What is a SARL?

Your Roles and Responsibilities

1

SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE LIAISON

(SARL) TRAINING

SUMMER 2013
 Introductions
2

1. What is your name and position in Peace Corps?

2. What, if any, experience do you have working

with sexual assault victims/survivors?

3. What is your motivation for becoming a SARL?

4. One thing you really want to learn in this

training is _______.
 Session Learning Objectives
3

 Articulate motivation for becoming a SARL and

goals for the week’s training.

 Accurately explain the roles and responsibilities of

a SARL as compared to a victim advocate or a
counselor.

 Increase self-awareness surrounding personal and

professional values as they may influence response
to a victim of sexual assault.
Session materials are in TAB 2 of your binders.
 SARRRP at Peace Corps
4

 Sexual Assault Risk Reduction and Response

Program (SARRP) as a result of the Kate Puzey Act.

 SARLs work as part of a coordinated team

including staff from Post and HQ when responding
to Volunteers who report a sexual assault.
 SARL Roles and Responsibilities
5

 Ensure that following a sexual assault, the Volunteer is moved

to a safe environment.
 At the Volunteer’s request, accompany the Volunteer through
the in-country response, which may include:
 Meetings with Peace Corps staff;
 Making a report to the local law enforcement and any additional
meetings with the police;
 An appointment with the local medical provider for a sexual assault
forensic examination;
 Attending court proceedings.

 Immediately contact a Victim Advocate upon receiving a

report of a sexual assault.
 Victim Support Providers
SARLs
• Ensure the Volunteer is in
a safe environment.
• Notify the Office of Victim
Advocacy immediately
following the report of a
sexual assault.
• Assure access to medical
services.
• Accompany the Volunteer
through the medical and
legal process.
• Maintain strict
confidentiality of
information received in
connection with a report
of sexual assault, sharing
information only with
appropriate individuals.
6
Victim Advocates Counselors
• Ensure Volunteers are • Provide crisis
aware of and have access counseling.
to support services.
• Provides on-going
• Ensure staff is aware of mental health services.
and take into
consideration the choices • Consult and coordinates
of the Volunteer. with IHC, PCMO, and
OVA regarding medevac.
• Keep Volunteers
informed and updated • Responsible for
throughout criminal and medically clearing a
legal process. volunteer following a
medevac.
• Assist Volunteers and
Post with safety
planning.
 Two-Minute Elevator Speeches
7

 If you were in an elevator , perhaps even

this week here at the hotel, and someone
asked you “What’s a SARL?” How would
you respond?

 Practice your speech with a partner.

 Shared Values in Victim Support
8

Shared values of victim support providers include:

To listen and believe the victim.

To never blame or question the victim
about their actions.
To never investigate or judge.

To always work as a team.

 What are Values?
9

 A system of moral
principles, rules, and
standards of conduct

 Safeguard the reputation

of a profession

 Promote competent and

responsible practices
 Values in Victim Services
PERSONAL VALUES
10
PROFESSIONAL
VALUES
 Ideals and beliefs we
hold true.  Ideals and beliefs the
profession holds
 Form the foundation true.
for how we view and  Create expectations
interact with the within your
world. profession.
 Guide decision  Guide decision
making. making.
 Might conflict with  Might conflict with
professional values. personal values.
 May create challenges  Inform interactions
when working with with Volunteers.
Volunteers.
 Values and Self-Awareness
Discuss with a partner: 11

Why is awareness of personal values important as a SARL?

Values drive behavior and are always in operation.

Personal values influence response to challenging

situations, how judgments are made, and how you
balance the rights of individuals.

Awareness of values or biases allows you to recognize

when they are being challenged, so you can focus on
your work.
Self-Awareness Inventory
12
Self-Awareness Inventory Debrief
13

 What did you discover about yourself?

Beliefs, Challenges, Biases?
 Did you find out anything that really surprised you?

 Would it surprise you to think that others might

react to these statements differently than you did?
 Did any of the multicultural statements make you
uncomfortable?
 Brainstorm Activity
14

 Work in teams of 3-4 to brainstorm the basic

values of a SARL on the SARL Shared Values
worksheets .
 Please submit one copy to a facilitator so we
can compile a global list for distribution.