By Tom Ackerman
A chat service for sexual assault survivors will collaborate with the University of Iowa – over text.
The service, known as the Iowa Affirmation and Resources Chat, is being launched as the first statewide effort to open a dialogue over instant message for sexual assault prevention.
“I think the more resources we can have to provide help to people, the better,” said Elizabeth Willmore, an administrative services coordinator in the UI office of sexual misconduct and response.
The program is anonymous and open to all users, though it is run by a group focusing on issues pertaining to those of the Asian community specifically, known as the Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa.
“We know that sexual assault and sexual harassment, dating violence, stalking – we know that there are problems,” Alexander Nassif, a chat services coordinator said. “The next problem after that is making sure survivors get help.”
Having started in January, the group is working with the UI to promote the service on campus and get the conversation going, coordinators said. The group applied to take on the task, having had experience in helping marginalized groups in the state.
The grant was offered through the Department of Justice’s arm, the office of violence against women, Nassif said. The text based approach is a reflection of how people feel comfortable in communicating, as opposed to hotlines which were more typical in the past.
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“The opportunity to help people through a text based service rather than picking up the phone I think eliminates another one of the barriers,” she said of the service, which is currently available for English and Spanish speakers.
Using a chat based service as opposed to a hotline, she says, also allows more audiences to be reached.
“There are a plenty of people out there who might feel more comfortable asking questions by typing, rather than speaking on the phone,” Willmore said.
Based in Des Moines, the organization is a nonprofit focused on preventing and counseling issues involving sexual violence.
“We’re a very new organization, so we’re still sort of figuring out exactly what our outreach curriculum is going to be,” Nassif said. However, she said there will be a focus on young people and engaging various schools across the state, including middle and high schools to begin a dialogue and a younger age.
For the university, MUAWI has proved to be a partner through the years and the two will collaborate to push the program forward. While the strategy to do so is unclear at the present time, coordinators have suggested implementation of posters, flyers, and an attendance at fairs and events on the UI campus.
“There are a lot of international students at the university, so it’s important we have multilingual opportunities,” said Fatima Jayoma, a UI student and Eastern Iowa multilingual advocate and outreach coordinator.
Jayoma said it is important that students know how they have the opportunity to discuss their experiences.
“We live in a society that shuns speaking up on sexual assault – we are part of a community that encourages speaking up,” she said.
In addition, MUAWI has joined the office of sexual misconduct and response coordinator by having an advocate available during the week, Willmore said. Advocates for various groups are a part of a new “office hours” initiative to strengthen the community of violence prevention.
Nassif said there are seven sub groups in the state for various cultures looking to open a conversation with survivors and the community. MUAWI has reached out to the groups to make sure all necessary details are implemented in the service.
“We wanted to make sure we were on the same page in terms of what populations they serve typically need,” Nassif said.
The anonymous program is available from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. everyday and is working to make the initiative known through social media and a physical presence on campus.
“As we have an increase in the number of international students who are coming here, I’m really grateful that we have resources like Monsoon,” Jayoma said.