This introduction piece is part of a larger project, After The Assault, which aims to change the conversation around sexual violence to better support survivors seeking healing and justice. USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism’s Impact Fellow, Sammy Caiola, helps us understand survivor experie
Mental Health
First-person stories from migrant families: A teen spends her schooldays in the fields. A middle-schooler tries to do better. A father carries guilt.
Many survivors who choose to report to law enforcement say their interactions with officers left them feeling blamed, dejected and angry.
Many survivors who decide to report their rapes don’t necessarily get justice. They must navigate the complicated maze that is the investigation process for sexual assaults.
Survivors say the meticulous medical exam that some sexual assault survivors undergo can be taxing and retraumatizing. But the DNA samples collected become evidence that can make or break an investigation.
The group has a disproportionate number of nurses, health care workers and families living in multigenerational homes.
There's a pervasive culture of disbelief in the media, pop culture, politics and law enforcement. Advocates say better training and resources for police could help.
At least 64 agricultural workers have died of coronavirus in Santa Barbara County; 30 separate outbreaks reported among agricultural businesses.
The way a survivor is questioned about the details surrounding a sexual assault can greatly influence their ability to access memories of that traumatic incident.
Community groups in Santa Barbara County have prioritized outreach in multiple languages and addressed risks of shared working, transportation and living environments for workers.