CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — The West Virginia National Guard is working to add more staff to their Sexual Assault Prevention and Response [SAPR] Team to create more extensive coverage in the Mountain State. SAPR focuses on training, education and prevention for sexual assault. The team also provides crucial, and confidential resources for victims.

((ANCHOR))

SPOTLIGHT ON AMERICA IS ACTIVLEY INVESTIGATING THE NEW PROMISES FROM THE PENTAGON WHEN IT COMES TO SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHIN THE MILITARY. LAWMAKERS NOW PRESSING FOR MORE STAFF AND FINANCIAL FUNDING TO HELP COMBAT THESE CONCERNING STATISTICS. EYEWITNESSS NEWS ANCHOR PAYTON MARSHALL SPOKE TO THE WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD ABOUT THEIR SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR VICTIMS…. AND HOW THEY HOPE TO IMPROVE THESE CRUCIAL MEASURES FOR SURVIVORS.

((SOT))

(Jenny Colagrosso – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Principal SARK)

“You’re not alone, there is help out there, there is no shame in coming forward.”

((VO))

JENNY “CALL-UH-GRAUS-OH” IS A MEMBER OF THE WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD’S SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPOSNE TEAM–ALSO KNOWN AS “SAP-ER”. THEY PROVIDE 24 HOUR, 7 DAYS A WEEK SERVICES FOR ANY SERIVCE MEMEBER WITHIN THE STATE–TO CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES….WHETHER THAT’S TO FILE A REPORT, ASSISTANCE WITH A SAFE KIT, THERAPY, LEGAL COUNCIL, HEALTH CARE, SPIRITUAL SUPPORT–OR EVEN JUST SOMOENE TO TALK TO.

((SOT))

(Jessica Deffendall -130th Airlift Wing Victim Advocate)

“When you’re going through a traumatic event it is really tough to talk about your experience and everything you’ve been through and sometimes its easier to talk to someone who can’t talk back to you.”

((VO))

MEET PHIN–A BUNDLE OF FUR, JOY AND PATHCES. HE’S A CERITFIED THERAPY DOG…PROVIDING COMFORT TO VICTIMS. HE ALSO BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS. MANY TIMES–PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE

SAP-ER TEAM, DUE TO THE STIGMA OF SEXUAL ASSAULT–BUT PHIN’S WAGGING ENERGY CREATES AN INVITING SPACE–WHICH IS CRUCIAL IF ANYONE EVER NEEDS TO COME FORWARD

((SOT-COVER IN -B-ROLL))

(Jessica Deffendall -130th Airlift Wing Victim Advocate)

“He breaks down those barriers and people talk with us and they engage with us and then by doing that we’re forging those relationships.”

((VO))

“AIR-EE-AUNA” HAS BEEN WITH THE WV NATIONAL GUARD FOR 16 YEARS–SHE’S ALSO SERVED AS A VICTIM ADOVATE

((SOT-COVER IN B-ROLLA FTER PROGRAM))

(Arina Shuemake – Interim Public Affairs Officers for WV National Guard)

“Having trained individuals that go through this program that are trauma informed that are there to provide that safe space for the survivors to come forward.”

((SOT))

(Arina Shuemake – Interim Public Affairs Officers for WV National Guard)

“It’s, It’s important to me and one of the reasons I got involved is more on a personal level.”

((VO))

SHE KNOWS ALL TOO WELL THE NECESSITY OF A PROGRAM LIKE SAP-ER

((SOT))

(Arina Shuemake – Interim Public Affairs Officers for WV National Guard)

“I’ve known people that have gone through these situations and knowing, kind of the struggle they’ve gone through.”

((SOT))

(Jenny Colagrosso – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Principal SARK)

“It’s so important because it’s not been dealt with properly in the past and when somebody doesn’t deal with that kind of trauma, it escalates and it builds and it builds and it builds until they need help or they turn to substance abuse or the suicide numbers go up.”

((SOT))

(payton asking on cam)

“What do you wish there was more transparency on?”

((SOT))

(Jenny Colagrosso – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Principal SARK)

“Something I wish there was more transparency on is the actual amount of sexual assault victims in society. “

((GRAPHIC #1))

so lets talk about those statistics….According to the CDC Over half of women have experienced sexual violence during their lifetimes and one in our women have experienced completed or attempted rape.

((GRAPHIC #2 ))

According to the CDC one in three men have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime ad one in 26 men have experienced completed or attempted rape

((GRAPHIC #3))

According to Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Military Members, women in the military face a higher risk of sexual assault than men.

((VO)

regardless of the profession, speaking about sexual assault is not easy…

((SOT))

(Jenny Colagrosso – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Principal SARK)

“In the military it might be a little more difficult because you’re in kind of a closer quarter with your coworkers and there’s always that fear this this is your business and you’re not ready to tell it yet and you’ve got people to your right and to your left so you’re kind of afraid to come forward–what will they think of you and how is this going to go? and it’s a terrifying situation.”

((VO))

“CALL-UH-GRAUS-OH”‘S HOPE FOR THE FUTURE? MORE “SAP-ER” EMPLYOEES TO COVER THE MOUNTAIN STATE MORE EFFICIENTLY. AND SHE HAS A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR SURVIVORS….

(SOT))

(Jenny Colagrosso – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Principal SARK)

“Please come forward. We have confidentiality. If you just want to talk to us we will sit down and have a conversation and it goes no further than that.”((SOT))

(Jenny Colagrosso – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Principal SARK)

“You’re not alone, there is help out there, there is no shame in coming forward.”

((VO))

JENNY “CALL-UH-GRAUS-OH” IS A MEMBER OF THE WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD’S SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPOSNE TEAM–ALSO KNOWN AS “SAP-ER”. THEY PROVIDE 24 HOUR, 7 DAYS A WEEK SERVICES FOR ANY SERIVCE MEMEBER WITHIN THE STATE–TO CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES….WHETHER THAT’S TO FILE A REPORT, ASSISTANCE WITH A SAFE KIT, THERAPY, LEGAL COUNCIL, HEALTH CARE, SPIRITUAL SUPPORT–OR EVEN JUST SOMOENE TO TALK TO.

((SOT))

(Jessica Deffendall -130th Airlift Wing Victim Advocate)

“When you’re going through a traumatic event it is really tough to talk about your experience and everything you’ve been through and sometimes its easier to talk to someone who can’t talk back to you.”

((VO))

MEET PHIN–A BUNDLE OF FUR, JOY AND PATHCES. HE’S A CERITFIED THERAPY DOG…PROVIDING COMFORT TO VICTIMS. HE ALSO BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS. MANY TIMES–PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE

SAP-ER TEAM, DUE TO THE STIGMA OF SEXUAL ASSAULT–BUT PHIN’S WAGGING ENERGY CREATES AN INVITING SPACE–WHICH IS CRUCIAL IF ANYONE EVER NEEDS TO COME FORWARD

((SOT-COVER IN -B-ROLL))

(Jessica Deffendall -130th Airlift Wing Victim Advocate)

“He breaks down those barriers and people talk with us and they engage with us and then by doing that we’re forging those relationships.”

((VO))

“AIR-EE-AUNA” HAS BEEN WITH THE WV NATIONAL GUARD FOR 16 YEARS–SHE’S ALSO SERVED AS A VICTIM ADOVATE

((SOT-COVER IN B-ROLLA FTER PROGRAM))

(Arina Shuemake – Interim Public Affairs Officers for WV National Guard)

“Having trained individuals that go through this program that are trauma informed that are there to provide that safe space for the survivors to come forward.”

((SOT))

(Arina Shuemake – Interim Public Affairs Officers for WV National Guard)

“It’s, It’s important to me and one of the reasons I got involved is more on a personal level.”

((VO))

SHE KNOWS ALL TOO WELL THE NECESSITY OF A PROGRAM LIKE SAP-ER

((SOT))

(Arina Shuemake – Interim Public Affairs Officers for WV National Guard)

“I’ve known people that have gone through these situations and knowing, kind of the struggle they’ve gone through.”

((SOT))

(Jenny Colagrosso – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Principal SARK)

“It’s so important because it’s not been dealt with properly in the past and when somebody doesn’t deal with that kind of trauma, it escalates and it builds and it builds and it builds until they need help or they turn to substance abuse or the suicide numbers go up.”

((SOT))

(payton asking on cam)

“What do you wish there was more transparency on?”

((SOT))

(Jenny Colagrosso – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Principal SARK)

“Something I wish there was more transparency on is the actual amount of sexual assault victims in society. “

((GRAPHIC #1))

so lets talk about those statistics….According to the CDC Over half of women have experienced sexual violence during their lifetimes and one in our women have experienced completed or attempted rape.

((GRAPHIC #2 ))

According to the CDC one in three men have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime ad one in 26 men have experienced completed or attempted rape

((GRAPHIC #3))

According to Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Military Members, women in the military face a higher risk of sexual assault than men.

((VO)

regardless of the profession, speaking about sexual assault is not easy…

((SOT))

(Jenny Colagrosso – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Principal SARK)

“In the military it might be a little more difficult because you’re in kind of a closer quarter with your coworkers and there’s always that fear this this is your business and you’re not ready to tell it yet and you’ve got people to your right and to your left so you’re kind of afraid to come forward–what will they think of you and how is this going to go? and it’s a terrifying situation.”

((VO))

“CALL-UH-GRAUS-OH”‘S HOPE FOR THE FUTURE? MORE “SAP-ER” EMPLYOEES TO COVER THE MOUNTAIN STATE MORE EFFICIENTLY. AND SHE HAS A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR SURVIVORS….

(SOT))

(Jenny Colagrosso – Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Principal SARK)

“Please come forward. We have confidentiality. If you just want to talk to us we will sit down and have a conversation and it goes no further than that.”