New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault Awarded Project from the N.J. Pandemic Relief Fund
Coalition will use funding to develop television statewide, bilingual public awareness campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 10, 2020
Lawrenceville, N.J. – The New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NJCASA) is pleased to announce it has been awarded $150,000 through the New Jersey Pandemic Relief fund, for the development of a bilingual public awareness campaign.
The campaign, which will feature English and Spanish language billboards and PSAs for radio and television, will aim to raise awareness that sexual violence services are still available, even in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The funding will also allow NJCASA to complete technical upgrades to the organization’s infrastructure.
“We are so grateful to the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund for their generous support of our work,” said Patricia Teffenhart, executive director of NJCASA. “We unfortunately know all too well that violence, including sexual violence, does not stop during a pandemic, but overall knowledge of how to access sexual violence services remains low. In a recent statewide survey conducted by NJCASA before the pandemic hit, 46 percent of respondents indicated that they did not seek supportive services, like counseling and advocacy, because they didn’t know where to go. We know the uncertainly and chaos of a pandemic can only exacerbate that problem. We are grateful to the N.J. Pandemic Relief Fund for allowing us to create PSAs that will help New Jerseyans understand where they can go to seek services, if they choose to do so.”
“The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund is proud to support the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s bilingual campaign to raise awareness of sexual violence services available during COVID-19,” said First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy, Founding Chair of NJPRF. “As the pandemic continues to isolate vulnerable individuals and families, raising awareness about how and where victims of sexual violence can get help has never been more important.”
NJCASA endeavors to release both the television and radio spots by late summer 2020.
Research has shown a link between an increase of sexual violence during times of natural disasters, including pandemics. Specifically, researchers have found that interpersonal violence and sexual violence increase in both the short- and long-term following a disaster scenario.
ABOUT NJCASA: NJCASA (www.njcasa.org) is the statewide technical assistance, and capacity building organization that represents New Jersey’s county-based rape crisis centers, and the Rutgers University Office of Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance in New Brunswick. NJCASA elevates the voice of sexual violence survivors and service providers by advocating for survivor-centered legislation, training allied professionals, and supporting statewide prevention strategies that work to address and defy the socio-cultural norms that permit and promote rape culture.
ABOUT N.J. PANDEMIC RELIEF FUND: The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF) was launched March 24, 2020 to marshal resources to meet critical needs and fight the economic and social impact of COVID-19 within New Jersey.
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NJPRF will provide grants to existing organizations with a demonstrated track record of caring for vulnerable communities. One hundred percent of every dollar received online by NJPRF will go to organizations that provide essential services to those in need and to assist those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NJPRF is proud to be hosted by the Community Foundation of New Jersey, which has been serving the needs of New Jersey non-profits and philanthropists for more than 40 years.
For additional information, or to donate, please visit: https://njprf.org/