Advocacy and Support
Training/Education Sites:
James Madison High School
3000 Martin L King Blvd
Dallas, TX 75215-2412
(972) 925-2800
Sarah Zumwalt Middle School
2445 E Ledbetter Dr
Dallas, TX 75216-7432
(972) 749-3600
Round Midnight Support Groups for survivors of sexual assault give survivors an opportunity to support, uplift and encourage other survivors utilizing a twelve step recovery model designed for survivors.
After Seven Support Groups is a support network for secondary victims of sexual assault and other affected persons. Lift will help in the development and implementation of these support groups through connection with various community-based agencies, organizations and business to provide survivors with an increase in support services that serve as a catalyst to diminish the stigma that exists which often keep survivors, their families and other affected persons from healing and recovery and others in the community from an understanding which compels them toward compassion for survivors.
Public Education and Coalition Building
Lift will work to build the capacity of volunteers, directly and in coalitions, to respond to the diverse needs of survivors of sexual assault and will serve as the cornerstone for program development and action in communities in the areas of physical health and psychosocial development.
Lift will work to build the capacity of community-based organizations, agencies and businesses to connect adult survivors of sexual assault to the resources and support services necessary to achieve successful daily life maintenance, healing and recovery.
Research
when analyzing research, issues related to life-long recovery models, the needs of survivors tends to get lost and watered down. Our challenge is to: Extract information specifically related to African American women to fill research gaps and translate findings into family and community action plans. Focus attention on the collection of secondary data related to major public policy issues in the areas of physical health and psychosocial development, stability and maintenance. Develop equitable partnerships among researchers, scholars, social service organizations/agencies that collect data on critical issues facing survivors. Roundtable discussions, surveys and focus groups will be among the strategies used to involve survivors in setting the research agenda and the resulting action plans for both the family and community. Research training sessions will include an emphasis on the relationship between the collection and application of data and the development of public policy initiatives. Lift will advocate for funding of research of life-long healing and recovery models for survivors, their families and our communities.
Public Policy
Lift Every Voice Family and Community Development Project will generate, collect and analyze data that document public policy positions taken by state and national legislative bodies. Lift will work in coalitions with other service organizations to analyze federal bills, legislation and policies to determine the impact on survivors. Public hearings and issue forums will be conducted in targeted cities. Additionally, technical training will be provided on advocacy skills, coalition building, monitoring and evaluating social programs, and legislative processes. The Lift will produce and disseminate materials, reports, briefing papers, legislative alerts and updates, to assist cooperating organizations and other community leaders in defining, influencing and monitoring public policy issues that affect survivors.