BREAKING BARRIERS
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Breaking Barriers™ program empowers survivors of sexual assault, rape, and domestic violence through psychological, social, and physical empowerment self-defense.
SELF-
DEFENSE
Participants are taught techniques to help them feel prepared and empowered to defend themselves from dangerous
situations.
SAFETY
EDUCATION
Provide information regarding home, work, and travel. Creates a 'safety-mindset' to aid in day-to-day life interactions.
GROUP
PROCESSING
Survivors share their experiences and emotions in a safe and controlled environment, and utilizes evidence-based practices.
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
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Reduced physical, sexual, and emotional assaults through empowerment education
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Unlock the potential for women to break the cycle of violent crime, trauma, and abuse
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Collaboration with community resources
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Integration of trauma-informed practices, self-defense, and psycho-education
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Empowerment Self-Defense Training
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Support system education & development
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Breaking of fear-based barriers
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Plugged into community resources, including workforce development, support groups, & additional services
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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
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Empowerment Self-Defense (Evidence-Based Practice)
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S.A.F.E. Technique™
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Protective dating behavior and awareness development
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Rebuilding healthy relationships & boundaries
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Risk reduction techniques / 'Choice and Consequences'
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Developing and managing a survivor mindset
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Breaking the 'Cycle of Violence'
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Human Trafficking tricks and lures
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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
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Review of 'Survivor Program' curriculum
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'Secondary Survivor Training'
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Identifications of survivors of crime
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Workplace safety and counseling basics & tips
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Empowerment & Inclusion
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Crisis Response Training (CRT) and mindset development
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Identifying needed accommodations and resources
WEEKS
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# OF SESSIONS
1 SESSION
TIME
1.5 HOUR
# OF STAFF
UP TO 45
Women's Empowerment
Self-Defense Workshop
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Basic Empowerment Self-Defense technique
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S.A.F.E. Technique™
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Protective dating behavior and awareness development
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Rebuilding healthy relationships & boundaries
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Risk reduction techniques / 'Choice and Consequences'
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Identifying and Developing a Safe Mindset
WEEKS
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# 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