[0:02] [Music] [0:21] Elizabeth [0:33] County, sexual violence awareness. [0:40] Ramsey [0:45] County St. Paul Ramsey County Public [0:48] Health Sexual Violence Services [0:54] SOS program supervisor Megan Ray legal [0:59] services coordinator. Uh so thank you so [1:02] much Emily and Megan for being here. [1:10] Um, [1:12] okay. Uh, so to start off, I would like [1:15] to have you maybe just introduce [1:17] yourselves and kind of just the work [1:19] that you're doing at Ramsey County. And [1:20] we'll start with you, Megan. Sure. Well, [1:22] thank you for having us both. We're [1:23] really excited to be here. My name is [1:26] Megan Ray. I'm the legal services [1:28] coordinator at SOS. [1:36] Megan SOS. I've been working at SOS for [1:41] about 3 years in June, but I've been [1:43] working in the field for with [1:45] relationship violence for about 16 years [1:47] now. [1:53] [Music] [2:01] Perfect. Thank you. Thank you for being [2:03] here. [2:06] Thank you for having us. Really glad to [2:08] be here. My name is Emily Heman. I'm the [2:10] program supervisor of SOS. [2:15] Okay, [2:18] Emily. SOS. So, I got into this work [2:22] back as an undergrad student back in [2:24] 1988 as a criminal justice student [2:27] wanting to work in the field somehow, [2:29] but not knowing exactly what I wanted to [2:31] do with it. And I had an internship [2:33] working with women who were sexually [2:35] assaulted and and victims of domestic [2:37] violence. And so, really since 1988, [2:39] I've been in the field one way or the [2:41] other. I've been with SOS since 1996. [3:14] for Okay, great. Thank you so much for [3:17] being here as well. Um, to start off the [3:19] conversation, I think it's important for [3:21] us to define what sexual violence is and [3:24] the various forms that it takes. And so [3:27] I'm going to ask you this question. [3:37] Um Emily, so sexual violence is an [3:41] umbrella term that encompasses all forms [3:43] of sexual violence. And sexual violence [3:45] is um some sort of activity touching or [3:48] not touching where someone does not [3:50] consent or cannot consent. [3:53] [Music] [4:13] So some of the forms of sexual violence [4:15] include words that people use um are the [4:19] word rape, sexual assault, incest, [4:22] sexual harassment, marital marital [4:36] [Music] [4:43] rape. Uh survivors of sexual violence [4:46] experience a lot of different [4:47] consequences to the violence that that's [4:50] been done to them. And that can be [4:52] physical, emotional or [5:05] [Music] [5:08] psychological. Victims of sexual [5:10] violence can be any gender, any race, [5:13] and come from any community. [5:23] What we really want to make sure we [5:25] communicate with everyone here today is [5:27] that it's not the victim's fault when [5:28] this happens. It's always the offender's [5:30] responsibility to take responsibility [5:32] for their actions. [5:44] [Music] [5:50] Thank you so much, Emily. Um, why is it [5:53] crucial for our community to actively [5:56] address and combat sexual violence? Why [5:59] should we as a community care to support [6:01] this? So, [6:14] sexual violence. [6:16] So, I think it's really important that [6:18] we're doing this today so that the [6:19] information gets out to the community [6:21] that sexual violence can impact anyone. [6:33] [Music] [6:35] And um what we know about sexual [6:38] violence is that it is um high rates of [6:40] sexual violence occur to men and to [6:43] women and especially um certain age [6:45] groups. Um adolescents and young adults [6:48] experience high rates of sexual [6:49] violence. [6:59] [Music] [7:04] Sexual violence is often experienced [7:06] from someone um the perpetrator of [7:08] sexual violence is often someone that [7:10] the victim knows. It's a friend or a [7:13] family member, an acquaintance, um [7:15] somebody they go to school with. It [7:17] isn't often a stranger. [7:37] So many acts of um sexual violence are [7:40] never reported to the police. So [7:42] statistically the number um recognized [7:45] nationally is about one in 10 victims of [7:48] sexual violence report to law [7:49] enforcement. [8:06] We want to address here today some of [8:08] the facts about sexual violence and um [8:11] take away some of the misunderstanding [8:13] that is surrounds sexual violence in our [8:15] community. [8:26] We hope that people will listen to this [8:28] today and know where they can go for [8:29] help. [8:37] Yeah, thank you both so much again for [8:39] being here to educate us on this very [8:41] important topic. Um, can you just share [8:43] more about what Ramsey County does? What [8:45] are our services? How are we assisting [8:47] victims and survivors? [8:51] So, Ramsey [8:58] County survivors [9:01] victims. Yeah, we have two programs that [9:05] run 24 hours a day and one is our [9:08] resource line that folks can call to [9:10] talk about what's happened, to talk [9:12] through their options. They're connected [9:14] to a train advocate any time of the day. [9:30] [Music] [9:31] Our other program that runs 24 hours a [9:34] day is our medical advocacy. So if a [9:37] victim of sexual assault wants to go [9:39] into the hospital and we provide [9:41] services for regions St. John's and [9:43] United, an advocate will meet them there [9:46] and support them through the process. [10:01] [Music] [10:05] United. We also offer support groups um [10:09] and those rotate with different uh focus [10:12] areas. We have one for caregivers that [10:15] provide support for victims. We have [10:17] some that are very just for the victims [10:20] themselves. We're exploring at opening [10:23] one coming up this summer that will have [10:24] an art component. So that aftermath [10:27] healing folks can access through a [10:29] support group and healing and community. [10:31] Oh boy, that's great. [10:35] [Music] [10:56] [Music] [10:58] A lot of times we hear from victim [10:59] survivors that they aren't able to [11:01] achieve their goals that maybe they want [11:04] to achieve whether that be within the [11:06] system, the criminal justice system or [11:08] without just because there's other [11:10] things that they're worried about that [11:11] they need to take care of. [11:28] So what we also offer is connection to [11:31] therapy, to financial support, housing [11:35] resources. Anything that someone needs [11:37] to just get through the day is going to [11:39] feel extra hard if they don't have that [11:41] in place when they're dealing with [11:42] healing from a significant trauma. [12:06] We also offer safety planning services. [12:09] So that could look like protection order [12:11] support, um generalized safety planning, [12:14] assistance with breaking a lease. It's [12:17] very varied, but in addition to the [12:20] sustainable resources, we've got to make [12:21] sure that people feel safe while they're [12:23] moving through this process as best we [12:24] can. [12:43] The last thing I'll mention about [12:44] services that are present in the [12:46] community um is we do a lot of education [12:48] and training as well and that's really [12:51] important too. So that training can [12:52] include our crisis responders at the [12:55] ECC, law enforcement, colleges awareness [12:59] events. We have a staff member that goes [13:01] to colleges. Um, continuing this [13:04] conversation because it has to live [13:05] outside of just today. [13:09] [Music] [13:27] Great. Thank you for all of that and I'm [13:28] sure we offer a lot more, right? But [13:30] those are really great services just as [13:32] high level to mention. [13:34] So, BMG um Megan, um I want to walk [13:38] through what happens if someone needs [13:41] help and is reaching out, right? What [13:43] should they expect? What does that [13:44] process look like for them? I think [13:46] that's really important for our viewers [13:47] to know about. [13:58] So, [14:01] [Music] [14:07] Uh yeah, there's three main areas that [14:10] folks connect with us. It's either [14:13] calling us straight from the resource [14:14] line, whether they decide to get a [14:16] medical exam or whether they decide to [14:18] file a police report are usually how we [14:21] get connected to folks. [14:39] The first thing I like to do just from [14:41] my experience, especially if it's the [14:43] first time I've talked to someone, is [14:44] actually thank them for calling. That [14:46] was huge. And now you're talking to a [14:48] stranger you've never talked to before [14:50] about something very private, very [14:52] intimate, very traumatic. And most of [14:55] the times folks don't know where they [14:57] want to go next when we talk to them the [14:58] first [15:07] time. [15:10] [Music] [15:16] [Music] [15:18] Our services are free and confidential. [15:21] And I we should say that a bunch. Very [15:23] free, very confidential. So, it's a [15:26] great place to call. Um, some of the [15:28] misconceptions I hear is that you have [15:30] to make a police report to work with an [15:32] advocate or you have to get a medical [15:34] exam to work with an advocate. None of [15:36] that's true. Our job as advocates is to [15:39] make sure that you know what your [15:41] options are and we can support them, but [15:43] it's not to make them for you. [16:11] [Music] [16:16] healing is very very personal. So I [16:18] think that first phone call is talking [16:20] about what are what are the goals that [16:22] that caller has and it could look like I [16:26] want to tell my family members what [16:27] happened to me. It could look like I [16:29] need medical attention. It could look [16:31] like this happened 15 years ago and now [16:34] I want to talk about it. Which is [16:36] another thing I want to mention is that [16:38] it it doesn't matter if this happened [16:40] three days ago or 30 years ago. Everyone [16:43] has a right to feel connected and [16:49] [Music] [16:54] supported. [16:57] [Music] [17:02] [Music] [17:21] Fore. So in answer to your question [17:24] because that was a lot of roundabout way [17:26] really great information. Uh when we [17:28] talk we we tell them we believe them we [17:31] thank them for calling and then they [17:32] really get to guide what feels best for [17:34] them. And it can look like a couple of [17:36] things that we offer. One none. They can [17:40] stay connected. They can leave and come [17:42] back. They they really are we want them [17:45] to believe they're in charge of what's [17:46] best for them cuz they know that more [17:48] than we do. And then we just try and [17:50] make it a little bit easier to get to [17:52] maybe where that goal would be. [17:54] Absolutely. [18:28] Yeah, thank you. I think that [18:29] transitions really wonderfully into [18:32] knowing more about this newer program [18:33] that Ramsey County is um focusing on to [18:36] really support and empower uh victims or [18:39] survivors of of how that process should [18:42] look like for them. What does justice [18:43] look like for them, right? They get to [18:44] define all of that. And so I want to [18:46] talk a little bit about the on my terms [18:49] program. Um how does this empower [18:51] survivors um or victims and just talk us [18:54] through a little bit about that? [18:57] So on my [19:01] [Music] [19:03] terms victims [19:06] survivors on my terms. [19:09] Yeah. This is a new program for Ramsey [19:12] County. SOS has partnered with the St. [19:14] Paul Police Department to pilot this, [19:16] but it it's available to anybody who's [19:19] had a crime that occurred in Ramsey [19:21] County. [19:33] how the program works. There's basically [19:35] two very main differences when you [19:37] engage with this program. The first is [19:40] that it allows a victim to the victim [19:42] survivor to decide that they would like [19:44] to make their initial disclosure or what [19:46] we would think about their initial [19:48] report with me, an advocate. [20:12] We work through it together. Um, I'm not [20:14] an investigator. I don't pretend to be [20:16] one. So, I don't ask investigative [20:17] questions. I sit down with the victim [20:20] survivor. We go through the report and [20:22] the options and I'll go through the [20:23] options next. And I ask them, "What what [20:27] do you want to put in this? What do you [20:28] want to tell the police department?" [20:54] Then we select one of three options [20:57] about what does that victim survivor [20:59] want to see happen to their report. They [21:02] can choose to report it only and be [21:04] done. And for a lot of folks, that meets [21:07] their goals about what they're looking [21:09] for in the criminal justice system. [21:27] I was really listening to folks that I [21:30] had spoken to for 15 years that would [21:33] say, "I I want this person's name in the [21:36] system. I don't want them to hurt other [21:39] people, but I don't want to go through [21:40] this whole process myself. It's long. [21:43] It's invasive. It's another ask. And for [21:46] a lot of people, it's just not the [21:47] decision they want to make. [21:51] [Music] [22:13] [Music] [22:20] Fore. The second option is called report [22:22] and review. And what that means is that [22:25] they want to have a conversation with an [22:27] investigator who's taken a look at the [22:29] report, but it's just a curious thing. [22:31] Like, we don't want anything happening [22:33] yet, but I want to talk to an expert. [22:35] What could this look like? [22:46] [Music] [22:58] [Music] [23:00] And the third option is how we [23:02] traditionally think about it that that [23:04] report gets in, it gets assigned to [23:06] someone that's going to work that case [23:08] and an investigation starts. But it [23:10] still starts with the entry point being [23:12] me and the victim working together to [23:15] get it started through that process. [23:43] [Music] [23:45] The goal really is to meet needs that [23:47] aren't being met, but also to slow down [23:50] the process a little bit. So, we can [23:52] talk about what else do you need right [23:54] now? Um, do we need to talk about who's [23:57] around you and supporting you? Does your [23:59] family know about this process? Really [24:02] just take that that proc that strategy, [24:07] but a slower disclosure of the trauma so [24:10] that we can take it in smaller bites and [24:12] hopefully make it a little bit more [24:19] gentle. [24:30] [Music] [24:44] Fore. Yeah. Yeah. And I think a lot of [24:46] the viewers that we have tuning in will [24:48] probably have uh follow-up questions [24:50] about like what does that legal process [24:52] look like, right? There's a lot that [24:53] goes on. I'm sure every situation is [24:55] going to look quite differently. It's [24:56] again up to you and your decision of how [24:58] you want to seek justice, right? Um but [25:02] how does uh SOS support victims or [25:04] survivors through the legal process when [25:06] they report or even just some of the [25:07] medical aspects of that? Um kind of just [25:09] provide me with some of that information [25:11] or provide us with some of that [25:12] information. So um [25:18] [Music] [25:24] um legal process. [25:29] [Music] [25:31] SOS survivors [25:34] victims. Yeah, I'd love to because the [25:36] legal system is confusing. [25:45] I've been working specifically in [25:46] domestic and sexual assault within the [25:48] legal system for 10 years and it's it's [25:51] ever evolving sometimes but yet still [25:54] stagnant in other areas. [26:05] [Music] [26:13] Sorry. So, as a legal advocate, which [26:16] our whole team supports folks through [26:18] the legal system, uh not just me, we [26:21] really want to make sure that the victim [26:23] survivor is fully informed. they [26:26] understand what their rights are through [26:27] this process and that we are connecting [26:30] them to the people that they need. [26:38] [Music] [26:57] Um, and in addition supporting them and [27:00] what what they want to have happen as [27:02] this process process moves along. [27:04] Sometimes people make a report and they [27:06] need to step back or they need to pause [27:08] it or something has changed and we need [27:11] to be there to support them with the [27:13] police department or with the county [27:15] attorney's office to stand by them. Not [27:19] be their voice cuz they can do it and we [27:22] empower them to do that but that we are [27:25] assisting in that and that they get to [27:27] lead this as much as they can. [27:35] [Music] [27:43] [Music] [27:58] Another really great element is that [28:00] because we're confidential, we get to [28:02] talk about the things that victim [28:03] survivors might not feel comfortable [28:05] talking with their prosecuting attorney [28:07] or with a police officer about. [28:15] [Music] [28:28] [Music] [28:30] Sometimes there's concerns when people [28:31] need to talk about how frustrated they [28:33] are or angry or want to celebrate [28:35] whatever that might look like for them [28:37] that that might have an impact on how [28:39] systematic partners see their engagement [28:42] with the process. But it's still really [28:44] important. Even if you want to move [28:46] through and go all the way through the [28:47] legal process, you still get to be [28:49] angry. It's still hard. You're still [28:51] having to do this. And so, we really [28:53] want to create a safe space that they [28:55] can continue to process and know that [28:58] it's going to be super held. [29:01] [Music] [29:15] [Music] [29:27] Yeah, thank you so much for all of that. [29:29] Um, I am wondering most of our viewers [29:32] are of Mong Descent. They're from our [29:34] home community. I'm wondering more about [29:37] or if you can maybe elaborate a little [29:38] bit more about what SOS does to connect [29:41] with our Mong community. Does that look [29:43] differently? um what services might be [29:45] available to them uh just so that [29:47] they're aware. And so [29:50] um [29:57] um well, thank you for that question. We [30:00] do have um a staff person who's from the [30:02] M community with SOS. They um are [30:05] available to serve all victims of sexual [30:07] violence in Ramsey County and [30:09] specifically available for those um from [30:12] the M community who may want a M [30:13] advocate. [30:32] So I just want to emphasize that [30:34] sometimes people want to work with [30:36] somebody from the M community and [30:37] sometimes they want to work with [30:38] somebody from outside of the community. [30:40] So to uh reduce some of the um stigma [30:44] that may be around it within the [30:45] community. [30:53] [Music] [31:08] We also work with our community partners [31:10] and some of those are M American [31:13] partnership and transforming [31:16] generations. [31:18] [Music] [31:20] American partnership [31:23] and if someone calls our crisis line and [31:25] they want to speak in uh in the M [31:28] language, we also work with uh language [31:30] line and so all the staff is familiar [31:32] with using that and will connect um that [31:34] caller with language line and they will [31:36] serve as an interpreter between us and [31:38] the client. [31:49] [Music] [31:54] Yeah, thank you uh for that [31:56] clarification. I think that information [31:58] is going to be really helpful for our M [31:59] community if they do choose um to uh [32:02] find help and search for for some [32:04] assistance there. um when we're talking [32:06] about like the larger community, what [32:08] can we do to support the work that's [32:10] being done um to really advocate for [32:13] those who have been involved in sexual [32:15] violence or assault? Um what are some [32:17] things that we we can do as a community [32:20] to really support this mission? [32:27] [Music] [32:29] So sexual violence, sexual assault. [32:36] So the very first thing that we would [32:38] really want to encourage people to do is [32:40] when they hear about sexual violence [32:42] occurring um that they start with [32:45] believing that is Oh, go [32:48] ahead. [32:54] [Music] [33:02] Overwhelmingly, people don't seek help [33:04] because they're afraid no one will [33:05] believe them or that they'll be shamed [33:07] or they'll be blamed. [33:19] I think it's important also to talk [33:21] early and often with our youth about [33:23] what does healthy relationships look [33:25] like. [33:36] This is especially true because people [33:39] are sexually assaulted by somebody that [33:40] they know. [33:44] [Music] [33:50] We hope that people will spread accurate [33:53] information that they've learned here [33:54] today to other community members. [34:05] Also, people can consider um working [34:07] with the SOS program. We have volunteer [34:10] opportunities that um we train folks for [34:14] at least 40 hours. They get about 45 [34:16] hours of training from SOS to serve on [34:19] the crisis line and be responders to the [34:20] medical uh advocacy. [34:38] Great. Thank you. Yeah, lots of um [34:40] information about volunteer [34:41] opportunities online. Um I actually [34:44] would like to know more where can we go? [34:46] Uh where can our viewers go if they [34:48] would like to learn more just maybe [34:50] receive more information education? Um [34:52] if you can just kind of talk through [34:54] that that would be wonderful. So um [35:08] information. [35:10] So, there are a few ways that you can [35:11] find out information about SOS. The [35:13] first one would be going to the Ramsey [35:15] County SOS website. [35:28] [Music] [35:31] Another way is to reach out by the phone [35:34] and call our resource line which is 651 [35:37] 2661000. [35:40] [Music] [35:54] And another way that you can reach out [35:56] to us is email us at asks SOS at [36:01] co.ramsey.mn usramsey.mmn. [36:11] [Music] [36:16] us. So, we've tried to make um as many [36:18] options available to the community so [36:20] that they can reach out to us in a way [36:21] that feels safe and comfortable for [36:23] them. [36:29] Please reach out to us with any in any [36:32] way with questions or um anything you [36:34] want to talk about once you hear [36:36] information from us. [36:41] [Music] [36:43] Great. Thank you. And uh before we end [36:45] today's conversation, there's so much [36:47] that I think we can still unpack from [36:48] this conversation, right? Um but before [36:51] we end, what are final takeaways or any [36:54] final words that you would like to [36:55] provide to our M community um and [36:57] beyond? [37:05] Well, thank you again for having us. [37:07] I'll speak for both of us. Um and thank [37:10] you for everybody that's watching. [37:11] That's wonderful. [37:21] The two things I just want to end on [37:23] from my side is that this is this is [37:26] your journey. This is very private and [37:30] we are here to make sure that you have [37:32] all the options that we can make [37:33] available to you. There's never any [37:35] judgment on which one you choose or when [37:38] you choose. [37:45] [Music] [37:56] The other thing is is that sexual [37:57] violence impacts the whole family, [37:59] especially when it's happening within [38:00] the family. So, please call even if you [38:03] know someone that's being impacted or [38:06] directly victimized. If it's a family [38:08] member, we speak to everybody that that [38:11] wants more information. [38:19] [Music] [38:28] And I hope people know that they're not [38:30] alone, that they didn't do anything to [38:32] deserve this, and that the person [38:34] responsible for their actions is the [38:35] offender of the sexual violence. [38:38] [Music] [39:02] Well, thank you both so much for being [39:03] here today. I certainly learned a lot. [39:05] Um, I'm sure our viewers have learned a [39:07] lot as well. Um, so, thank you both for [39:09] being here. I super great uh am super [39:11] grateful for this conversation. Um, so [39:20] [Music] [39:32] SOS Ramsey County. [39:36] [Music] [39:56] [Music] [40:03] Today I'm going [40:14] on [40:21] [Music] [40:30] Heat. Heat. [40:39] [Music]