Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault Provides Much More Than Services for Victims

By Brittany L. Perlow, Roosevelt University student

Before the age of eighteen; one out of three girls and one of seven boys will be the victim of sexual abuse, according to Jim Huenink, executive director of the Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault (NWCASA). This statistic is startling to the majority of the population because they simply aren’t aware of the issues of sexual assault. These violent crimes continue to be misunderstood, undereducated, and remain the pink elephant in our criminal justice system.. Striving to end sexual violence in our community, the Northwest Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NW CASA) and its executive director; Jim Huenink work each day to challenge the statistics of sexual assault and rape.

For almost 35 years, NWCASA has provided free services for victims and their loved ones. These services include 24/7 crisis hotlines and legal and medical advocacy. They also provide in-person crisis intervention and multiple different types of counseling services.

Because few victims of sexual assault decide to step forward and take action against their perpetrator, it is extremely beneficial that NWCASA provides court advocacy. Going to court with the victim is important because often the victim is put on trial , and the victim’s behavior is questioned—an experience which can be traumatizing. NWCASA’s providing legal advice and emotional support greatly helps victims to successfully participate in prosecution.

NWCASA takes proactive measures to stop sexual assault crimes from happening--therefore resulting in less people needing services. It does this by raising public awareness of sexual assault crimes, promoting education and prevention within the community, and training professionals.

By exposing the truth, NWCASA challenges prevalent societal attitudes and beliefs people hold in regards to the act of rape or sexual assault. Rape and sexual assault happens in so many different ways. The myths of rape all center on the belief that a woman is looking to have sex.

Perhaps it is the ignorance of this belief that causes someone to tell a woman that it was her fault that she was raped because she was in the wrong neighborhood, wore the wrong clothing, and had been drinking. Blaming the victim is very harmful to the victim’s self-esteem and potential recovery and should be avoided. Men would never be accused of doing these things which would then be used to blame them for causing their own rape. Consciously or not, this way of thinking has become the norm over time due to the inequality of women in our society. NWCASA works diligently to show that rape and sexual assault is never the victims fault and there is help.

One of the strongest ways NWCASA demonstrates that they are an organization that is about more than simply providing services is in giving educational presentations. Last year NWCASA’s educator gave presentations to approximately 17,000 people. Although this number is substantial, it is only a start because much more outreach needs to occur in order to diminish sexual assault and violence.

Specifically, NWCASA cautions young women about the dangers of not watching their drinks because they are way too frequently the victim of date rape drugs. NWCASA stresses to young men that in Illinois, “No means no.” Young men are told that if they are in a sexual relationship with their girlfriend, they can be prosecuted for sexual assault if she says no and he forces himself on her. Consequently, these young men are taught what constitutes consent.

Just as important as reaching out to young men, is The Men’s Initiative. NWCASA started this educational program partnering with the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence, which emphasizes that domestic violence is everyone’s problem and urges men who aren’t abusive to take a positive step by be a part of the solution in ending violence.

NWCASA also provides training for law enforcement officials, teachers and medical officials. The training aims at equipping these leaders in our community with the tools necessary for them to be better able to respond to victims as well as helping to increase their knowledge of sexual violence. NWCASA also works with the Cook County state attorney office and has been part of implementing a twenty-four hour training program for their assistant’s state attorneys. This will help to fundamentally change the biases and problems within the criminal justice system.

All these activities and outreach make NWCASA an important partner of the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence, helping to prevent domestic violence and future sexual assaults.

NWCASA: 24 Hour Confidential Hotline: (888)802-8890

Roosevelt University Students are learning about domestic violence in their Writing Social Justice course.