Building an Ethical Organization Essay

In April 2010, the newly formed The Center for Sexual Abuse/Assault Recovery will open their doors. According to the U. S. Department of Justice (2009), a sexual assault happens once every two minutes. The victims of these assaults need a safe place to turn for assistance. Currently there is no centrally located center for these victims. As the director of the Center for Sexual Abuse/Assault Recovery, I believe we will be able to fill the current void in the community, by offering various services currently scattered throughout the community under one roof. The Center for Sexual Abuse/Assault Recovery will be operated by a non-profit organization and will have the capability to offer clients counseling, legal advice, educational programs, and much more. The Center for Sexual/Assault Recovery will serve any victim of sexual assault as well as those close to the victim that may also be affected by the assault, or can aid the victim in recovery. By offering additional programs to the entire family we are able to establish a support system for the victim, while also assisting those who may need a better understanding of what the victim may be going through before, during, and after treatment. It is the center’s goal to provide the best care to those who enter our center; treating all clients confidentially, fairly and with respect; allowing access for everyone to all programs offered. According to Campbell (2008), â€Å"Rape victims encounter significant difficulties obtaining help from the legal, medical, and mental health systems, and what help they do receive can leave them feeling blamed, doubted, and re-victimized. As a result, survivors’ post-rape distress may be due not only to the rape itself but also to how they are treated by social systems after the assault. (para. 40) The Center for Sexual Assault/ Abuse Recovery will provide the services needed to assist victims at every step of recovery as well as any possible legal proceedings. This is something that I do have firsthand knowledge of. I was raped from the tender age of six through the age of fourteen when I married my husband to get away from home. Back then there was no help for victims. When I went to the Chattanooga, Tennessee Police Department with my accusations my parents were brought in and told to take me to a psychiatrist. I was then taken home and beaten so bad I could not attend school for a month because of the bruises. Increased risk of sexual revictimization in women previously sexually assaulted in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood is a phenomenon now well-documented in the literature (Classen, Palesh, & Aggarwal, 2005; Collins, 1998; Gidycz, Hanson, & Layman, 1995; Krahe, Scheinberger-Olwig, Waizenhofer, & Kolpin, 1999; Messman-Moore & Long, 2000), yet limited research has examined mechanisms underlying increased risk. Both child sexual abuse (CSA) and adult sexual assault (ASA) are related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Briere & Runtz, 1987; Seedat & Stein, 2000), and researchers have also found a strong relationship between PTSD and sexual revictimization (Arata, 2000; Bolstad & Zinbarg, 1997;Boney-McCoy & Finkelhor, 1995; Ullman & Brecklin, 2002). Substance use (problem drinking and/or illicit drug use) is also associated with risk of sexual revictimization (Abbey, Zawacki, Buck, Clinton, & McAuslan, 2003; Greene & Navarro, 1998; Koss & Dinero, 1989; Rich, Combs-Lane, Resnick, & Kilpatrick, 2004; Ullman, 2003). PTSD and substance use may be outcomes of revictimization, although this is unclear from past research, most of which is cross sectional. Therefore, women who experienced sexual victimization both as a child and as an adult may experience more PTSD symptoms and more substance use compared to women who experienced only adult sexual victimization. To resolve the ambiguity of these relations, CSA, PTSD, and substance use (problem drinking, illicit drug use) were examined as possible predictors of sexual revictimization in female ASA survivors over the course of one year. Some research suggests that CSA leads to revictimization, which in turn leads to PTSD symptoms (Arata, 2000; Nishith, Mechanic, & Resick, 2000; Schumm, Hobfoll, & Keogh, 2004). Thus, revictimization as an adult might reignite the squeal of earlier assault experiences. Most studies on which his hypothesis is based were cross-sectional, however, and PTSD could have been both a consequence of and a risk factor for revictimization. Thus, longitudinal research is required to shed light on this issue. In fact, two longitudinal studies have identified PTSD as a risk factor for sexual victimization. Acierno, Resnick, Kilpatrick, Saunders, and Best (1999) found that a diagnosis of PTSD increased women’s risk for ASA, while Noll, Horowitz, Bonanno, Trickett, and Putnam (2003) found that PTSD symptoms mediated the relationship between CSA and subsequent revictimization. However, these studies examined only predictors of revictimization and not predictors of PTSD. The relationship between sexual victimization (either as a child or adult), PTSD, and revictimization may form a feedback loop such that sexual victimization leads to PTSD, which in turn increases the risk of revictimization and subsequent increased PTSD symptoms, etc. Thus, the present study utilized a longitudinal design to explore the relationships between CSA, PTSD, and revictimization in a large community sample of female ASA survivors. It is predicted that CSA would be related to more PTSD symptoms and that more PTSD symptoms would be associated with greater rates of revictimization. In spite of the growing volume of research on rape (Koss, 1985, Russell, 1983), there have been several reasons why psychologists do not know more about the effects rape has on its victims. Many of the experiences do not meet the criteria for societies’ typical rape that is assumed to occur (Burt, 1980, Koss and Burkhart, 1989). Victims will not disclose their assault experiences until years later (Williams, 1984, Williams and Holmes, 1982). Societal attitudes are more negative towards victims of acquaintance rape and view stranger rape as the more serious assault (Tetreault and Barnett, 1987). Most research indicates that both acquaintance and stranger rape have a similar impact upon the victims (Koss, et al, 1988). The center will be open 24 hours a day for emergency services with regular counseling services Monday through Friday, 9:00 a. m. – 7:00 p. m. A toll-free hotline will be operated by professional counselors, 24 hours a day for anyone seeking guidance, reporting abuse, or just needing a counselor to talk with. If an incident is reported, the victim will be offered the services of a victim’s advocate. If they choose to have an advocate, the advocate will escort the victim to the hospital, police department, and any court appearances if the case warrants it. A rape victim is also sensitive to the advocates’ attitude. One has to have the courage to listen to the patient’s story. The person giving care has to be calm and compassionate and in a pertinent manner have an opinion on the situation, as well as to tell the victim that he/she is innocent of the incident. The patient can be calmed and comforted by saying that seeking help and care was the right path to take. Being an advocate for rape victims is not an easy task. The person has to have empathy, a caring heart, and a strong will. In addition to general counseling to victims and their families, The Center of Sexual Assault/Abuse Recovery will offer confidential pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection testing to anyone who wishes to receive it in the days and months after an attack. Additional counseling services will be offered, if needed, once the testing is complete. There is a group of qualified staff to offer the client legal advice and support in the event they are not able to obtain legal services. Individuals who are victims of this type of crime are susceptible to post traumatic stress disorder (Tolin & Foa, 2006). These individuals need to be shown they do not have to go through this fight alone. From counseling to prosecuting, someone will be standing with them providing the support system needed. For this reason the center will recommend victims receive immediate and regular counseling. Another important support service we will offer is weekly support groups. Participation will be voluntary, and different groups will be offered to match different levels of support needed. Getting the community educated and involved will lower the number of sexual abuse instances. The center will organize awareness events and platforms, concentrating on educating residents on the evidence of abuse as well as presentations on ways to prevent abuse and provide self-defense classes. The entire staff at The Center for Sexual Abuse/Assault Recovery believe by educating, empowering and creating awareness of sexual abuse/assault in the community we will not only reduce the number of victims, but the center will also be a success. The mission of The Center for Sexual Abuse/Assault Recovery is to provide a peaceful and fostering setting for the recovery of sexual assault victims, their families, friends, or any significant other of the abuse/assault survivor; while promoting awareness of the problem within the community. Specially trained staff will defend, instruct, and counsel, clients and their friends, families, or significant others. Providing equal treatment, with respect to the individuality of each case; and safeguarding the privacy of victims will be the highest importance. The staff will reflect the director’s caring, compassionate, and ethical nature; This emphasizing to clients and the community that the center will operate in an ethical manner with zero acceptance for any behavior that can be seen as unethical, or dishonest. The Center for Sexual Abuse/Assault Recovery and its staff will do everything within their authority to provide clients with a safe and supportive environment. The center will be staffed by well-educated and experienced professionals in their respected field of counseling, educating, or event planning; all working together in assisting victims to overcome the abuse. The community will be kept aware of the center’s motive through the use of a well published mission statement, media articles, and community awareness events. Lee and Bourdage (2009) states â€Å"that an organization that puts in place a value statement will have more ethical and moral behavior from its employees; staff members will line up personal values with organizational values if those organizational values are made known and visible for all employees to see†. The Center for Sexual Abuse/Assault Recovery has worked with all staff members, volunteers, and a diverse group of community leader to develop the following values statement: â€Å"All staff and volunteers of The Center for Sexual Abuse/Assault Recovery shall abide by practices that are in agreement with appropriate laws and with ethical values that reflect a high level of proficiency. The Center for Sexual Abuse/Assault Recovery will serve the community with integrity, respect, and dignity. Clients will be encouraged and empowered by the staff’s positive, empathetic, and compassionate behavior. This values statement will motivate ethical behavior and allow the entire staff to take ownership of it because; every staff member had a part in its creation. In addition, behaviors that are in accordance with the value statement will have a positive influence on others. In an effort to encourage positive behaviors that line up with the value statement, and remind staff members of the significance of values, one staff member will be recognized for his or her values behavior at the monthly staff meeting. In the event the values statement is not followed disciplinary actions will be in place. The values statement, along with the mission statement, emphasizes high moral ideals within the organization. Inspiring a transformation, fostering hope, uniting professionals, and assisting those whose paths we cross become stronger, more empowered individuals will be accomplished by the center’s professional staff. These individuals will become stronger and be able to lead a more productive life instead of having the experience rule their lives. They will be able to hold their heads up high.