Local

Community Task Force
Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
To improve community policies and practices regarding sexual violence, RTS, in collaboration with the Criminal Justice Council, has formed an interdisciplinary community task force on sexual violence.

Made up of community leaders from cities throughout San Mateo County, the group currently consists of Adam Keigwin representing Supervisor Jacobs Gibson's Office, East Palo Alto Chief of Police Wes Bowling, Millbrae Chief of Police Greg Cowart, District Attorney Karen Guidotti, Director of San Mateo County Forensic Laboratory Alex Karagianes, Sexual Offender Probation Officer Kelly Gallagher, Keller Center Nurse Practitioner Diana Cummings, Keller Center Social Worker Rosa Cedillo, Victim Center Advocates Patricia Sandoval and Conway Robinson, Criminal Justice Council Executive Director Cindy Brandon, and Sarah Jarvis and Emily Abrams from RTS.

The task force examines the areas of sexual violence prevention and education, analyzes and improves community policies and practices, works to create a better understanding regarding victims' issues, and enhances the communication, coordination, and cooperation of all parties involved. Our goal is to form a cohesive and caring community approach to eliminating sexual violence.

Cop Talk
Raising Awareness on the Air
RTS staff have given violence prevention presentations in all sorts of settings: schools, companies, community groups, homeless shelters, rehab centers - and now

on television! RTS staff members joined Millbrae Police Sergeant Richard Dixon and Captain Michael Grogan in taping two episodes of "Cop Talk," a half-hour show sponsored by the Millbrae Police Department, covering law enforcement issues in our community. In the first show, RTS Director Sarah Jarvis and Educator Thao Nguyen discussed RTS' services and the ever-increasing problem of drug-induced rape. The second show included RTS Group
and Family Counselor Gloria Castro Larrazáble and Program Coordinator Mariana Quintero talking about RTS' Programa para Latinos, which provides culturally sensitive services (including counseling and advocacy) and violence prevention programs for the Latino population of San Mateo County.

"We are delighted to be included in "Cop Talk," said RTS Director Sarah Jarvis. "It is crucial that we work together with the police department to provide sensitive and supportive victim services. Their production gives us one more way to reach community members with information about services for sexual abuse trauma survivors and our violence prevention programs."