We've been thinking a lot about where things come together.
NJCASA entered its 35th year of existence in 2016. While our work took us in many different directions this year - advocating for policy at the State House, bringing together community allies, hosting our first statewide conference - we know it all meets at the same junction. For us, our core focus remains the same as when we opened our doors in 1981: the compassionate and just treatment of survivors and their loved ones.
In our Annual Report, you'll read about our successes and see detailed breakdowns of our training programs and financial statements. But our work is about more than that. It's about ensuring that survivors who choose to come forward feel comfortable and affirmed. It's hospitals, police, and advocates working together to best serve survivors.
Our work is at the junctions - ensuring that policymakers understand the real needs of survivors; training advocates who do this work every day; confronting harmful norms that contribute to violence. We work to keep the gears smoothly in motion for survivors in the state of New Jersey - and thank you for your support as we continue to roll forward.
Mission-minded.
2016 at a glance.
This year, sexual violence centers served over 10,000 survivors and their loved ones throughout New Jersey.
This year, NJCASA's team provided training to over 600 professionals through our Training Institute and conference.
NJCASA successfully advocated for a full restoration of $4.1M allocated in the State Budget for sexual violence prevention and intervention services.
NJCASA Initiatives.
Throughout 2016, the NJCASA team created resources, developed and conducted a multitude of trainings, and explored special initiatives, all aiming to best serve those who serve survivors.
Training
Through our Training Institute, NJCASA's team provided training to over 300 participants in 2016, ranging from serving survivors of violence who are later in life, the role of a confidential sexual violence advocate (CSVA), and developing competency to serve survivors who are men and boys. The team conducted both in-person trainings at our offices in Lawrenceville, online webinars to facilitate distance-learning, and was selected to present at the 2016 Rape Prevention Education meeting in Washington, D.C.
NJCASA staff also responded to over 100 requests for technical assistance in the second half of 2016, assisting both program members in the state of New Jersey, coalition colleagues throughout the country, and everywhere in between.
Advocacy
NJCASA's advocacy contributed to the passing of the Sexual Assault Survivors' Protection Act, which was enacted in May 2016. SASPA expands opportunities for survivors of sexual assault to apply for a protective order against the person who harmed them, without reporting to law enforcement or filing criminal charges. NJCASA developed online and print resources to support survivors as they navigate this new process.
NJCASA also successfully advocated for a full restoration of $4.1M allocated in the State Budget for sexual violence prevention and intervention services. Strengthening our foundations through budget advocacy allows New Jersey's 21 county-based programs to continue providing counseling, crisis response, community outreach, hotline support, and other critical services to survivors in New Jersey.
Collaboration
We partnered with the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence to present the first-ever statewide dual conference on sexual and domestic violence, "A Safer Garden State." Nearly 300 sexual and domestic violence professionals and allied professionals joined for a day of sessions covering the intersections of domestic and sexual violence. 92 percent of respondents strongly agreed that conference workshops increased their knowledge. NJCASA is exploring a second conference along with NJCEDV in fall 2018.
In an effort to explore the intersections of sexual violence and learn more about underserved communities, NJCASA continued its Community Conversations Initiative throughout 2016. We convened an in-person meeting of stakeholders who represent marginalized and underserved communities, to learn more about how we can better serve survivors.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2016
This year's SAAM theme, Prevention is Possible, focused on the contributions each and every one of us can make towards preventing sexual violence. – specifically, individuals, communities, and the private sector.
NJCASA participated in both in-person and online SAAM events, joining events around the state, panel discussions on sexual violence, presenting training to statewide audiences, Twitter chats on prevention, and more.
6th Annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month 5K
In 2016, NJCASA moved our annual 5K to Asbury Park, N.J. Nearly 250 participants, friends, and allies registered to join us on the Boardwalk, raising nearly $40,000 for sexual violence services in New Jersey -- making it NJCASA's largest turnout and fundraising success to date!
Moving to Asbury Park also gave NJCASA the opportunity to strengthen relationships with local businesses - and we are thankful to Kristen Driscroll Photography, toast, The Complex, the Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, Purple Glaze, and others for their generous support of our 5K!
Sharing Our Voice
NJCASA's experts lent their knowledge to print, online, television, and radio news throughout the year.
- NJ 101.5: NJ's K-12 schools are not immune to sexual violence
- Backgrounder Podcast: New questions, old attitudes in fight against sexual assault
- NJ 101.5: New NJ law makes it easier for rape victims to get restraining orders
- NJTV: Where NJ Colleges Stand in Number of Campus Sexual Assaults
- NJ Spotlight: Not Enough Funding for Fight Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
- Asbury Park Press: For Middletown rape survivor, 'a kick in the teeth'
Financials
Want more details about our financial picture? View our:
Thank you to our generous donors!
Generous financial gifts allow us to continue to serve every survivor of sexual violence in New Jersey. View our 2016 Donor List.
Looking Forward
We're continuing to connect.
Throughout 2017, we'll continue to strengthen our core services and deepen our connections throughout New Jersey.
- We'll continue to advocate for policies that put survivors and their loved ones first. NJCASA leadership currently is co-chairing the state's Campus Sexual Assault Task Force, and is on track to release its report of recommendations in summer 2017.
- We'll seek to reach new audiences through our forthcoming Media Toolkit, which will provide recommendations and resources for journalists and media professionals in New Jersey who cover sexual violence.
- We'll work on connecting new voices by bringing together stakeholders who represent diverse groups in New Jersey through our Community Conversations Initiative. By bringing together groups who serve survivors in underserved communities, we seek to identify gaps and better understand how to best reach every survivor of violence in N.J. The Initiative's first project report will be released in 2017.
Don't miss a thing!
Follow along with NJCASA all year long for updates, information, & more.
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Your support makes a difference.
Generous support from allies like you helps us continue to serve survivors and strengthen communities across New Jersey. We accept your generous donations through...
- Our website: A generous gift of any amount helps us continue to serve survivors and their families throughout the Garden State. You can donate here.
- AmazonSmile: You can support NJCASA every time you shop! Designate us as your charity on AmazonSmile, and a portion of your purchase price will go directly to our work.
- Your car! Or truck, or ATV, or boat. When you donate your vehicle to NJCASA, the money received will support our work. Learn more.