Teresa M. Stafford Named Chief Advocacy Officer

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center has named Teresa M. Stafford as Chief Advocacy Officer.

As Chief Advocacy Officer and member of the Center’s executive team, Ms. Stafford will provide strategic oversight of the Center’s victim services and advocate for system-level changes needed to ensure all survivors, especially those from marginalized communities, are supported and have access to healing services.

“Teresa is a fierce advocate for survivors of rape and sexual abuse,” said Sondra Miller, President & CEO, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.  “We are proud that she will bring her extensive training and advocacy experience to her new role at the Center.”

Ms. Stafford provides training locally and nationally to law enforcement agencies regarding the dynamics of sexual violence and working with survivors of sexual assault, as well as consultation to communities developing Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs).

In addition to her current role, Ms. Stafford is the Cuyahoga County and Lake County SART Coordinator, serves as a member of the Ohio Attorney General’s SART Training Team, and the Cuyahoga County Untested Sexual Assault Kit Taskforce, and is a former Board President of the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence.

Among the many recognitions Ms. Stafford has received for her work are the Gloria Pointer Award for Supporting Families of Victims, the Ohio Attorney General’s Robert Denton Achievement Award, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s Visionary Voice Award, and Cleveland Rape Crisis Center’s Peter DeMarco Exemplary Service Award.

Ms. Stafford has served at Cleveland Rape Crisis Center in several roles since 2006, most recently as Senior Director of Victim Services and Outreach.  She has also served the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office as Witness-Victim Coordinator.

Ms. Stafford is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and holds a degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Tiffin University.

CLEVELAND — Survivor after survivor claim they were sexually assaulted by R&B Singer R Kelly, many of them as teenagers, in the Lifetime documentary ‘Surviving R Kelly’.

“Maybe they stayed in silence because they didn’t feel like they had a way out,” said Teresa Stafford of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.

Stafford watched the three-part series and says the women’s stories are all too familiar.

“We actually see a lot of young ladies that have been, you know, groomed, into believing that somebody loves and cares for them and then the person is actually taking advantage of them and victimizing them and causing them harm to them,” said Stafford.

Stafford says this is especially true within the black community.

To read more visit News 5 Cleveland.

This article was originally published by News 5 Cleveland.

Prevention is Possible

So far this year, over 9,000 K-12 students have received vital rape prevention programming from Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.  Through classroom education and after-school programs like Girls in Motion, Youth 360, and Las Chicas Pueden, youth learn healthy relationship skills, resiliency, and how to be a catalyst for change.

“There is support from the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center Wednesday night after a state senator proposed a bill that would eliminate Ohio’s Statute of Limitations on rape and sexual assault cases.

“‘For the decade I’ve been working here we have been trying to remove the state of limitations,’ said Sondra Miller, President & CEO of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.

“Right now, the time frame is 25 years.

“‘If someone reports or for any reason the charges can’t be brought forth within 25 years, the case is thrown out no matter what evidence is presented,’ added Miller.

“The bill was introduced at the Ohio Statehouse by Michael Disabato, the whistle-blower of the OSU Doctor Richard Strauss case.”

Continue Reading: Proposed legislation eliminates statute of limitations on rape, sexual assault cases

This article was originally published by Fox 8.

Jackie is a survivor of sexual abuse and rape as a child. She found Cleveland Rape Crisis Center and now shares her story to encourage others to find help and recover.

Whether you were hurt yesterday or decades ago, we are here to support you. Cleveland Rape Crisis Center provides services to all survivors of rape and sexual abuse, including a crisis and support hotline, hospital support, victim assistance, counseling and more.

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center offers educational programs to hundreds of schools, organizations and businesses throughout Northeast Ohio. Each year, nearly 10,000 people, including school-aged children, teachers, parents and professionals participate in the Center’s prevention and training programs.

White Ribbon Day is Friday, November 16, 2018

The 8th Annual White Ribbon Day in Greater Cleveland is sponsored by Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Cuyahoga County,  Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center, Healthy Fathering Collaborative, Passages, and YWCA Greater Cleveland.

What is the White Ribbon Campaign?

“The White Ribbon Campaign (WRC) is the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women… Campaigns are led by both men and women, even though the focus is on educating men and boys. Our local campaign will also focus on violence against children and all intimate partners. The Campaign started in Canada in 1991 when a handful of men in Canada decided they had a responsibility to urge men to speak out about violence against women.” Read more on the Healthy Fathering Collaborative website.

The White Ribbon Campaign offers men, boys, and people of any gender identity an opportunity to speak out against violence and publicly promote healthy relationships.

How Can I Participate?

We can all play a role in preventing violence in our community. Here are four ways you can participate in White Ribbon Day on November 16, 2018:

1. Attend the public rally. We invite men and women of all ages to observe White Ribbon Day and promote healthy non-violent relationships. A public rally will be held at 12:00 noon on the steps of the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Courthouse. Participants will wear white ribbons or white ties and recite the following pledge:

   “I pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women, children, intimate partners and men. From this day forward, I promise to talk to family, friends and co-workers about stopping violence in our community. I promise to encourage them to do the same and I promise to lead them by example. This white ribbon I am wearing will remind me of this pledge.”

2. Wear a white ribbon or tie. Share the meaning of your ribbon or tie with friends, family, and colleagues. Post on social media to show your commitment to healthy relationships and violence prevention.
3. Talk to youth in your life about the meaning of consent. Read tips for the conversation here.
4. Recruit your friends and family to participate. Help us spread the message! If you are a social media user, share our posts on Facebook and Twitter.