Focus Areas

WCSAP Webpage

Help for incarcerated victims in Washington State

Are you an inmate calling from a Washington prison, jail, or work release program or calling on behalf of an inmate?

This is the ONLY number inmates can call that won't be recorded and is guaranteed to be confidential: (855) 210-2087

In Washington State, there is a Sexual Assault Support and Information Line that is operated by an independent agency outside of the Department of Corrections.

Topic
  • Incarcerated Survivors
PDF
January, 2007

Those of us working in the anti-rape movement know that, statistically, the majority of sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone the victim knows, including intimate partners. According to sociologist and author Raquel Kennedy-Bergen,

Intimate partner sexual violence is abuse or assault of a sexual nature perpetrated by someone in an intimate relationship to the survivor. It includes a wide variety of offenses including rape, coercion, forcing the partner to perform…

Topic
  • IPSV
WCSAP Webpage

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (IPSV) can be defined as any unwanted sexual contact or activity by an intimate partner with the purpose of controlling an individual through fear, threats or violence. It can affect anyone from teens to elders.

Prevalence

  • More than half (51.1%) of female victims of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner.1
  • 1 out 10 people has been raped by an intimate partner.2
  • 60%…
Topic
  • IPSV
PDF
June, 2009

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (IPSV) is a comprehensive term that includes not only marital rape, but all other forms of sexual assault that take place within a current or former intimate relationship, whether the partners are married or not. Sometimes referred to as "sexual assault within the context of domestic violence," IPSV is a complicated, heart-wrenching form of abuse that has often been overlooked by the general public, law enforcement, and human service providers. IPSV is at the…

Topic
  • IPSV
PDF & Printed Materials
August, 2009

This Guide is a supplement to the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs' (WCSAP) general guide to psychoeducational support groups, Circle of Hope. Circle of Hope provides excellent information about the nature of psychoeducational groups and how they differ from self-help and therapy groups. In addition, there is information about how to select participants, work with a co-facilitator, establish a curriculum, handle the inevitable concerns that arise in the course of running…

Topic
  • IPSV
  • Support Groups
To Talk To Your Kids About Healthy Sexuality
PDF & Printed Materials
January, 2012

Inside parents can find out about healthy sexual development for children, why it is important to talk to children about sexuality, and tips for having these conversations. It's a great way to get the conversation started!

PDF download:

Topic
  • Parents & Caregivers
  • CSA Prevention
Be a Leader
WCSAP Webpage
March, 2011

No matter what your formal position, you can be a leader in advocating for services to address Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (IPSV). Often, it takes just one dedicated individual to initiate these much-needed services.

Do your homework

Even if you are a very experienced advocate, it is crucial to educate yourself thoroughly on Intimate Partner Sexual Violence. Two great starting places: the book…

Topic
  • IPSV
  • Support Groups
Postcard
WCSAP Webpage
April, 2022


Topic
  • Parents & Caregivers
  • Healthy Sexuality
  • Schools & Campus
PDF
April, 2008

The articles and featured interview in this issue explore long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) to adult survivor wellbeing and functionality.

Upon filtering through the research and critically thinking about reported effects to survivor well-being and functionality, three challenges become quite apparent. These include,

  1. designing comprehensive and representative CSA effect studies is intrinsically difficult;
  2. there is a need for…
Topic
  • Child Sexual Abuse
Advocacy Considerations
WCSAP Webpage
November, 2018

Sexual assault often goes unreported and this can be especially true for assaults committed against men and boys. We know that sexual assault against men and boys is not new but rather has remained invisible as a result of the societal myths about men's sexuality and the cultural norms around masculinity. These influences can be extremely harmful to male survivors' healing.

Addressing the misconceptions and stereotypes that have served to silence male survivors, both within our…

Topic
  • Male Survivors