Rockford leaders unveiled an anonymous survey to get feedback on victims’ experiences with area resources.
This comes as Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara declared April “Sexual Assault Awareness Month.”
Survey questions include whether doctors or police made the victim feel supported – and ways the process could have been easier.
Jimmie Getter is with Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling (RSAC). She says survivors are often reluctant to talk about their experiences.
“When someone discloses to us, being able to support them with all the right words, ‘This is not your fault. I believe you,' she says. "And I think once you get over that hurdle, then we can have some really deep conversations.”
Getter says collected data will help determine how services -- like counselors, law enforcement, and doctors – can do better to help victims.
Maureen Mostacci, with Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling, says she wants to boost awareness on the subject.
“We want the community to be educated on sexual violence, because those same people won’t be sitting on juries," she said. "And if they’re not taken in by the myths around sexual violence, and the old beliefs and stereotypes – we’ll be able to deal with that better through the criminal justice system.”
Mostacci says the survey has no end date. It is available online and in-person through RSAC.