BREAKING BARRIERS

Breaking Barriers™ program empowers survivors of sexual assault, rape, and domestic violence through psychological, social, and physical empowerment self-defense.

GROUP

PROCESSING

Survivors share their experiences and emotions in a safe and controlled environment, and utilizes evidence-based practices.

SAFETY

EDUCATION

Provide information regarding home, work, and travel. Creates a 'safety-mindset' to aid in day-to-day life interactions.

SELF-

DEFENSE

Participants are taught techniques to help them feel prepared and empowered to defend themselves from dangerous

situations.

BACKGROUND

As the formation of GET SAFE was shaping in 1985, founder Stuart Haskin’s driving passion was to offer aid, solutions, and opportunities to survivors of sexual crime. After being certified by the state of California as a Crisis Intervention and Sexual Assault Counselor, Stuart built relationships with a variety of local Orange County crisis intervention and risk reduction agencies. A primarily strong partnership developed with an agency titled Waymakers, an agency providing restorative services to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

The first model of the Breaking Barriers™ program was introduced in 1988 as the Spirit Warrior program. It was funded and supported by California's OC Regional Center for victims of sexual violence, and was tailored to provide trauma care, self-defense safety modules, psycho-educational classes on sexual assault, sex-trafficking, and rape.

The very essence and origination of GET SAFE was built upon the ideal of freedom for survivors. The first of GET SAFE’s primary operations were conducted in the fields of prevention, intervention, and restoration of sexual assault and sex trafficked survivors.

Breaking Barriers™ is the beautiful outcome of this story.

BREAKING THE CYCLE

Reduced physical, sexual, and emotional assaults through empowerment education

Unlock the potential for women to break the cycle of violent crime, trauma, and abuse
Collaboration with community resources
Integration of trauma-informed practices, self-defense, and psycho-education

Empowerment Self-Defense Training
Support system education & development
Breaking of fear-based barriers

Plugged into community resources, including workforce development, support groups, & additional services
Continued self-defense training through GS Krava Maga

Breaking Barriers™

is a multidimensional

program intended to address

not only the psychological aspects of victimization, but also to trigger and relieve the physical trauma through empowerment self-defense exercises,

and role-playing

scenarios.

PROGRAM BREAKDOWN

See video below for this training!

SURVIVOR PROGRAM

Empowerment Self-Defense (Evidence-Based Practice)
S.A.F.E. Technique™
Protective dating behavior and awareness development
Rebuilding healthy relationships & boundaries
Risk reduction techniques / 'Choice and Consequences'
Developing and managing a survivor mindset
Breaking the 'Cycle of Violence'
Human Trafficking tricks and lures
Legal rights, community resources, and support systems

WEEKS

4 WEEKS

# OF SESSIONS

8 SESSIONS

TIME

1.5 HOURS

# OF STUDENTS

UP TO 15

PROGRAM STAFF WORKSHOP

Review of 'Survivor Program' curriculum
'Secondary Survivor Training'
Identifications of survivors of crime
Workplace safety and counseling basics & tips
Empowerment & Inclusion
Crisis Response Training (CRT) and mindset development
Identifying needed accommodations and resources

WEEKS

# OF SESSIONS

1 SESSION

TIME

1.5 HOUR

# OF STAFF

UP TO 45

Women's Empowerment

Self-Defense Workshop

Basic Empowerment Self-Defense technique
S.A.F.E. Technique™
Protective dating behavior and awareness development
Rebuilding healthy relationships & boundaries
Risk reduction techniques / 'Choice and Consequences'
Identifying and Developing a Safe Mindset

WEEKS

# OF SESSIONS

1 SESSION

TIME

2 HOURS

# OF STUDENTS

UP TO 30

Before coming to GET SAFE, I didn't think I would ever feel whole again. I'm learning that I don't have to 'get over' what happened, but IT NO LONGER CONTROLS ME. IT MAKES ME STRONGER.

- Natalia, GET SAFE Graduate