SARSSM: Program Spotlight April 2023

 by Devon Mulligan, Director of Hope & Healing at SARSSM

Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine (SARSSM) began advocating for victims of sexual assault in 1973 when a small group of women learned that support and resources were not available for victim/survivors of sexual assault. To address this need, the founding members organized a grassroots support, advocacy, and referral network.

The Crisis and Support Line remains active today and continues to be staffed by volunteer advocates and center staff. In the years that followed, SARSSM has also expanded the resources available to victim/survivors and concerned others in York and Cumberland counties, including peer support programming and events, Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) systems-based advocacy, awareness and prevention programs in schools and communities, and outreach to underserved populations including people who are experiencing houselessness and people who are incarcerated.

SARSSM began partnering with Sea Change Yoga (SCY) through the Hope and Healing Program, which provides free peer-support opportunities for survivors. We began offering classes in September 2022 and, as word spreads, interest in joining classes has continued to grow. Participants have expressed deep gratitude for the space that SCY holds during these sessions. With the particular attention to trauma-informed practices, these gentle movement classes offer opportunities for survivors to relax, rejuvenate, and even address trauma stored in the body.

Partnering with SCY has allowed SARSSM to provide several rounds of multi-session yoga classes to closed groups, allowing for survivors to come together in community and shared healing without needing to share histories or experiences. We know that different modalities provide support to different folks and we are so thankful to SCY for making it possible to provide this resource to survivors in York and Cumberland counties.

During April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and every month, SARSSM is so thankful for this partnership and continued support from Sea Change Yoga.