SVJI Resource Highlight: Using A Ten-Factor Framework for Sexual Assault Response Team Effectiveness When Supporting LGBTQIA+ Victims/Survivors

Welcome to the Rural Realities Blog! This blog, will be highlighting the new resource, Using A Ten-Factor Framework for Sexual Assault Response Team Effectiveness When Supporting LGBTQIA+ Victims/Survivors. This resource was developed under our National SART Project.

The new resource is an extension of the Ten-Factor Framework for Sexual Assault Response Team Effectiveness resource. If you are not familiar with that resource, it was created after the Sexual Violence Justice Institute at Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (SVJI at MCNASA) visited 17 systems-change sexual assault response teams (SARTs) across the US and did a consensus-building project to find out which internal and external factors they agreed were most needed for the effectiveness of their SARTs. Before using the new resource, it may be helpful to review that report.

SARTs play an important role in supporting victims/survivors and their communities. The Using A Ten-Factor Framework for Sexual Assault Response Team Effectiveness When Supporting LGBTQIA+ Victims/Survivors resource can provide SARTs guidance on implementing best practices to increase the awareness of the prevalence of sexual assault in the LGBTQIA+ community and address inconsistencies in responses. This resource comprehensively covers each internal and external factor outlined in the original resource. The six internal factors are: Shared vision and model, multi-level leadership, culture of learning, continuous evaluation and improvement, diverse membership, and emphasis on relationships and teamwork. The four external factors are: Confident team members, supportive member agencies, access to resources and networking, as well as community support and involvement. Additionally, the new resource provides SARTs with actionable steps.

If you have any questions about the resource shared in this blog, please reach out to us at svji@mncasa.org.

Note: LGBTQIA+ is an acronym made up of terms intended to be more comprehensive in the inclusion of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Trans community. The additional inclusion of QIA+ include Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and the plus sign represents additional communities as a catch all. LGBTQIA+ may be used interchangeably with LGBT, LGBTQ, or other variations.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-22-GK-04024-RURA awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.