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Healing and Justice for African-American Survivors
Kalimah Johnson is the founder and chair of the SASHA Center (Sexual Assault Services for Holistic Healing and Awareness), an agency serving African-American survivors in Detroit. A survivor of sexual assault herself, Kalimah also provides trainings to professional sports leagues—including the NBA, NFL, and NHL—about ending sexual and domestic violence.
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Consent?
Public awareness efforts regularly reinforce that all partners need to get consent before sexual activity, but what does that really mean? Understanding consent is key to promoting healthy and respectful relationships, changing the culture around sexual violence, and ending sexual assault. This Sexual Assault Awareness Month, test your knowledge of what it means to ask for and give consent with this Joyful Heart quiz.
Inside a SAFE Clinic: A Space for Survivors
Olivia Christians is a member of the GenerationJOY committee at the Joyful Heart Foundation. She had the opportunity to tour the Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) Clinic at the Nashville Sexual Assault Center and meet with its president, Rachel Freeman, and Vice President of Programs, Mary Beth Heaney-Garate.
What is a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner?
When a person is sexually assaulted, they may choose to undergo a forensic examination to collect DNA evidence left behind in the assault. The evidence is preserved in a sexual assault evidence collection kit, often referred to as a rape kit.
Quiz: How Well Do You Know Joyful Heart's 6 Pillars of Rape Kit Reform?
We began 2019 asking you, our joyful community, to help us advocate to end the backlog of untested rape kits around the United States. We developed six pillars of rape kit reform as part of our national campaign to enact comprehensive rape kit reform laws in every state. While we hope you share information about our campaign with others, we know some of the terminology we use can be challenging.
How to Get Started as an Advocate to End the Rape Kit Backlog
As we kick off a new year and a new legislative session, Joyful Heart continues our work advocating for rape kit reform across the country. Ending the rape kit backlog is a tremendous goal, and we need advocates like you to help by supporting reform where you live.
Whether you are a novice advocate or a seasoned pro, you can make a difference. Here’s how to start advocating for rape kit reform in your community.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Your Stories of #SupportAfterDV
This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we announced a new campaign to share domestic violence survivors’ stories of healing and support. Using the hashtag #SupportAfterDV, we invited survivors in our community to share the ways they were best supported after their experiences on social media or through our anonymous online survey.
4 Obstacles Facing Latin@ Survivors Who Seek Help
It can be difficult for any person experiencing sexual and domestic violence to seek support and find the resources they need. For some Latin@ survivors, cultural and language barriers can add to these challenges. One in three Latin@ women has experienced physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. And 50% of survivors never report their abuse.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2018: What Is #SupportAfterDV?
Each October, we join hundreds of other organizations to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month. DVAM is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of these issues, share resources, and most importantly, support survivors.
6 Ways to Boost Your Health on National Women’s Health and Fitness Day
At Joyful Heart, we know wellness can take many forms, especially for survivors and their loved ones. Tending to your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are all part of the healing journey. This year we’re joining other organizations to recognize September 26 as National Women’s Health and Fitness Day, an annual event for women of all ages to celebrate different ways to stay healthy.
