"There is a series of 20 elements to the program. There may be a victim that steps forward that wants two or three of us those. We don't put what we believe someone needs on the person who was victimized. We let them tell us what they need and that's a real shift from the traditional law enforcement response which can be pretty assumptive of what someone needs or wants or should want if they've been victimized."
Detective, Carrie Hall on WBUR's Here and Now program today speaking about the You Have Options program (YHOP) she directs.
Even though it is geared towards survivors of sexual assault rather than those living with adverse childhood experiences I'm sharing it here on the Parenting with ACEs page.
What Hall did, at the inception of YHOP, is something too few organizations or individuals do - she asked those to be served what they wanted and needed from the program she was creating.
Specifically, she asked survivors of sexual violence what problems they have or have had with the traditional law enforcement model.
She wanted to understand why so few report sexual assault crimes and what things could be changed within the law enforcement system to be more receptive to victims.
And she responded by addressing those specific concerns.
Honestly, it seems like such common sense. It is.
But how many of us who are professionals have queried the people we advocate for asking - "What do you need most?"
How many of us who are survivors have been asked what support we want and need when seeking services?
I think even the most well-meaning people and organizations make assumptions about what others need and want.
As for the YHOP program, here are a few the Elements of a Victim-Centered and Offender-Focused You Have Options Program Law Enforcement Response and a link to the complete list:
1. A victim of sexual assault is offered three options for reporting: Information Only, Partial Investigation and Complete Investigation.
2. A victim or other reporting party may remain anonymous and still have the information they provide documented by a law enforcement agency.
3. A victim or other reporting party may have questions answered regarding their options for reporting and/or a criminal investigation prior to providing any identifying or incident information to law enforcement.
4. A clear explanation of the reporting process and/or investigative procedures will be provided by a law enforcement officer if requested by the victim.
5. When making a report there is no requirement to meet in person with a law enforcement officer. For example, a victim or other reporting party may report using an online form or a victim may choose to have a sexual assault advocate report on their behalf.
I don't know enough about this program to advocate for it but I love the approach Hall took developing YHOP.
And how survivors seem to have a lot more choices and contral throughout the process and even determining levels of reporting that they may, or may not, choose.
I'm eager to learn more.... from survivors who have used YHOP as well as the law enforcement personnel who been trained it and are using it now. What changes have they noticed?
It's good to remember that what we think "someone needs or wants or should want" isn't always the same as what people do want or need.
That "someone" might be a specific someone in our loves or a more general someone we are advocating for or hoping to represent.
While I"m incredibly optimistic about the number of organizations caring about being trauma-informed I will never stop insisting that "it's not trauma informed if it's not informed by trauma survivors."
I think all of us can be guilty of being "pretty assumptive" at times.
I"m also reminded to check my own assumptive tendency and to remember that the only trauma survivor or advocate I can speak for - with total authority - is myself.
So let me say, again and always, I want to know what you are looking to get, share and receive as a member of the Parenting with ACEs group.
Look out for a survey soon with some questions so I can get a better sense of that here. And until that comes out, please share in a message or the comments ANY time.
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