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Addressing Poverty Is Human Trafficking Prevention

We often think about the connection between poverty and sex trafficking as only affecting victims from outside the United States. We may be familiar with the common story of an impoverished person being offered a legitimate job in another country, only to find themselves forced into sex work when they arrive at their destination. But poverty and lack of opportunity play key roles in trafficking here in the U.S. as well. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “poverty (as noted previously for victims of trafficking in…

The Importance of Fully Funding New Policies

As we approach a new year, a new federal administration, and a new state legislative session, the SOH is preparing to once again advocate for policies that support and protect survivors. Part of that work is ensuring that new laws are adequately funded. New laws can establish important standards, protections, and provisions for the public. But when those laws don’t include funding to support implementation, the intended impact of the law cannot be fulfilled. As a result, a hard-won legislative victory can be reduced to a mere symbol instead of…

Setting Boundaries During a Complicated Holiday Season

Setting Boundaries During a Complicated Holiday Season

Usually around this time of year, we return to the discussion about setting boundaries. Under normal circumstances, the end of the year is a time for holiday celebrations that bring many of us together with friends and family. It’s a time that can be fraught for everyone, not just survivors, and we know that a regular review of how to set and communicate boundaries with our loved ones is helpful in navigating situations of family obligation. But 2020 isn’t normal for any of us. Instead of the usual family tensions…

Vote to Support Survivors

2020 is an extremely high-stakes election, and not only because it’s a presidential election year. Nevadans are voting on multiple state and local seats, including a large number of judges. Every race on the ballot this year represents an opportunity to stand up for survivors. Survivors Are Affected By Government At Every Level It can be easy to see the ways in which the federal government impacts survivors of sexual violence. Programs like PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) and VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) happen at the federal level. But…

Expanding Access for the Spanish-Speaking Community

Over the years, Signs of Hope has made it a priority to expand our counseling services. In less than a decade the Signs of Hope Counseling Center has grown from 2 counselors to 10. Appointments for individual counseling are available 6 days a week and we have 6 active support groups, with more in the works. One of the most important parts of this expansion has been ensuring that access to services is being increased for everyone. The varied experience and expertise of our counseling staff means that support is…

Nevadans Resist Harmful Changes to Title IX

On August 7th, the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents met to discuss, among other things, significant changes to Title IX policy recommendations from the Department of Education. It was during this meeting that Regent Lisa Levine spoke out to protect victims rights, and was summarily silenced by Dean Gould, Chief of Staff and Special Counsel to the Board of Regents. But this fight to defend the rights of victims didn’t start at this meeting; instead it started the day before, on the morning of August 6th, when…

About the PREA Coordinator

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) was passed in 2003 to “provide for the analysis of the incidence and effects of prison rape in Federal, State, and local institutions and to provide information, resources, recommendations and funding to protect individuals from prison rape.” (Prison Rape Elimination Act, 2003) In short, PREA is intended to conduct research to better understand the issue of prison sexual abuse and then take steps to protect people from abuse. Those steps included the creation of the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission, tasked with setting national…

Consent and Boundaries Around Covid

Consent and Boundaries Around Covid

Here at the Signs of Hope, we talk a lot about consent and boundaries. We talk about the importance of practicing these things outside of the context of sex as part of the process of undoing rape culture and cultivating healthy and respectful relationships. The skills for setting boundaries and asking for consent can, and should, be applied to personal health and safety around covid. Having support for holding those boundaries is especially important because of the large-scale denial and gaslighting we are seeing around the danger of covid. Multiple…

Sexual Violence and Oppression

Sexual Violence and Oppression

Framing Our Work Using the Sexual Violence Continuum Signs of Hope is committed to challenging all forms of oppression in our community – including racism. We join all who are grieving George Floyd and countless others, whose lives matter and were cut tragically short. We raise our voices with all those advocating for justice and change in our country. We know that our systems often fail to serve victims of sexual violence in the same ways they often fail to serve Black communities – focusing on victim blaming instead of…

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