Culture and community are an integral part of a victim/survivor’s support system following a sexually violent experience, and spirituality can be an essential part of someone’s healing process. While it’s important to acknowledge that many survivors do not choose to lean into faith to cope with trauma, those who do greatly benefit from a strong relationship between sexual assault providers and spiritual healers. Faith traditions and communities are diverse and so is how they approach addressing sexual violence within their communities. It is important for spiritual leaders to understand the impact of sexual assault on the people they support and to feel comfortable joining and activating the survivors’ support networks, which often necessitates the awareness of local resources. Co-facilitated with Sikh Family Center, this web conference is for faith-based organizations and advocates who are interested in expanding their tools, offering community-based support, and joining the anti-sexual violence movement in disrupting and preventing sexual violence.
