Support to LGBT survivors of sexual violence and their families

Force for change

Maria Paladino’s work for justice is recognized with an award

BY REBECCA WOOLINGTON

The Register-Guard

Appeared in print: Saturday, Dec 5, 2009

News: Local: Story

Maria Paladino said she could scarcely believe it when she first learned that she’d received an award from the Oregon attorney general’s Sexual Assault Task Force.

“I didn’t think the things I did were things you get an award for,” said Paladino, executive director of Sexual Assault Support Services in Eugene. “I thought they were the minimum standards for behavior.”

But others find her work remarkable.

“Maria was the first person I thought of for the award,” said Alexa Priddy, response program coordinator for the state task force. “She really takes a research- and grass-roots-based approach to her work … Through her leadership, SASS has really worked hard to embody change.”

The task force last month presented Paladino with its CHANGE award, which stands for Creating Healthy Alternatives to promote Nonviolence and Gender Equity, for her efforts in serving survivors of sexual violence who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Paladino helped push for the program, known as Engaging Change, after taking the reins as executive director of Sexual Assault Support Services {SASS} four years ago.

According to the attorney general’s office, Paladino’s work isn’t revolutionary only in Oregon, it’s making waves across the country.

“We get calls from state agencies nationwide asking about what we (the Sexual Assault Task Force) are doing about (gay and lesbian) survivors,” Priddy said. “I always end up talking about what SASS is doing.”

In researching ways to start the Engaging Change program, Paladino said, she learned that gays and lesbians are more likely than others to be targets of sexual violence, yet less likely to feel they have somewhere to go for support....

....SASS, which receives about 5,000 calls for service a year, has given her multiple opportunities to do so. The nonprofit agency offers a 24-hour crisis help line, a 24-hour advocacy line, self-defense classes taught from a feminist perspective, a Latina outreach group, support groups for female and male survivors, and youth education programs, among other services. SASS is one of only two stand-alone sexual assault services in the state; the other agency is in Portland.....

Original Article