SARC partners in assisting victims of sexual assault Published April 6, 2010 By Sharon Adams 17th Training Wing Sexual Assault Prevention and Response GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The role of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Coordinator office is to be the first line of defense for a victim of sexual assault. The SARC office provides support to victims of sexual assault. We review reporting options and direct them to other desired treatment services to assist their healing process. There are several organizations and individuals on base that our office works with to meet all the needs of the victim. Some of these individuals are the Victim Advocates. I want to spotlight the VAs at Goodfellow. When a victim makes a report they are assigned a VA. Every VA has been educated and has an understanding of sexual assault in the military. To become effective VAs, it is necessary to understand the military process of handling sexual assault cases. They go through extensive training in learning how to deal with the emotional response of victims and the day to day adjustments of being a sexual assault victim. If a victim is new to the military their VA can assist them in working through the proper channels to get their needs met. Duties and Responsibilities of a VA: Perform victim advocacy services through personal or telephone contact. Maintain the victim's confidentiality. Ascertain the victim's immediate needs along with SARC. Encourage the victim to seek medical consultation/examination . Discuss an initial safety plan with the active participation of the victim. Ensure victims are aware of the reporting options available to them. Offer victims information along with SARC, as appropriate, regarding local resources for immediate safety and support, medical services and chaplain resources. Support the victim in decision-making by providing information and discussing available options. Follow-up contact with the victim as appropriate. The VA has many roles to help victims but before they can qualify to be a VA they must: Have great training attendance and a positive attitude. Have the initiative to express training topic ideas for the monthly training they attend and assist the SARC office with sexual assault prevention training. Show a willingness to learn in an effort to better serve our victims. Be loyal and dependable. Be punctual when showing up to assist a victim and they must be honest and cooperate with the SARC office. All the Goodfellow VA volunteers have proven to have all these qualities. The next time you see a VA, give them a kind word. They work hard for the SARC office, Goodfellow and most importantly, the victims. They volunteer for this position and they all take the seriousness of this duty to heart. Their professionalism is commendable but their compassion is what makes them great at what they do. The SARC office and Goodfellow thanks you! Goodfellow's Victim Advocates are: Army Staff Sgt. Jon Alvarez Army Sgt. First Class Jamie Camacho Army Sgt. First Class Scott Choi Army Sgt. First Class Jerry Conner Army Sgt. First Class Billy Crawford Marine Staff Sgt. Michael Day Ms. Tammy Eggar Army Sgt. First Class Olga Esquibel Ms. Patricia Fincke Air Force Staff Sgt. Ashley Falasco Air Force Master Sgt. Paulette Guerra Marine Staff Sgt. Cheraba Just Army Sgt. First Class Clarissa Lamar Air Force Tech. Sgt. Marie Mahoney Army Sgt. First Class Susanna Messersmith Ms. Denise Padilla-Rorie Air Force Master Sgt. John Patterson Texas Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Christy Sankey Army Staff Sgt. Cornelia Waddell Army Sgt. First Class Daniel Woerheide
