First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse Training
Saskatchewan currently has the highest rates of sexual violence in Canada.
This violence exists everyday and most frequently in homes of families and friends that you may know. This means that the majority of survivors have been harassed or assaulted by someone they know.
Due to the relational and personal nature of these crimes along with dominant societal myths and misconceptions about sexual violence, many survivors do not report to law enforcement or seek medical and counselling assistance.
When left untreated, the effects of sexual assault on individuals, families and communities are severe. Sexual assault has been linked to addictions, mental health, homelessness and domestic violence, and the financial cost of sexual violence crimes are estimated to be in the millions each year.
The First Responder training helps ensure that those who have experienced sexual violence reach out for the help they need, and that they are provided with resources and empathy after disclosing.
What is the First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse Training?
First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse Training™ (FRT) is a comprehensive two-day training designed to aid those who work with individuals who have, or are at risk of, experiencing sexual violence.
The purpose of the training is educate individuals about the social, cultural and legal aspects of sexual assault and abuse, which will enable them to recognize, define and respond appropriately to the continuum of behaviours that constitute sexual assault and abuse.
Who is the training for?
FRT benefits professionals, paraprofessionals, and community members who are interested in increasing their knowledge and skills to address disclosures of sexual violence. Individuals who have taken the training include:
- Elders and religious leaders
- University students
- Crisis workers
- Teachers
- Nurses
- Police and RCMP
- Army support workers
- Tribal councils
- Family court mediators
- Legal professionals
What will I learn from taking First Responder Training to Sexual Assault and Abuse?
The FRT consists of six different learning modules on critical communications for first response, child sexual abuse, adults who were sexually abused as children, sexual harassment, sexual assault and rethinking prevention. Throughout the training, you will learn how to:
- Define sexual violence and where it stems from
- Demonstrate communication responding skills and their appropriate use for sexual assault and abuse disclosures
- Understand Canadian and Saskatchewan law as it relates to sexual violence and child sexual abuse
- Understand child sexual abuse myths and their impacts on survivors
- Recognize mental, physical, emotional, and relational/social effects in adults who have been sexually abused as children
- Understand how triggering events can create reactions or traumatic responses
- Define what sexual harassment is
- Discuss legal and non legal options for individuals who have been sexually harassed
- Review and discuss support and assistance strategies to provide to individuals who have been sexually assaulted
- Discuss options for sexual abuse and assault prevention
How do I register for training?
If you are interested in taking the First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse Training, contact harmony@sassk.ca.