Prevention is Working in Louisiana: Residents are experiencing lower rates of sexual violence, so the work must continue and grow!
Sexual violence, including forced sex, sexual harassment, and sexual coercion, has declined between 2023 and 2025 in Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Violence Experiences Survey (LaVEX). LaVEX is conducted by the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University and is the only comprehensive, population-level survey on violence in Louisiana and one of the few such studies in the United States. LaFASA is a proud partner in this survey.
LaVEX is an important resource for many reasons, including the range of behaviors it captures (including the spectrum of sexual violence, physical violence, harmful policing) and its analysis of the connections between violence, health disparities, and socioeconomic conditions. Statistics that use formal reports (such as law enforcement, Title IX and Clery Reports, and EEOC complaints) or rely on help-seeking by survivors (such as the number of survivors who sought services at sexual assault centers) are often higher in communities where there is robust outreach, a strong and trauma-informed response network, and survivors feel that making a report will make a difference in their lives and communities. In Louisiana, only 3% of women and 8% of men who experienced sexual violence in the past year filed an official report or complaint.
Rates have declined for several forms of sexual violence, which means the preventative work being done is making an impact, therefore we must continue and expand these efforts. Federal funding is the only dedicated prevention funding for sexual assault centers to do prevention work; LaFASA works closely with the Louisiana Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the six centers that receive this funding to implement robust, locally-responsive, and comprehensive programming. The state of Louisiana does not allocate any state funds for sexual violence prevention.
Sexual violence is more than a criminal justice issue. Though the only person to blame for sexual abuse, assault, or harassment is the person who committed it, there are social factors that can reduce the risk of experiencing or perpetrating sexual violence. LaVEX 2025 found that communities that experience discrimination or lack of access were more likely to report sexual violence in the past year, especially people with disabilities and lesbian, gay, and bisexual Louisianans. Louisiana residents who had difficulty affording basic needs in the past year were twice as likely to experience sexual violence in the past year. Those who were evicted in the past year were four times more likely to experience past-year sexual violence, and those who experienced homelessness in the past year were three times as likely. Louisiana’s prevention program is committed to addressing sexual violence as a community issue that is connected with other factors in people’s lives. In addition to building knowledge and skills related to sexual violence, healthy relationships, consent, communication, and boundaries, these programs work on the root causes of violence. For example, centers are working with community leaders to distribute hygiene products, improve the condition of parks and other community centers, create safer and more secure workplaces, and build financial skills.
Did you know that during the Fall semester, the rate of someone being sexually assaulted on campus skyrockets? This period is known as the Red Zone, and it is important to be aware of what this means if you are a college student. From the start of the fall semester until around Thanksgiving break, college students—particularly first-year women—are at a much higher risk of sexual assault. Most of these incidents occur during Halloween weekend. Freshmen are particularly vulnerable because they have been thrust into a new environment and may not know how to navigate out of bad situations. The Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LaFASA) helps those who have experienced trauma, and it is their mission to bring healing and stop sexual assault altogether.
Sexual assault on campus is not made up of random isolated incidents. Too many students believe that if it doesn’t affect them, then it is not a problem. This is far from the case. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 1 in 3 women has experienced some form of sexual assault. This is a drastic issue that cannot be ignored. College students must know that this issue impacts them, even if indirectly. No college is immune to campus-related sexual assault.
Sexual assault is a crime and everyone, man or woman, should be aware of the serious effects that it has on survivors. Survivors should know that there are resources available to help them navigate their journey in the aftermath. LaFASA’s website provides access to numbers that you can text and call to speak to someone about your experiences. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to someone over the phone, find someone you trust to confide in. It does not matter how you get help…you can take back control of your life when you choose to seek help.
In conclusion, sexual assault should not be discounted or taken lightly. It is a problem that affects a countless number of people every year, especially on college campuses. LaFASA works tirelessly to make sure that these numbers do not rise and victims get the help you can need. To contact LaFASA, visit the website https://www.lafasa.org or call 225-372-8995.
As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month this May, we shed light on how survivors’ and advocates’ mental health is impacted. Sexual assault is a trauma that taxes a survivor’s mental and emotional capacity. The psychological impact roots into a person’s psyche, often manifesting in various mental health conditions that can persist long after the initial incident.
Survivors frequently experience a range of mental health challenges, including:
Depression*: Survivors are 2-3 times more likely to experience major depressive disorders compared to individuals who have not experienced sexual assault.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)*: Approximately 50% of sexual assault survivors develop PTSD at some point in their lives, compared to about 7.8% of the general population.
Suicide Risk*: Sexual violence survivors are significantly more likely to contemplate or attempt suicide, with nearly 33% of survivors reporting a suicide attempt in their lifetime.
Depression and Anxiety: The trauma can lead to deep-seated feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and persistent sadness. Anxiety disorders may develop, making it challenging to form relationships, maintain employment, or engage in previously enjoyed activities.
Dissociation and Emotional Numbness: We often immediately associate mental health with depression. But, many times mental health issues involve no emotion at all. In fact, as a coping mechanism, some survivors experience disconnection from their emotions or even from their own bodies, which can lead to physically harming oneself.
These issues are further compounded by external stressors, particularly financial challenges. Larger cities and rural areas in Louisiana are experiencing skyrocketing costs of living and seeing the buying power of their dollar exponentially diminish adding another layer of strain. Additional economic challenges directly related to recovery are also present as health care and mental health treatment outside of what our centers can provide is expensive and time-consuming, and not always covered by insurance. Trauma may impact job performance or one’s ability to maintain consistent employment. These pressures can exacerbate day to day challenges, creating a cycle of stress that impedes healing.
The goal to overcome and live without feeling crushed is possible. Coalition centers, while many times face the daunting reality of being understaffed, are there and are doing their best to ease the stress caused by trauma compounded by daily living.
Survivors can find additional resources that can provide ease of mind at the LaFASA website such as the most common questions asked, downloadable healing activity books and journals, brochures, a link to parish crisis centers and the statewide Helpline. The statewide text and chat helpline is worked by trained advocates who can provide resources, walk anyone through centering exercises or just “be there” for someone who needs to unload.
The need to unload is not specific to survivors. Vicarious trauma is real and can be a heavy burden on the shoulders of those who offer their care. We often think of these people as super-human or “rocks.” While very strong, therapists, counselors, advocates and family members oftentimes need to unload. LaFASA’s Crisis Support Specialists want to help and encourage those who need their vessel filled, to contact them. In addition, Via Link can serve the same purpose for both advocate and survivor. These are quick, individual sessions that are confidential, anonymous, and free and may be the spark someone needs to have a better day.
However, if you or someone you know is feeling hopeless, and are thinking about suicide, know you are loved and important, simply for being you. There is help available by calling or texting 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time. We support and encourage anyone’s decision to make that brave move and seek outside care. Although this message appears at the end of the article, it is by no means an afterthought. Your life matters, and we want you to truly know that!
Healing is not linear, and every survivor’s journey is unique. This May and beyond, we recognize mental health and extend compassion, understanding, and persistent advocacy as powerful tools in supporting positivity and recovery.
Remember, no survivor walks alone. There is hope, there is support, and there is healing.
The Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LaFASA) is Louisiana’s umbrella coalition made of 11 individual crisis centers and collectively, we provide services to victims of sexual assault in all 64 parishes in various capacities. We are always here for you, your family, your friends, your neighbors, your community. Federal grant funding is vital to sustaining your state coalition and 11 centers, as private donations and other financial resources fall much too short to provide adequate monetary support necessary to meet the needs of survivors in our state, and there is no state funding for sexual assault survivor services or prevention. This letter aims to highlight the essential role of your community coalition centers, the voids that they fill, and to foster your support for their continued operation.
Currently, LaFASA and the centers are among thousands of federally supported organizations that are in jeopardy of being defunded in an effort to ensure alignment with the current administration’s agenda. We understand the importance of fiscal responsibility. LaFASA and the 11 centers are held accountable by an auditor for every dollar spent. Funds are spent on counseling services, legal services, recovery services, hotline services, response services, service promotion, prevention and operating expenses.
Results are crucial. No one wants government-funded initiatives that fail to make an impact. What each center and LaFASA see every single day are success stories. It’s not one, it’s many.
Advocate l The Wellspring Counseling & Family Development Center Requests for our medical advocacy accompaniment for forensic medical exams (FMEs, [sometimes called rape kits]) have seen a significant rise, increasing by 49% since 2022. In 2022, we provided accompaniment for 31 FMEs, while in 2024, this number grew to 61. This growth reflects the increasing trust and recognition we’ve built within the community, demonstrating not only a greater demand for our services but also our continued commitment to supporting survivors through a crucial part of their healing journey.
Advocate l The Wellspring Counseling & Family Development Center A survivor in Ouachita parish was facing financial hardships and had to drop out of school due to the impacts of her sexual assault trauma, all while caring for a young child. Thanks to our free counseling services, she no longer had to choose between her mental health and paying for basic needs like rent and utilities. With her mental health now supported, she’s able to focus on her well-being, return to work, and begin rebuilding her life while providing for her child.
Detective | Criminal Investigations Division, Lafayette Police Department Hearts of Hope, its Advocates, and its staff continue to be crucial partners with the Lafayette Police in our efforts to address the problem of sexual violence. As a violent crimes investigator, I have seen firsthand how the victim services Hearts of Hope provides aid in establishing trust and rapport between Detectives and survivors of sexual assault. Without this partnership, our agency would struggle to bridge the gap between law enforcement officers and survivors.
Advocate l New Orleans Family Justice Center One of the most powerful aspects of our work is the immediate crisis intervention we provide. Our Advocates are available 24/7, often meeting survivors at hospitals in the early hours of the morning when no one else is there to support them. We’ve had survivors come to us feeling completely alone, but through our case management, legal assistance, counseling, and housing support, they find safety, stability, and hope. A particularly impactful moment was working with a survivor who had been trapped in an abusive situation for years. With our help, she was able to secure emergency shelter, obtain legal protection, and eventually gain independence. Today, she is thriving, pursuing higher education, and giving back to the community by advocating for others in similar situations. Beyond individual stories, we see systemic change happening as well. Through our community outreach and partnerships, law enforcement agencies and service providers are becoming more trauma-informed, and survivors are gaining access to more comprehensive support.
Helpline l LaFASA Our statewide text and chat Helpline is one of the few statewide text and chat crisis lines in the country. We have seen it grow from its launch from a few visitors a month to multiple visitors each week, in fact since its launch in October 2021, we have seen an over 500 percent increase in the number of visitors each month. It fills a need as many people feel more comfortable texting or chatting instead of talking. One of our visitors expressed her gratitude by commenting, “not much hope on a day to day basis, but after chatting, I actually feel hopeful,” and another commented, “feeling determined.”
Advocate l LaFASA I remember we had a young lady come to our office without notice or an appointment. Our doors are always opened for survivors, regardless of how they come to us. She was on the verge of being evicted because she finally stood up to a landlord taking advantage of her vulnerable situation. In her hand were written letters and emails from her landlord stating that if she didn’t sleep with him, he would evict her. She couldn’t afford an attorney, but found LaFASA and saw that we offered pro bono legal advocacy. It meant the world to her that she had an ally to help her in her fight.
Without advocacy organizations, our communities would suffer as a whole given that 1,875,340 Louisianans (41%) have experienced sexual harm (including non-contact harassment) in their lifetime. One in 20 men and 3 in 20 women have experienced forced sex specifically. Seven percent of children (0-12) and 18% of adolescents (13-17) have experienced sexual violence. (2023 LaVEX study https://newcomb.tulane.edu/LaVEX)* and most don’t disclose their experience.
The ability for survivors and family members to function well at work, or as a mother or father, as a daughter or son, as a friend, is often compromised after sexual trauma. They often face emotional, physical, and psychological challenges that may never disappear without the assistance of a professional. The role of sexual assault centers is critical in providing the necessary support and advocacy as survivors and their loved ones together, navigate healing and justice. While women are disproportionately assaulted, no one is immune. The coalition helps anyone, regardless of when the assault occurred, their economic level, their parish, their race or ethnicity, or sexual orientation. We do not discriminate because when someone is at the lowest point in their life, they need help. We hope that you will find it in your heart to understand the work that LaFASA and the 11 centers do and to give us your support. There are currently thousands of programs that are under the same scrutiny. Programs that assist with domestic violence, homelessness, runaway youths, addiction recovery, self sufficiency, dietary education, feeding the hungry, faith works, mental health, after school, elderly abuse and the list goes on and on. All play a role to prevent people from living in compromised situations and to ultimately nurture communities.
We will end our petition with one of thousands of stories from someone who might be a neighbor, a friend, a co-worker or a family member.
Hearts of Hope SARC Survivor Story In January of 2016, I was sexually assaulted in Lafayette. I remember getting to the hospital. I could barely speak and had to give the front desk a written note that said I was raped. I wish I remembered the advocate’s name, but as I lay in a hospital bed and gave an officer my statement, my hand was held by a Hearts of Hope hospital advocate. I was so terrified, but she made sure that I felt safe, had water/food, and also questioned things that police and doctors asked. She even texted me some days after just to check in on me. Those moments in the hospital, she really did fully and completely advocate for me, and [I] feel like this was my experience with Hearts of Hope from start to finish. The [Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner from Hearts of Hope] that did my kit was also amazing and kind. Jonathan Jarrett [the attorney that works with Hearts of Hope] handled my TRO [temporary restraining order], and that made me feel safe knowing that the defendant would stay away from me. Another advocate gave me a lot of information about the statistics of college women getting sexually assaulted, and while the numbers are scary, I felt that I was not alone. Hearts of Hope immediately offered me therapy with someone whose name I have also forgotten. Still, I will always remember that she first taught me how to calm myself down using grounding techniques, which really helped me tremendously until I was able to fully establish myself in long-term therapy. They gave me access to court advocates, and Jencie was nothing short of amazing in helping me navigate through the justice system process. I even had to see a counselor as an emergency to kind of process the grand jury indictment hearing. Hearts of Hope was always available to me if I needed to talk or needed anything at all throughout the six years it took for the case to make its way to the end. From the Grand Jury hearing until the Plea deal/sentencing hearing, Hearts of Hope was there for me. These services are very much needed in the community of Lafayette and the surrounding areas because I don’t think I would have survived this whole ordeal without them. Today I don’t feel like a victim anymore; I feel like a survivor. I am thriving in Baton Rouge. I’m able to be the best mother to my children, have been in consistent therapy for two years doing EMDR work, and have almost completed an associate’s degree in Paralegal studies. I hope to one day become a victim’s advocate myself and help people through the justice system process.
As college students, the topic of establishing safe environments is not just relevant, but essential in ending sexual violence. The college setting is a microcosm of the larger community and effectively serves as a sample of character and behavior. While unacceptable actions of individuals cannot be side-stepped, it’s important to understand within the scope of necessary changes to end sexual violence, effective prevention efforts must also incorporate a community-level strategy that addresses on and off-campus social spaces.
According to the CDC, evidence-based community-level strategies to create safe spaces include three approaches.
One: Improving safety and monitoring in schools These approaches monitor and modify physical and social characteristics of the school environment by addressing areas where students feel less safe, to identify safe spaces and staff support for students. This includes alternative and outside-the-box approaches such as tutoring to empower fellow students and being a “big buddy” to those who are vulnerable. Volunteering with empathetic attitudes, advocating for a reliable and on-time student transit system, and being actively involved in changing social norms fit into the realm of improving safety on and around campuses, also.
Two: Establishing and consistently applying workplace policies Working at businesses on campuses or those surrounding campuses is a huge part of student life. When employees and managers know what is mutually expected of them, and respect standards of behavior, workplace bullying and sexual harassment can be prevented. Even if you aren’t employed by these businesses, supporting businesses that embrace these policies contribute to the overall well-being of the community.
Three: Addressing community-level risks through environmental approaches These strategies focus on various elements of neighborhoods and community settings, including the modification, implementation, or enforcement of laws, regulations, or organizational policies. This can involve urging restaurants and bars to adopt stringent alcohol policies, encouraging bars to train all staff, or altering the physical environment, such as making sure parking lots are well-lit. Community-level environmental approaches hold significant potential for influencing sexual violence outcomes on a population scale, often with minimal implementation costs.
Students possess greater power to combat sexual violence than they often realize. Broader changes can contribute to an overall reduction in crime and a decrease in power-based violence. Communities that practice respect tend to experience a reduction in crime rates, including incidents of sexual assault. Though the red zone time frame will be ending in November, it is not a time to stop being vigilant when it comes to sexual assault. We invite students to assess what they can do to promote community level well-being and support any efforts taken.
LaFASA News 