Sexual Assault Response
Empower Tehama works with its community partners to respond to sexual assault through coordinating Tehama County's Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Task Force, which oversees the SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners) Team. The SAFE Team performs forensic medical exams to collect evidence of sexual assault to help with justice efforts to hold offenders accountable.
SART partners collaborate to ensure that victims of sexual assault have access to resources needed in order to heal from trauma. Empower Tehama provides legal assistance to victims of sexual assault for matters related to their victimization, as well as supportive and referral services.
Programs & Resources
Human Trafficking Response
Empower Tehama is part of Tehama County's CSEC Task Force. CSEC, or the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, refers to sexual activity involving a child in exchange for something of value, or promise thereof, to the child or another person or persons. Because persons under the age of 18 cannot legally consent to sex, cases of Human Trafficking involving children are crimes, regardless of whether force or coercion is a factor.
The CSEC Task Force is made up of advocates, law enforcement, medical professionals, social workers and other community partners. When any of these community partners are made aware of a CSEC victim, members of the Task Force collaborate to ensure the victim is protected and has the help they need to stay safe.
Collaborative Community Partnerships
Through collaboration, we help ensure that victims of sexual assault and human trafficking have access to the resources they need. The Tehama County CSEC Task Force is a collaboration of medical, advocacy, legal and law enforcement agencies that raise awareness about CSEC and provide wrap-around, trauma-informed services for victims.
Access to Housing & Medical Services
Local forensic physical examinations are available and victims are supported throughout the process. When a victim of CSEC is identified, participating agencies respond quickly to intervene and provide necessary resources such as housing, medical attention, and drug and alcohol services.
Trained Advocates & Counselors
CSEC Advocates, Sexual Assault Counselors and legal assistance are available to victims of CSEC. An Empower Tehama trained human trafficking advocate is available 24/7 to provide victims and their families with crisis counseling, assessment, safety planning, legal assistance and referrals to resources.
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