Sexual Assault Services Organization

“The draft of the form 990 is reviewed by the executive director and board of directors prior to filing with the irs.”

“If any board member or staff member is aware of a possible conflict of interest or an appearance of a conflict of interest, he or she shall bring such conflict to the attention of the saso board. The determination of what to do about a conflict of interest or appearance of a conflict of interest shall be made by a majority vote of the board. A saso board member shall abstain from making a motion, seconding a motion, discussing a motion, or voting on any matter in which the member has the conflict or the appearance of conflict.”

“The board of directors reviews and approves the executive director's annual salary, with no participation by the executive director or other interested persons. The executive director's salary is established using comparable data for similarly qualified persons in functionally comparable positions at similar nonprofits; consideration of roles and responsibilities of the executive director; and cost of living data. Comparable market data is obtained from salary surveys and form 990s filed by comparable not-for- profit organizations. Discussions and decisions regarding the compensation are documented in executive committee meeting minutes. The executive director also receives reimbursements for routine, reasonable, and documented expenses incurred during the year under an accountable plan. The executive director travels throughout our service area. The organization has a travel policy that caps reimbursement levels and requires low-budget travel.”

“A line item budget is approved by the board of directors annually. The board approves the overall salaries and benefits expenses. Discussions and decisions regarding the budget are documented in board meeting minutes. The executive director reviews and approves the salaries of other officers or key employees, with no participation by the interested persons, in accordance with the annual budget approved by the board. The executive director establishes salaries using comparable data for similarly qualified persons in functionally comparable positions at similar nonprofits; consideration of roles and responsibilities of the officer or key employee; and cost of living data. Comparable market data is obtained from salary surveys and form 990s filed by comparable not-for-profit organizations.”

“We consider requests on a case-by-case basis.”

“Staff and volunteer advocates cover the 24-hour crisis hotline and provide advocacy support to sexual assault victims at the saso office, in the police station, during a sexual assault forensic medical examination at the hospital, or at designated community partner locations. In addition, staff and volunteers also represent victims by attending court in the 6th judicial district. In 2021, saso served 228 survivors of sexual assault by providing 901 contacts, 1,255 services and 476 referrals to community resources. Saso uses volunteers to co-present our prevention education programming provided to elementary, middle, and high schools; to college students; and also to community members. In 2021, saso provided educational workshops to over 300 youth in la plata county. Crisis advocacy volunteers receive 30 hours of specialized training, and prevention education volunteers receive a minimum of 8 hours of training to be able to provide community services and programming. In 2021, 22 volunteer advocates provided 3,612 hotline hours. Saso volunteers may also provide services in the offices such as filing, office assistance, prevention education programming, special projects, etc. The saso board of directors also serve on a volunteer basis in 2-year terms. Volunteers are an essential support of saso's success in the community.”

“Advocacy services: saso hotline and follow-up services assist victims of sexual assault in the long process of recovery from a traumatic violent crime. These services often are the first, and perhaps most important, steps toward reducing the trauma of a sexual assault. The support and assistance provided by trained volunteer advocates and saso staff include: 24-hour crisis intervention and counseling; medical advocacy during sane exams; advocacy during law enforcement interviews and court proceedings; free support groups and financial assistance for individual therapy and emergency needs; and referrals to community and support agencies. In addition, saso provides on-site advocacy to the local safehouse, community corrections program, county detention center, and schools. Methods for implementing these programs follow best practice guidelines developed at the state and federal levels including prioritizing victim safety and empowerment, notification about victim rights, and strict adherence to victim confidentiality. Saso collaborates with 6th judicial district community providers serving victims of sexual violence to create best practice policies for providing services and response. Through this, saso has been able to increase our medical and legal advocacy programs, providing greater support for victims as they navigate the complex and often confusing criminal justice system. During 2021, saso served 228 unduplicated callers over 900 contacts with 1,255 victim services and 476 referrals to community resources. Saso offers a therapist-facilitated, free, community support group for survivors. Groups at community connections and the jail were suspended during the pandemic. These support groups are free of charge to participants so that cost is not a barrier to healing. These services are essential supports for sexual assault survivors in our community as we are the only community-based advocacy agency for victims of sexual violence serving la plata and san juan counties.”

“Prevention education and outreach: saso's education programs span k-12, college, and adults. Saso's elementary prevention program, the nationally developed and researched child assault prevention program (capp), works to break the cycles of abuse by educating children, teachers, parents, and the community as a whole. Capp provides empowerment skills that teach elementary school children to identify potentially dangerous situations and ways to seek help. The secondary school program is a bystander intervention (bi) program, based on the national mentors in violence prevention model and the family life and sexual health program or f.l.a.s.h. Bystander intervention programs teach teens their potential to stop sexual violence as bystanders, when they choose to intervene and take responsibility for the safety of their peers. F.l.a.s.h. Empowers and educates students through teaching effective skills in communication, conflict resolution, healthy relationships, cyber safety, and gender norming. In 2021, saso provided workshops for over 300 la plata county youth. Saso has increased its outreach programming, expanding our work to build relationships with underserved community members by partnering with local agencies serving native american; latinx; lgtbq; homeless; veterans; intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities; youth; and elders. Saso recognizes that our underserved community members experience a much higher risk of sexual violence and stands to serve them with support and cultural respect in their healing. As a result, saso opened an office in 2020 to serve the southeast area of la plata county, including the southern ute reservation. In 2021, saso provided 44 general and cultural outreach programs to 1,208 community members on topics such as our violence against native american women symposium, collaborative talks with rainbow youth center, community connections, la plata youth services, companeros, 4 the children, etc. Our community education programming trained 17 new victim advocates over the course of the year.”

“Form 990, part xii, lines 2b and 2c: the board of directors reviews the internal financial statements on a monthly basis. The finance committee reviews saso's internal financial statements on a quarterly basis and the annual budget, form 990, and audit on an annual basis. Though we are not mandated to perform an audit by grant or government standards, we perform one by choice for accountability as an organization.”