Fair Haven Rape Crisis Center staffers held a seminar for clergy Tuesday in Crown Point on the signs of sexual violence and resources for victims.
“You are the safe person in their life,” Community Impact Director Shana Robertson told the three dozen people who attended.
What should I do if the new fiance who just moved in is trying to groom a child, a man asked.
If it involves abuse or neglect of a child, Indiana is a mandatory reporting state — meaning any adult over 18 should report it. If you’re not sure what to do, call us, Robertson said.
“If you’re asking me, then you need to make a report,” she said.
Fair Haven staff said afterward the best thing clergy can do is connect their members to resources.
“Start by believing,” Anti-Trafficking Coordinator Tamika Muhammad said. “Ultimately (the decision to go to the police or get help) is up to that survivor.”
The faith-based organization provides 24/7 crisis support — meaning a staffer will go to the hospital in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties to be with sexual assault victims. They can also go to prosecutors’ meetings and court dates.
They also provide advocacy services, support groups, trauma therapy, prevention and education. They often work with St. Jude House in Crown Point, which serves adults and children impacted by domestic violence.
Their advocates, by law, can’t be compelled to testify in court on what a victim told them in confidence. However, there are exceptions — child abuse or neglect, elder abuse, disabled abuse, or if someone makes threats to hurt themselves or someone else has to be reported.
Abuse can often be physical, psychological, sexual, or involve stalking, Muhammad said in the session.
Stalking can involve something innocuous — for example, someone delivering flowers to a workplace when they were told to stay away, she said.
Sexual violence often happens within relationships and can include: someone being manipulated or coerced into a sex act, forced to watch pornography, tied down, manipulated or forced to have sex with another person, forced to dress in a sexual way, or taking off a condom during sex, or giving someone a sexually transmitted disease, Muhammad said.
Alcohol was one of the most common date rape drugs — either someone taking advantage of someone who is drunk or slipping them other drugs, she said.
What else can clergy do to help?
They can go with a victim to report a crime to the police, Robertson said. Refer them to their 24/7 rape crisis line.
When victims call for services, they follow up in 72 hours. Sometimes, they may decline, then come back in a year, Muhammad said.
They also give “caregiver” training to help others support victims, Robertson said.
Do they have resources to help people sexually abused in a church? Yes, Robertson said.
Elsewhere, if you have a complicated situation – for example, statute of limitations questions from years-old crimes – you can call Fair Haven, the Indiana Department of Child Services, or police, said Infinity Westberg, Lake County Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Victims Unit prosecution supervisor.
Fair Haven often calls them.
“We can look into it,” she said.
The Highland-based organization hasn’t been immune to tragedy.
A Fair Haven staffer, Kyle Matthews, 31, and his wife Klorya, 32, were gunned down in April 2024 by her sister’s child’s father Derrick Pouncey in Gary when the couple went to get the sister’s kids out of the house.
Pouncey is charged with multiple felonies, including two counts of murder.
Robertson said Fair Haven hopes to have a Trauma Response and Ministry (TRIM) training seminar for clergy in October.
The talk was part of the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office’s new Clergy Alliance – providing domestic and sexual violence awareness training at the Purdue Research Center building at the Lake County Government Center complex, 2293 N. Main Street in Crown Point.
Fair Haven’s rape crisis line is 219-218-2552.
mcolias@post-trib.com