Rape Crisis Hotline
1-888-956-RAPE (7273)
Publications
The FCASV publications listed below are free of charge to any individual, law enformcent organization, or certified rape crisis center wishing to obtain and/or distribute information on sexual violence. However, requests outside of the United States may be subject to shipping charges. You may request up to 200 publications, depending on availability. They are pre-packaged in sets of 50 and are shipped within seven days of your request. For additional information please send a request in writing to information@fcasv.org.
Request brochures online
You may also request brochures by downloading this form and faxing or mailing it in to FCASV. Our brochures may also be viewed in Spanish.
The sexual abuse of children spans all races, ages, ethnic groups and economic backgrounds. Sexual abuse means any kind of unwanted or inappropriate sexual behavior with a child, whether or not there is actual physical contact. Tragically, this kind of abuse is not rare: studies estimate that one in four girls and one in seven boys are sexually abused as children.
This brochure discusses the feelings of victims, common reactions to victimization and how they can find help.
Sexual violence is any unwanted sexual contact. Sexual violence includes such crimes as rape, incest, statutory sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual assault, or any sexual contact without consent. Anyone who has been a victim of a sexual assault needs compassion, sensitivity, and caring.
This brochure explains what victims feel and how friends and family can help.
In the United States, about 10 percent of reported rapes involve male victims, and many more go unreported. Men and boys are often reluctant to report the crime of sexual assault, or to seek services, because they feel humiliated, shamed or confused by the crime or because they feel that seeking help will make them feel vulnerable or weak. Anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault needs compassion, sensitivity and caring, and male victims may also have special needs to consider.
This brochure explains what victims feel and how friends and family can help.
We want to trust the people in our lives: our friends, family members and community acquaintances. Unfortunately, the truth is that we are more likely to be sexually assaulted by someone we know: a friend, a relative, an employer, a date or someone we have recently met than by a stranger. Acquaintance rape occurs when someone you know uses physical strength, emotional bargaining, bullying, threats, blackmail, alcohol, drugs or mind games to force you to have sex. If you do not consent freely, and someone has sexual contact with you anyway, it is a crime.
This brochure talks about what victims feel and covers dating rights and responsibilities.
Sexual violence can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of their age or background. Elderly people face difficulties and obstacles in dealing with sexual assault that other people do not, including a harder time reaching out for help and healing physically and emotionally. Many elderly citizens are victimized and abused by the very people they depend on for their physical and mental well-being. In 80% of sexual assaults against the elderly, the victims know their attackers.
Large print type explains how to help a victim or how to get help if you are a victim.
The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV) serves as a resource to the state on sexual violence issues. The FCASV mission is to lead, educate, advocate, serve and network on behalf of individuals impacted by sexual violence.
This brochure highlights the services and goals of FCASV. A membership form is attached.
This large print brochure has basic information on sexual assault specifically written for adults with developmental disabilities. The brochure talks about what sexual assault is, that it is OK to say no, sexual assault is wrong, common feelings after an assault, and how to get help.
Anyone who has been the victim of a sexual crime needs compassion, sensitivity, and caring. Dealing with the feelings and issues resulting from the crime can be overwhelming and confusing. Services including hotline, crisis intervention and advocacy are available to you free of charge from your local certified rape crisis center. An advocate from a rape crisis center can:
- help you understand in greater detail many of the issues described in this brochure.
- assure you that your reactions are a normal part of the response to the crime.
- listen to your feelings and concerns.
- help you understand and weigh your options.
- be with you at appointments if you desire.
- contact others on your behalf with yourpermission.
Rape crisis centers are legally and ethically required to protect your confidentiality (Florida Statute §90.5035). Unless you specifically ask them in writing with your signature to release information about you, they will not.
Call 1-888-956-7273 to be referred to local services
(This Brochure Is Only Available For Law Enforcement/Certified Rape Crisis Centers Only)
Read the full brochure / Read the full brochure in Spanish / Read the full brochure in Creole
Sexual violence impacts every aspect of women’s lives, and yet their emotional and physical needs are often not met. Millions of women suffer in silence, without telling anyone in their lives what happened to them. In Florida alone, more than 750,000 adult women have already been victimized by sexual violence at some point in their lives (Rug- gerio, K.J., & Kilpatrick, D.G., 2003).
We know that if victims don’t tell, it is much harder for them to recover from the trau- ma of sexual assault. We also know that if victims don’t talk about their experiences with sexual assault, no one can help them make the connection between their victimization and the physical and mental aftereffects of surviving sexual trauma. Being violated hurts a victim’s mind, body and spirit, and the pain doesn’t always go away over time.
Understanding sexual assault is key to understanding women’s health and mental health issues. Sexual assault can create physical problems, post traumatic stress disorders, substance abuse issues, and many other struggles. Medical professionals need to make the connection between sexual violence and women’s health. By talking to women about sexual assault, health care providers can open a door to create true healing for survivors of rape and abuse.
This guide, created by Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV), is one part of our “Tell Me About It” campaign. The effort to integrate sexual violence screening into health care practice is an essential element of this multi-disciplinary campaign to respond to sexual violence in our communities, one that will make a difference in the lives of thou- sands of women in our state.
FCASV would like to acknowledge the work of Deborah Rogers and Lynne Stevens, C.S.W., B.C.D. in writing this guide, and the art direction of Michelle Schaefer in design- ing the campaign materials. The entire project was originally supported by a generous grant from the State of Florida, Office of the Attorney General. This current revision was made possible by the Florida Department of Health, Sexual Violence Prevention Program, with funding from the Rape Crisis Program Trust Fund. We are grateful for their support and excited to bring this project to you.
Jennifer Dritt
Executive Director Florida Council Against Sexual Violence