NJCASA Launches First-Ever Statewide Survey of Sexual Violence Survivors
Survey will be used to inform policy, better response to sexual violence in the Garden State
Lawrenceville, N.J. – Today, the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NJCASA) launched a statewide survey for survivors of sexual violence, believed to be the first-ever large-scale survey of victims in the Garden State.
Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NJCASA’s Statewide Survivor Survey aims to increase the understanding of how New Jersey can better meet the needs of victims / survivors of sexual violence. Confidential responses from respondents will inform a statewide report that will be used to guide policy development, identify gaps in services, and create better outcomes for the 1.8M survivors of sexual violence who call New Jersey home.
“NJCASA is committed to transforming policies to better serve survivors and increase accountability of those who do harm. NJCASA’s Statewide Survivor Survey will play a critical role in helping New Jersey chart a path forward,” said Patricia Teffenhart, executive director of NJCASA. “We’re thrilled to launch this groundbreaking, statewide initiative to hear directly from the folks whose experiences we should be centering: survivors of violence. We are grateful to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for their financial support that made this initiative possible.”
People who live in the state of New Jersey, are age 18 or older, and identify as a survivor / victim of sexual violence are invited to participate. More information and the survey can be found at: https://njcasa.org/new-jersey-survivor-survey/
As the momentum from national movements like #MeToo continues to push sexual violence to the forefront of policymakers’ agendas, the Statewide Survivor Survey will provide crucial data to inform policy and practice reform in New Jersey. NJCASA will use results from the survey to guide its ongoing advocacy for survivors and ensure that sexual violence services are responsive and accessible to the diverse communities across New Jersey.
ABOUT NJCASA: NJCASA (www.njcasa.org) is the statewide advocacy and capacity building organization that represents the twenty-one county-based rape crisis centers, and the Rutgers University Office of Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance. NJCASA elevates the voice of sexual violence survivors and service providers by advocating for survivor-centered legislation, training allied professionals, and supporting statewide prevention strategies that work to address and defy the socio-cultural norms that permit and promote rape culture.
