You can support survivors in your community
People of all ages, religions, genders, and races experience rape, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. Many survivors who access Cleveland Rape Crisis Center’s services are people of faith who turn to their religious communities for guidance and support.
Leaders and members of churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples can play a significant role in raising awareness, promoting safety, and providing meaningful support. While it can be difficult to talk about these issues, survivors deserve to be heard and supported in their healing journeys. Breaking the silence helps prevent sexual violence and creates space for survivors to speak up and find help.
Resources for faith leaders
We hope these resources will help empower faith leaders and places of worship to feel confident in responding to disclosures of sexual violence, preventing abuse from occurring in the first place, and sharing services available to survivors.
Printable materials:
- 5 Signs of Child Sexual Abuse (CRCC)
- Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships (CRCC)
- Helping Kids Stay Safe Online (CRCC)
- Teaching Kids Consent (CRCC)
- Coloring Pages (CRCC)
- When Sexual Violence Meets Faith (Legacy 31)
CRCC’s digital resources:
- Supporting a Survivor
- Supporting a Teen Survivor of Rape or Sexual Abuse
- Bystander Intervention
- Talking to a Child About Sexual Abuse
- Talking to a Teen about Sexual Abuse
- Teaching Consent at Every Age
Faith-based resources and organizations:
- For Christian communities: Legacy 31, Awake
- For Muslim communities: Heart, Reviving Sisterhood
- For Jewish communities: Shalom Taskforce, JCADA
- Safe Havens/Interfaith Partners
Want to continue the conversation with your staff or community? Request a training or education program with Cleveland Rape Crisis Center’s Education & Outreach team today.
To contact CRCC's 24/7 Crisis & Support Hotline, call or text (216) 619-6192 or (440) 423-2020 or chat online.