CAASA Update and THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!

The members of CAASA - Community Advocates Against Sexual Assault - would like to thank the community for it's continued support in our mission to empower those victimized by sexual violence through advocacy and crisis intervention and to raise awareness in the community about the cause, impact and prevention of sexual assault. CAASA was implemented only in early 2008 and we have had so much community, and statewide, support that we continue to add more programs and services to our organization and would like to take this opporutnity to update everyone on what we do.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with CAASA, we offer 24/7 advocacy: free and confidential. Trained community advocates are available to help survivors and secondary survivors thorugh the trauma. Advocates are trained in crisis intervention, legal and ethical issues regarding sexual violence and domestic violence and mandatory reporting. As community advocates, we help people who want to report a crime to do so, but the choice is always the individuals (in compliance with the Nevada mandatory reporting laws as all advocates are mandatory reporters), we assist with obtaining protection orders, as well as financial costs that can be incurred as a result of the trauma. Our community advocates are also trained in Sexual Assault Counseling, Rape Trauma Syndrome and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and programs and services available to clients and how to apply for them. We also have volunteers that assist in areas of education and awareness, such as helping with special events and awareness programs. Volunteers in any of these areas are always welcome.

We offer a FREE program, Girls Fight Back!, and a FREE self-defense class,in cooperation with Montenegro School of TaeKwon Do, to the community for empowerment, awareness and safety for females of all ages and younger males. To find out more about Girls Fight Back!, their website is www.girlsfightback.com or call us for more information. While we do occasional public viewings, we are happy to arrange a special viewing to any group or organization at your business or home, free of charge.
Classes with ther Montenegro School of TaeKwon Do are offered for beginners and advanced classes, contact CAASA or the Montenegro School of TaeKwon Do for more information on when the classes are held.

CAASA has a free, safe, and confidential monthly support group for secondary survivors to come and talk, listen, and find support among their peers. After receiving numerous questions and requests for information and assistance for secondary survivors, it became apparent to us at CAASA that there is a need for a place where secondary survivors could find support to know they are not alone. Contact for more information or to attend the next meeting.

We get a lot of questions and comments about the logo we chose to represent CAASA. The logo is an Irish/Welsh/Celtic symbol called a Triquetra. It has been a symbol used all over the world. It has been used in different religions all over, such as Christianity, to represent the Holy Trinity, among other religions all over the world. The triquetra has been used in artwork, in medicine, and even for entertainment reasons in fictional television shows and movies.

Triquetra is a word derived from the Latin tri- ("three") and quetrus ("cornered"). Its original meaning was simply "triangle" and it has been used to refer to various three-cornered shapes. Sometimes there is a circle in the middle, which represents unity or community. Many community organizations and agencies all over the world have chosen it for their symbol because it can accurately convey their organizations purpose.

As our organization, CAASA, has three main areas: education, prevention, and advocacy- all to unify our community against sexual violence. Therefore, we chose the triquetra symbol to represent what we stand for: advocacy, prevention, education- unified against sexual violence.

While we respect each individual's religious choices and views, CAASA itself is not affiliated with any religion. At times, we may refer our clients who are unfamiliar with our community to a local church or religious organization, if they request that information and want it to help them recover and heal from the trauma they have received.

CAASA works with many agencies and organizations in Winnemucca and around the state. We refer clients to any organization which can also offer them assistance. Winnemucca is a wonderful and unique community where so many of us work together to help others, we would like to see that continued, so we feel the circle in our triquetra is especially fitting for "community".

For more information on CAASA, upcoming events, or to request help please contact us at the following numbers: 775-623-2328, 775-623-2312, fax- 623- 3251. We can also be reached online: E-Mail Address humboldtcaasa@sbcglobal.net, www.myspace.com/humboldtcaasa, www.facebook.com/humboldtcaasa or our mailing address is P.O. Box 1338, Winnemucca, NV 89446.

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