Mission: To
organize, implement and monitor and effective interagency and community
response with provision of training to responders related to sexual
violence; respectfully serving all victims and seeking justice.
The Itasca County Sexual Assault Interagency Council (ICSAIC) is
comprimised of various agencies who respond to incidents of sexual
assault. These agencies include: Itasca County's law enforcement
agencies, medical facilities, probation, victim services, prosecution,
as well as other related organizations representing the diversity and
unique nature of Itasca County. The collaborative effort began in 2001,
when Itasca Alliance Against Sexual Assault was provided funding to
embark on this innovative project new to the sexual assault movement in
rural northern Minnesota. With the assistance of the Minnesota
Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA)--Sexual Violence Justice
Institute (SVJI) the council followed an eight step process in order to
develop guidelines to assist those who respond to sexual assault cases
in Itasca County
Project results have been very clear. Those who respond to incidents
of sexual ssault are working together in a way that is making a
difference. Victims are reporting more positive experiences with each
agency they come into contact with than before the protocol project
began. Victims are getting more involved in the criminal justice
process.
Recent projects include initiating the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
(SANE) Program and collaborating on SANE program protocol. We are also
working on a project called, "Let's Chat: Getting Real About Sexual
Violence" that will be presented at Grand Rapids Middle School health
classes in the fall. This presentation will focus on what criminal
sexual conduct is, the repercussions of criminal sexual conduct, and
where victims can seek out help. It will encorporate pieces from law
enforcement, prosecution, probation, and IAASA.
For more information regarding the Itasca County Sexual Assault
Interagency Council contact our site coordinator at 218-326-5008.
Council Partners:
The Itasca County Sexual Assault Interagency Council and protocol
project are hosted by IAASA. Technical assistance provided by the
Sexual Violence Justice Institute, a program of the Minnesota Coalition
Against Sexual Assault. Project funding provided by Violence Against
Women Act (VAWA) and the Office of Justice Programs, a division of
Department of Public Safety.