“We’re here, and we care.” UMKC, KC organizations offer resources for sexual assault survivors

  Organizations on and off the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus are working to raise awareness around sexual assault and connect survivors with support services.

  Students have access to resources like UMKC’s RISE (Resources, Intervention, Support and Education) and Kansas City’s MOCSA (Metropolitan Organization Countering Sexual Assault). 

 RISE on campus

  RISE Campus Coordinator Alyson Frydman said the office wants students to know help is available for concerns of any size.

  “I really want to make sure that students know that we’re here, that we will never turn down a private conversation. No issue is too small. There’s no question that’s too silly, whatever the case is. We are happy to have that conversation,” Frydman said.

  Located in Haag 108, RISE offers confidential reporting, safety planning and assistance with Title IX.

  “We try to really see what the individual needs that we’re working with are and then meet them there and help accomplish whatever they’re looking for,” Frydman said.

MOCSA services

  MOCSA offers free services including counseling, education, prevention and legal aid for sexual abuse survivors of all genders.

  “Sexual violence does not only happen to women. While women experience it at higher rates, people of all genders are impacted, and we want to ensure that is clearly understood,” said Debbie Frederiksen, MOCSA’s Director of Communications.

  MOCSA operates a 24/7 crisis line and provides advocacy services in Jackson, Clay, Cass, Platte, Wyandotte and Johnson counties.

  Survivors do not need to report abuse to police to receive services, unless the abuse involves a minor.

  “People are afraid that if they do not report, they will not be able to receive services. Reporting is not a must for us to provide services. Our goal is to give power back to survivors,” said bilingual MOCSA advocate Michelle Rodriguez.

  MOCSA Crisis Line specialist Olivia Webb said the organization prioritizes believing survivors from the start.

  “At MOCSA, we always start by believing. A lot of survivors face victim-blaming or people not believing them. That’s never a concern we want a survivor to have when they come talk to us,” Webb said.

  Rodriguez said there is no time limit on accessing MOCSA’s services.

  “I want to let people know that healing is not a race. It doesn’t have an expiration date. We are here 24/7. There is not a limit of time where people can access our services, even if it happened 10 years ago,” Rodriguez said.

Upcoming events

  RISE and MOCSA have joint events planned at UMKC in April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Take Back the Night is scheduled for April 8. A MOCSA Volunteer open house is set for April 15 in the Women’s Center in Haag 105.

Resources

MOCSA Hotline: 816-531-0233 

Alyson Frydman (RISE) 

[email protected]  

816-235-5560

Michelle Kroner (RISE)

[email protected] 

(816) 235-1652 

[email protected]