By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Studies show less than half of the victims that experience the trauma of sexual assault seek medical care, and Mosaic Life Care hopes to change that.
It's sexual assault awareness month, and as part of that Mosaic is launching the Start by Believing campaign, letting sexual assault victims know that it believes them.
Forensic Program Coordinator at Mosaic Natalie Maupin says the premise of Start by Believing is simple but powerful message
"When a sexual assault survivor comes to us, our response matters, and simply saying I believe you is a big powerful step," Maupin tells reporters.
Start by Believing was launched by End Violence Against Women International in 2011. The Start by Believing campaign at Mosaic begins today.
Maupin says one of the reasons victims don't see medical help is that they aren't believed.
"Maybe they did tell someone, and someone questioned them, and someone is like are you sure that really happened or how could that be possible," Maupin explains. "And so, they think, well if that person didn't believe me who else is going to believe me, and so they just stop there."
Maupin says she's seen a transformation in the victims that come to Mosaic for help.
"My goal is that, you know, they've gone through one of the worst things that could probably ever happen, that I could ever imagine for someone, and I know it sounds crazy, but my goal is that they would leave feeling a little better than what they came in," Maupin says. "And I know that's hard after they've been through that but, I want them to feel so comfortable with us, and I will say that a lot of times that happens."
Maupin says Mosaic works with various agencies around St. Joseph as well as law enforcement to help aid victims.
You can find out more about Start by Believing HERE.