Mission, Purpose Statement and Core Values
Mission
Purpose Statement
Core Values
Mission
The mission of the OAESV is to work to eliminate all forms of sexual violence and to advocate for the rights and needs of survivors and co-survivors of sexual violence.
- To work to eliminate all forms of sexual violence and to advocate for the rights and needs of survivors and co-survivors of sexual assault;
- To assist sexual assault programs throughout the state of Ohio in developing, maintaining, and strengthening recognized standards in the delivery of services to sexual assault survivors and their families;
- To identify, develop, and implement short and long term statewide strategies for advocacy, funding, program development, and evaluation of sexual assault programs;
- To provide crisis intervention services and appropriate referrals to intimate partner violence, sexual violence survivors, and co-survivors throughout Ohio;
- To support and guide the implementation of primary prevention of intimate partner violence and sexual violence throughout Ohio;
- To provide educational and technical assistance and information sharing on topics, including treatment, prevention, and research, in support of Ohio sexual assault programs;
- To encourage collaboration in strengthening a multidisciplinary approach between first responder entities in coordination of services for survivors and co-survivors of sexual assault in Ohio;
- To educate member agencies regarding development of relevant state and federal legislation and private and public funding opportunities and to assist in procurement of resources to prevent sexual violence and provide support to sexual assault survivors and co-survivors;
- To engage in educational activities designed to aid in the development of legislation supportive of reinforcing human rights of sexual assault survivors;
- To disseminate to the public, through the membership, information pertinent to improving and strengthening the lives of sexual assault survivors, co-survivors, and their families throughout Ohio;
- To educate political entities in Ohio of the needs of sexual assault survivors, co-survivors, and their families;
- To serve as a state and national spokesperson on behalf of sexual violence prevention and intervention services in an effort to change social norms in pursuit of prevention and elimination of sexual violence in Ohio; to oppose and actively work to discourage and ultimately end all forms of discrimination based on race, religion, ethnic group, class, creed, gender, age, physical, mental or emotional disability, political perspective, sexual orientation, or educational background;
- To provide on-going education, training, and consultation for direct service providers on issues of diversity and how diversity relates to working with the range of populations in respect to cultural competency in service provision to all survivors, co-survivors, and their families in Ohio; and
- Any other purposes consistent with the mission and philosophical statement of the OAESV.
The OAESV recognizes that all forms of oppression are interrelated and that to end sexual violence we must work to end other forms of oppression. The elimination of gender inequality and other forms of systemic oppression are an integral part of sexual and intimate partner violence prevention and intervention work. In order to advocate for and serve all survivors and co-survivors of sexual violence, we must recognize that sexual violence has its roots in the state of inequality generated by the cultural phenomenon of patriarchy and perpetuated by attitudes of sexism, racism, classism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism, and nationalism. Our ultimate goal is to achieve human rights and social justice for all Ohioans.
Our task requires that OAESV challenge and raise consciousness of flawed social norms in order to achieve our vision of social justice and human rights. We recognize that achieving cultural competence and inclusiveness requires our collective desire and effort to be open, accepting and respectful of Ohio’s diversity, and mindful of its constant evolving nature.