For survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, the path to healing can be challenging and overwhelming. That's why at Family Crisis Services, we strive to offer a wide range of resources and support to help our clients during their journey. We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and understanding, regardless of their circumstances. Our programs are designed to empower our clients to make informed decisions and build a better future for themselves. We are proud to serve the Fremont and Custer County community, and welcome anyone who needs our services to reach out to us. “Before I went to Family Crisis Services, I had no idea places like it even existed. I felt more at home & supported through my journey of healing & independence there than I could have ever imagined possible.” You Shop. City Market Donates. Support the mission of Family Crisis Services by shopping at City Market. Simply log into your City Market account and choose to support Family Crisis Services (BM083). LEARN MORE Do Something That Matters. We know everyone has passion in them to build a better, safer community. If your passion is helping survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, then we invite you to volunteer your time with us! If you want to know more about where you can help please email our volunteer coordinator. VOLUNTEER “I encourage anyone seeking freedom from an abusive situation to go to Family Crisis Services & to make the absolute most of your time there. You will be amazed at how you can change your own life by leaving behind what no longer serves your highest good, believing that you deserve better, & seeking out healthy ways to make that happen for yourself. You can do anything you set your mind & heart to.”

contact us Call us if you are in need of help or information. If you are in an emergency situation, call 911. ​ 719-275-2429 PO Box 308 Canon City, CO 81215 ashley@familycrisisonline.org

Presentation sign-up We can offer presentations on the following topics: Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Teen Dating Violence Healthy Relationships PREA ​ We will call you to discuss further in detail what trainings you would like and get your organization booked on our calendar! We are excited to partner with you and our mission to educate to reduce domestic and sexual violence! Presentation inquiry Phone 719-275-2429 Contact Name Organization Email sarah@familycrisisonline.org Phone Number Email Which presentation are you interested in? What dates work for you? Thank you for taking the first step towards making our community more aware! Send

VOLUNTEER WITH US At Family Crisis Services, we serve victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault through advocacy, services, and support. If you would like more information on getting involved, fill out the form below or email our volunteer coordinator at ashley@familycrisisonline.org Selected volunteer candidates will be invited to attend FCS's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Training.

how to support a loved one It takes courage for someone to step forward and talk about a domestic violence situation. When someone you know opens up, you will probably find yourself not knowing what to say or do. This is 100% normal and you can still help someone navigate this difficult road without having all of the answers. The best thing to offer a victim is a loving, safe, and supportive space. Keep in mind that when a victim comes forward, they already have a rough time trusting themselves due to control and manipulation. Let them speak without judgment or blame. The victim is generally worried that no one will believe them and if you validate that fear by discounting them, they may shut down and cease to seek help. ​ Getting out of and healing from a domestic violence situation can be a long road and you are, possibly, the first step in a journey. ​ ​ Here are some tips for supporting the victim: Listen to the victim's story by allowing them to talk freely and openly. Coming forward to let you in on what is happening can be very difficult for the victim. The shame and isolation that usually accompanies a violent relationship is hard to overcome. Their reaching out to you is a huge first step that most likely, to them, feels precarious and highly uncertain. Here are some things you can say to make space for the victim's story: ​ "I know this is scary, but I am here for you." "You are not alone. I will be here for you in this process." "I will listen without judgment." "You're brave for seeking support." Validate what the victim is feeling and what they are reporting. Minimizing the victim's experience or questioning what they did to cause the violence is re-traumatization. The victim needs a listening ear at this point. Here are some important things to say to validate the victim's feelings and their story: ​ "I believe you." "I am sorry this happened to you." "You did not deserve what happened to you." "You are not alone. I am here for you." "No one deserves to be treated this way." Ask the victim how you can help them. Respect their wishes if they do not want to alert the authorities or press charges. Do not pressure the victim to leave the situation. This can be traumatic and cause the victim to retreat from your help. Search locally for a Domestic Violence Advocacy Center if you do not know where to start. Click here to read more about the struggle to leave a domestic violence relationship . Here are some ways to offer help: ​ "How would you like to go forward in this situation?" "Let's look for resources you can consider." "What do you need from me?" "Are you safe now? Do we need to find a safe place for you?" Support the victim's decisions. A pivotal part of a victim moving forward is making their own decisions for their future. You may feel compelled to advise the victim, but it is in their best interest to make their own choices about their situation. Pointing out their options and writing out a "pro" and "con" list together, all while letting them make their own decisions, is the best support you can give. Here is what that might sound like: ​ "What do you want to do?" "How can I best support that decision?" One challenge you might run into is that the victim may want to go back into the relationship. Keep in mind that this is their choice. An abusive relationship can be very difficult to leave for a number of reasons. The victim will know when it is time and what that looks like. You can ask how you can support them and offer to help them create a safety plan . ​

SUPPORT GROUPS We offer support groups for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Our groups are a safe space to discuss, learn, and grow. Please call us at 719-275-2429 for more information. To sign up for any of our groups please give us a call or stop by our office to complete an intake form

Facts about SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMs (SANE EXAM) The SANE Exam is a way to collect evidence that may be on a victim's body after a sexual assault or an incident of domestic violence. A SANE Exam is done at a hospital by a specialty trained nurse, called a SANE Nurse. A SANE Nurse is educated in how to care for someone who has been assaulted. Feel free to call our office is you would like a confidential advocate to accompany you to your exam (719-275-2429). A SANE Exam is also called an evidence collection exam. Evidence that is sometimes collected is spit (saliva), bodily fluids such as semen, blood, vaginal fluid, or other physical evidence like body hair, dirt, or skin. Please note that you can go in for a SANE exam for either an attempted or completed sexual assault. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO: Consent to have a sexual assault exam. Healthcare providers should not conduct a SANE exam or collect physical evidence without your permission. You do not have to report to law enforcement to have a SANE exam conducted or evidence collected. You have the right to have a sexual advocate present during the SANE exam if you so choose. Services are confidential and free of charge. You have the right to decline to do any part of the examination and the right to ask any questions you may have. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. You have the right to care without judgment or bias. ​ BASIC COMPONENTS OF A SANE EXAM ARE: Your history : consists of questions related to the assault, as well as your medical history. It is intended to help identify injuries related to the assault and to guide the evidence collection. Physical Assessment of your body : the purpose is to identify injuries and document physical findings, such as bruises, marks, cuts, etc. Evidence Collection: This process includes 13 steps, and the exam is conducted in a sensitive and respectful manner. Any step in the exam can be declined. The evidence collection kit includes retrieving a variety of samples including debris (soil, fibers, grass, etc.), body liquids, blood, hair, urine, oral swabs, and genital swabs. Preventive care: medications are given to prevent STIs if necessary, and emergency contraception is offered to prevent pregnancy. Discharge, follow-up, and referrals: instructions are given regarding follow-up care for medical and counseling purposes with advocates. The sexual assault exam takes an average of 3-4 hours. This may be less or more, depending on the circumstances and extent of needed care. The evidence collection kit may be collected right after the assault and up to 120 hours after an assault. Because each case is unique, evidence collection outside the defined time frames may be considered on a case by-case basis. ​ COLLECTION STEPS: STEP 1: CLOTHING Try you best to remain in the clothes the assault happened in, our bring them with you to the hospital. Clothing frequently contains the most important evidence in a case of sexual assault. The most common items of clothing collected from patients and submitted to crime laboratories for analysis are underwear, hosiery, blouses, shirts, and slacks. There are also instances when coats and even shoes must be collected. ​ STEP 2: TRACE EVIDENCE There may be material or fibers that are found related to the assault. This is identified as trace evidence. These materials can help to provide evidence beyond DNA swabs. It is collection of any hairs, fibers, or other materials. ​ STEP 3: ORAL SWABS AND SMEAR In cases where the patient was orally penetrated, the oral swabs and smear can be as important as the vaginal or anal samples. The purpose of this procedure is to recover seminal fluid from recesses in the oral cavity where traces of semen could survive. ​ STEP 4: FOREIGN STAINS ON BODY SWABS Semen is the most common fluid deposited on the patient by the offender. There are also other fluids, such as saliva, which can be analyzed by laboratories to aid in the identification of the perpetrator. It is important that the provider ask the patient about any possible foreign material left behind and examine the patient's body for evidence of foreign matter. ​ STEP 5: EXTERNAL GENITAL SWABS If the circumstances of the assault suggest there has been contact between the victim’s genitalia and the offender’s mouth or penis WITHIN 5 DAYS of the examination, there exists the possibility that saliva or seminal fluid may be found on the patient’s external genitalia. In this instance, the entire pubic area should be swabbed. When the patient is prepubescent, external genital swabs should be collected instead of vaginal and cervical swabs. ​ STEP 6: PUBIC HAIR COMBINGS Pubic hair can retain trace evidence from a sexual assault. For this reason, collection of pubic hair combings may be beneficial. If the patient is prepubescent or has shaved her/his pubic hair, external genital swabs would be more appropriate. ​ STEP 7: ANAL SWABS AND SMEAR After fully explaining the procedure to the patient, put the patient in either supine or prone knee-chest position, there will be approximately 2 minutes for anal dilation to occur, then nurse will swab the anal cavity using the two swabs provided. ​ STEP 8: VAGINAL/PENILE SWABS AND SMEAR Vaginal swabs should only be obtained in the adolescent (pubertal) and adult population of female patients. Prepubescent patients would have external genital swabbing only. When collecting the vaginal specimens, it is important not to aspirate the vaginal orifice or to dilute the fluids in any way. Utilizing a speculum in the patient who has reached the onset of menses, swab the vaginal vault using the two swabs provided. Collection of Tampons as Evidence The sexual assault examiner may find that the patient has inserted a tampon in response to menstruation or bleeding post assault, or the patient may have a tampon in from the time of the assault. The tampon may have absorbed residual semen from the offender. It will therefore be necessary to collect the tampon as evidence. For the male patient, both adult and child: the presence of saliva on the penis could indicate that oral-genital contact was made; the presence of vaginal fluids could help corroborate that the penis was introduced into a vaginal orifice; and feces or lubricants might be found if rectal penetration occurred. ​ STEP 9: CERVICAL SWABS AND SMEAR As with vaginal samples, cervical samples are only collected in patients who are past onset of menses. The cervix provides an excellent source for sperm and DNA collection. The cervix serves as a reservoir for sperm as the flow of cervical mucus creates strands. ​ STEP 10: FINGERNAIL CLIPPINGS/SWABBINGS Fingernail clippings are commonly collected on patients which may have been in a physical altercation during an assault. They may contain skin cells of the suspect and are simple to collect. Use clippers from kit and the nurse or patient may cut the fingernails onto the enclosed bindle. Nails from both hands should be included ​ STEP 11: BUCCAL SWABS In some instances of sexual assault, dried deposits of blood, semen, or saliva may be found at the crime scene or on the body or clothing of either the patient or suspect. The purpose of collecting DNA Sample/Buccal Swabs is to determine the patient's DNA profile for comparison with such deposits. ​ STEP 12: ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE This will vary based on the patient, history and circumstances of the assault. For example, it may be appropriate to swab a female's abdomen when she says the suspect ejaculated on her.

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Statistics from the national coalition on domestic violence On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, etc. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. This includes a range of behaviors (e.g. slapping, shoving, pushing) and in some cases might not be considered "domestic violence. 1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner. 1 in 10 women have been raped by an intimate partner. Data is unavailable on male victims. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence (e.g. beating, burning, strangling) by an intimate partner in their lifetime. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence (e.g. beating, burning, strangling) by an intimate partner in their lifetime. On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide. The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%. Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime. Women between the ages of 18-24 are most commonly abused by an intimate partner. 19% of domestic violence involves a weapon. Domestic victimization is correlated with a higher rate of depression and suicidal behavior. Only 34% of people who are injured by intimate partners receive medical care for their injuries. 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence.

WHAT IS SEXUAL ABUSE? No means no, bottom line. You have the right to the power of your own body and to have boundaries. You are not a victim; you are a survivor. There are so many survivors of all different gender and identities. It doesn’t just happen to one gender. Some survivors may stay silent for years before sharing their story. However, the act is in no way acceptable. If you think you may be the victim of abuse, please seek help from a Domestic Violence Advocate. If you are local (Fremont of Custer Counties) call us at 719-275-2429. Now, the subject of sex assault seems to be taken more seriously today. And our staff at Family Crisis Services are here to help you through the path of healing, no matter gender/identity, walk of life, or timeline. Many people are subjected to being sexually harassed and assaulted by others who felt as though they were in the position of power. Sexual assault isn’t just non-consensual sex with a stranger. No, it comes in multiple forms, that some people may not even be aware that they are being abused. Let’s take a look at a few of those circumstances, so you can know the different forms sexual assault can look like. Acquaintance Sexual Assault: Occurs when someone you know, or trust forces you to have sex. It can happen on a first date or someone you have been going out with for a few weeks. It can include friends, classmates, co-workers, girlfriend/boyfriends, or teachers. Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault: This is when drugs are utilized to cause amnesia and impairs your judgement. Drugs, even alcohol lowers inhibitions and can affect consciousness. The most common tools used are alcohol and ‘ruffies.’ You cannot consent to have sex when you are under the influence. ​ Marital Sexual Assault: Are sexual acts committed without a person’s consent, and the perpetrator is the individual’s spouse. Not a single person is entitled to control over your body. You still have the power to say ‘no’ when you are married, you do not owe anyone, anything. Minor Sexual Assault: Is any act with a child by a person of trust or someone older (depending on state law of age of consent) This can come in forms of peeping at a child, exposing oneself to a child, or even exposing a child to pornography. Sexual assault may have other pieces. Pieces such as: physical force/pressure, emotional coercion, psychological force, threats, or manipulation to coerce. ​

WELCOME Family Crisis Services, Inc. is a 501C3 non profit organization. We began over 20 years ago in Canon City, Colorado. We have grown immensely over the years and are happy to share that we provide services to survivors in Fremont and Custer Counties. The staff at Family Crisis Services come from all walks of life and are passionate about their work. We would like you to know that you are not alone, your are brave, and we believe you! ​ Even if you are not ready to leave, we can help with a safety plan or just talking through the situation. We are here to help you! ​ Our mission Domestic violence and sexual assault are all about the power and control of one person over another. The aftermath of these experiences can be devastating, confusing and overwhelming for the survivor and their loved ones. The trauma of these experiences impact survivors on a daily basis. The staff at Family Crisis Services, Inc. are available to support victims of sexual assault and domestic violence throughout the healing process, regardless of if the crime is reported to law enforcement. There is no timeline for healing and we will assist survivors regardless of if their experience with these crimes occurred yesterday or years ago. In addition, we understand that these crimes do not just impact the victim, but also their loved ones and supporters. If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence or sexual assault, contact us to speak to an advocate about the services and local resources we have to offer.

Our Services All of our services are free and confidential. If you are in crisis, call our hotline at 719-275-2429 Advocacy Call our office at 719-275-2429 to talk with an advocate about safety planning. F amily Crisis Services, Inc. understands that each survivor's situation is unique and may be complicated. We are happy to work with you on your specific needs and give you the resources for your situation. Contact our office to discuss your situation with one of our advocates.