce more effective...