In 1999 ValorUS (formerly the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault, hereinafter “VALOR”) released the first Support for Survivors guide. Two decades have passed, and within that time our movement to end sexual violence has transformed. Perspectives of sexual violence have changed and the voice of our movement to end sexual violence has grown; we’ve recognized the need to center equity and reach communities at the margins in order to support all survivors, especially the most vulnerable.

The latest updates to VALOR’s Support for Survivors: Training Sexual Assault Counselor/Advocates in the 21st Century reflect the advancements the movement has made and our fearless approach to honor the valor and strength of survivors.

Our intention from the beginning has not just been to provide pathways for survivors, but also to strengthen the capacity of our communities to prevent and intervene in sexual assault by addressing the root causes that create the conditions for violence and oppression.

VALOR envisions a world free from violence where the dignity of every person is valued and respected . This new version of Support for Survivors informs us how we move forward to address the inequities in our communities, in order to prevent and end sexual violence.

Support for Survivors is an indispensable resource for advocates and advocate trainers.

Whether you are a seasoned advocate wanting to remain informed of new developments and approaches in training or perhaps a volunteer starting on their own advocacy journey- this manual is for you.

The manual is over 190 pages and covers a range of topics including but not limited to:

• History of the Sexual Violence Movement
• Child Sexual Abuse
• Teen Sexual Abuse
• Crisis Intervention
• Referral Resources and Methods
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration and Systems
• Medical
• Working with Law Enforcement
• Legal and Court
• Moving Toward the Future

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