Providing Specialized Expertise

CAPSA provides Advocacy and Support services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and rape.

CAPSA provides specialized expertise

Just like if someone is diagnosed with cancer, they see an oncologist because they specialize in cancer – with domestic violence, sexual assault, and rape, CAPSA provides specialized expertise.

CAPSA’s Caseworkers are experts in this field and have experience overcoming the many barriers associated with abuse including housing, economic difficulty, legal concerns, court advocacy and more. CAPSA’s also has strong relationships with law enforcement and a deep network of outside resources to help our clients.

Function of Caseworkers

CAPSA’s Caseworkers work with each client and take the time to understand their unique situation. This includes conducting risk assessments, discussing safety plans, helping file protective orders, and connecting clients to other resources both within CAPSA and throughout the community to ensure each client has a feasible and safe path forward.

Every case is unique, and some situations make it difficult or unsafe for survivors to reach CAPSA. Our Caseworkers specialize in dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault, and rape, and they understand the challenges that come with these things. Caseworkers typically work from the office but are equipped to respond to need. They have in the past meet with clients at parks, in hospitals where they had appointments, and talked with them over the phone whenever safe, all to ensure those survivors got the help they needed.

CAPSA’s Caseworkers can do the same for you.

CAPSA’s Caseworkers can help you

If you are experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, or stalking, CAPSA can help. CAPSA’s Caseworkers will work to inform so that you can understand what is happening and decide for yourself how to move forward. They provide resources to overcome barriers and do not let things like credit score, lack of insurance, or legal status prevent anyone from getting help for their abuse.

Whether you are worried for your safety, concerned for your children, or just wanting your situation, CAPSA is there for you. Please, call our Support Line at (435) 753-2500 to speak with a CAPSA caseworker.

 

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Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP)

The Lethality Assessment Protocol or LAP, is a major tool used by both local law enforcement and CAPSA personnel. So, what is the LAP?

Originating from Maryland, Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell, of The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, studied the factors associated with domestic homicide within the state. She studied these cases for more than 25 years, and from her study, she found 20 warning signs indicating an individual was at high risk of being killed by an intimate partner.

Inspired by this research, the State of Maryland worked with Dr. Campbell to create an 11 question assessment to be used by law enforcement. Now when a domestic violence call comes in, officers ask the victim of abuse these 11 questions. Depending on the answers, victims are determined whether or not they are at high risk of being murdered by their intimate partner. If at high risk, law enforcement personnel connect the individual to a local domestic violence shelter.

In the seven years since implementing the LAP in Maryland, domestic homicides have reduced by 60%. Since implementing this system in Utah, more than 1,500 individuals have been identified as being in a high-risk situation. Because of the LAP, these 1,500 individuals are receiving the help they are in need of. Before the LAP, only 4% of these at risk individuals visited a domestic violence shelter or sought any type of aid in preventing or dealing with their abusive situation.

We’re grateful for our law-makers and officers for making the LAP a life-saving part of our response to domestic violence within the state.

Learn more about CAPSA and the LAP at the links below:

CAPSA has a new tool to fight domestic violence

Local law enforcement agencies, CAPSA, collaborate to adopt domestic violence protocol

New program connecting domestic violence victims to resources

Policeman honored for implementing domestic violence victim assessment

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An interview with NUVPEC chair, Ana Hernandez

Most of us probably haven’t heard of NUVPEC, but it stands for the Northern Utah Violence Prevention Education Coalition. To learn more about it, I interviewed the coalition chair, Ana Hernandez.

Q. Can you tell me the history of NUVPEC – when and how it was started?

A. In 2009, CAPSA’s prevention department completed a curriculum for male and female peer-to-peer discussion groups. At that time, CAPSA employees felt it was important to create a coalition.  It was called the Northern Utah Violence Prevention Education Coalition in order to address prevention efforts at the community level.

Our mission as a coalition is to reduce the incidences of sexual violence among youth in Cache County. The Northern Utah Violence Prevention Education Coalition aims to provide professional, respectful, sensitive and age appropriate prevention education to youth of all ages. NUVPEC will unite to implement developmental assets with an emphasis on positive values, social competencies and positive identities to help our future generations establish healthy, responsible and caring relationships.

Q. Who’s involved in NUVPEC?

A. Several organizations sit on NUVPEC: The Family Place, Alpha Chi Omega, the Logan Police Department, the Cache County’s Sheriff’s Office, Utah State University, Cache Makers, Pregnancy for Choices, the Department for Children and Family Services, Utah State’s Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information Office, Intermountain Healthcare, the Bear River Health Department and concerned citizens.

Q. What is NUVPEC doing in our community – what are the positive results you can point to from the program?

A. We hope that we are making a difference by raising awareness of domestic and sexual violence within our youth. Currently, we have several projects in the works.

Upstanding Youth Leadership Conference: Hosted at Utah State University on December 2, we have worked tirelessly with the Utah State Health Department and CAPSA to put this conference together. It is targeted specifically for Cache and Rich youth leaders, and we are hoping that by providing training by Marty Liccardo and other helpful workshops youth will be able to go back to their respective communities and teach their peers about making a difference and changing social norms.

Media Contest: Every year from January to the end of February the state of Utah holds a Media contest surrounding healthy relationships. This contest is for students, and NUVPEC participates by informing all the Middle and High School students about the contest and its theme.

Safe Dates: We partner with the Logan Police Department and the Fun Park to create an environment for youth to have fun while gaining an understanding of how to stay safe on a date and what to do if you feel uncomfortable at any portion of a night out.

Q. How are youth involved in NUVPEC?

A. NUVPEC raises awareness and holds events specifically for our youth. Members of the CAPSA Youth Council also help educate their peers with a member of NUVPEC.

Q. How does NUVPEC inspire and create youth leaders?

A. I hope that by making a difference the youth can see that they too can make a difference. A lot of times youth, and even adults, feel that in order to make a difference they have to be labeled as a leader. However, you do not have to be in any type of position (although it can be helpful) to make a difference and rise to inspire and be a leader.

Q. What have you learned from chairing NUVPEC?

A. When I started, I met with each member individually and listened to their concerns, ideas, and successes with the intention of making the coalition better. So far, I have been able to include more members from our community. I am also reaching out to the Latino community in hopes of bringing awareness to them,as well. I realize that although I am not perfect, I have learned that by showing others that I am human, that I care and that I am there to help them make a difference we become more united and are able to achieve more.

Q. What are the long-term goals of NUVPEC?

A. I want to continue inspiring youth to become the leaders of tomorrow. I also want to reach out to more community organizations and involve them in order to bring more awareness to families, and specifically youth.