As the nation’s perception of sexual violence and its victims has evolved over the past four decades, the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center has grown with the times, counseling, supporting and advocating for the afflicted.
With its mission unwavering from the beginning in 1983, Zacharias center executive director Sandy Williams said the community looks differently at sexual violence today, but helping victims and spreading awareness remains crucial.
“We want to mobilize the community toward ending systemic sexual violence while amplifying the survivors through trauma informed care, advocacy and prevention education,” she said.
The Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center marks 40 years of service this month with its presence in Lake County, its headquarters in Gurnee and a location in Skokie treating people and advocating for its mission.
– Original Credit: News-Sun
An important part of helping people, once personnel at the center assist with the initial trauma of an attack or continued abuse, is building an individual’s self esteem.
“Often the public does not understand this issue, and people are not open to talk about what they went through,” Williams said. “It’s a very personal issue. It’s hard to verbalize this.”
Williams said people are not always comfortable talking about their situation. A counselor who worked with a woman asked her to list the words which came to her mind about her feelings. She made another list nine to 12 months later.
“None of those first words applied anymore,” Williams said.
Wendy Ivy, the organization’s associate executive director who is in her 23rd year with the Zacharias center, said counseling is a key part of helping people recover from the traumatic experience of sexual abuse. It comes in a variety of forms.
Ivy said often the first contact with a victim often comes during a visit with the individual in a hospital emergency room. The representative of the organization is called a “teddy bear,” and they arrive with one of the stuffed animals.
“It gives them a very comfortable feeling,” she said. “We’re there to support them and give them comfort.”
Removing a stigma which should never have existed is another part of the task when helping a survivor. Williams said the situation is better than it was in 1983, when the organization was founded.
“It’s important for the survivor to know there is nothing to be ashamed of,” she said. “The issue is not about who is being harmed. It is about who are causing the harm. The broader community has begun to catch up.”
– Original Credit: News-Sun
Started in1983 as the Lake County Council Against Sexual Assault and operating under the acronym of LACASA, the organization became the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center in 2008 with a gift from the Zacharias family.
Williams said around the same time, the center wanted to get away from being known by an acronym. It wanted the words “sexual abuse” prominently displayed on the sign in front of its building because “It’s important for people to see that.”
People find their way to the Zacharias center in a variety of ways. Williams said some of the time it is communication with a first responder because someone needs help. Local police departments and the Lake County state’s attorney’s office also send individuals its way.
“There is a lot of social media, and an effort to build awareness,” Williams said. “We’re always out in the community getting to know people. We have tables at a lot of community events.”
People choose the Zacharias center from a variety of situations. She said the organization’s clientele is diverse, coming from around the county and from different backgrounds.
“No group is immune,” Williams said. “We see people of all races. There are members of the LGBTQ community, and from every religion. We see seniors, men and boys. We even see military veterans.”
One thing the Zacharias Center is not is a shelter. Williams said if someone needs to extricate him or herself from a harmful living situation, they will refer the individual to the appropriate place while providing counseling.
