Introduction In November 1993 the board of the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault set forth the importance of standards of practice for sexual assault centers in the state of Louisiana and developed a set of minimum standards of practice. Our purpose was to develop standards defining our coalition and a guide for center growth and development. Primary to this purpose was the development of a description of what constitutes a sexual assault center and common characteristics of operations. In October 1995 the standards were amended for clarification and a process was initiated to expand the standards. In 2003, the standards were again revised in an effort to create a more assessable tool and update training requirements and professional accountability. Statement of Purpose 1. Define what constitutes a sexual assault crisis center. 2. Develop a system of accountability within the coalition membership and to the sexual assault movement. Ethical and service standards do not have a strong foundation without accountability. 3. Define sexual assault crisis center standards for operation and services to survivors of sexual assault and their non-offending significant others. This serves the purpose of providing centers with credibility and goals for internal planning. 4. Define ethical standards of individual and organizational behavior. 5. Develop training standards that respond to the ethical and service standards. 6. Maintain a system of program statistical collection. Mission Statement The mission of the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault, Inc., is to work toward the elimination of sexual assault through support of sexual assault programs, education, and social change. LaFASA Philosophy The Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault is a membership organization of sexual assault crisis centers across the state of Louisiana. There are, in addition, individual, associate and corporate members from Louisiana communities. First and foremost, the coalition provides a collective voice to the state of Louisiana of survivor concerns and needs. We advocate for the rights of survivors of sexual violence through social change and education efforts. LaFASA works to end sexual violence. This violence affects women, children, and men, of all ages, races, income levels, lifestyles and geographic areas. We define sexual assault as any sexual contact, physical or verbal, that takes place without the victim's lawful consent. Sexual assault is not an act of sex. It is an act of violence and aggression in which sex is used as a weapon. The object is always to control and humiliate the victim. Regardless of the degree to which a victim is physically injured, sexual assault is always a crime of violence of the most personal nature and is designed to hurt the victim's body, mind and spirit. LaFASA's position is that sexual assault is a societal issue and not a concern only of individual survivors and their families. We disagree with the many segments of our society that continue to see sexual violence as something that victims somehow cause or bring on themselves. As long as this view is held, sexual violence will continue to be seen as acceptable under certain circumstances. We support the ideal of equality among all people and appreciate that social change toward ending discrimination is necessary to stop sexual violence. LaFASA believes that in all cases of sexual violence, no one is to blame but the perpetrator, who must be held accountable for his or her actions. In addition, we believe that no one asks or deserves to be sexually assaulted and that victims of this crime deserve non-judgmental, unbiased support as they make the decisions they need to make to regain control of their lives. LaFASA is dedicated to bringing about change in our institutions, laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that will allow women, children and men to live their lives free from the threat of sexual violence. Approved by Board of Directors Sept. 9, 1994 Amended June 13, 1996 SEXUAL ASSAULT CRISIS CENTERS DEFINITION To be considered a sexual assault center by the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault, the following requirements are met: I The Center is an active member of LaFASA . II The Center provides at a minimum, the services listed in Phase 1. Sexual assault crisis centers will for internal planning and goal setting, strive toward providing the services of the more advanced phases, as funding allows. III The Center complies with the Standards of Service, Training and Ethics. IV The Center displays the LaFASA logo, as appropriate. V The Center has a current strategic plan. VI The Center complies with all funder requirements including monthly reporting. Satellite office -- a satellite office is a fully-functioning separate office of the main program office, and as such is held to the same standards as the main office. Branch office -- a branch office is a location at which program staff provide services on a part-time or occasional basis, but which is not an office of the program. Branch offices are held to the same staffing standards as the main office. New Member Criteria: Each applicant submits to the LaFASA Board of Directors the following: Verification that the proposed Center complies with all of the requirements of PHASE 1 A 5-year development plan Letters of community support Names and contact information of an advisory board or Board of Directors. Phase 1 . 24-hour crisis line . In-person short-term crisis intervention . Information and referral . In-service training to allied agencies Phase 2 All of the above, plus: . Medical advocacy . Criminal justice system advocacy/accompaniment . Support groups . Individual counseling of 4-6 sessions . Community education Phase 3 All of the above, plus: . 24-hour emergency medical advocacy . 24-hour criminal justice system advocacy . Specialized support groups . Individual counseling of 6-8 sessions Phase 4 All of the above, plus: . Individual counseling of 9 or more sessions . Individual therapy . Therapy groups STANDARD I The Center operates in compliance with the LaFASA mission and philosophy. STANDARD ___ The Center does not exploit staff. Centers should not expect more from staff than funding allows. It would be preferable to bring two staff positions to a living wage, than to expand services to more parishes with more staff making an unlivable wage. Consistently providing staff with low pay and no benefits contributes to burnout, high turnover, constant retraining, poor morale, and therefore less than quality services to survivors. Centers have the responsibility to not exploit staff in the name of survivors or the underpaid nature of grassroots work. STANDARD ____ The Center maintains a commitment to diversity. Centers strive to provide an environment in which diversity is acknowledged and encouraged. Centers offer non-judgmental services to all survivors of sexual assault and strive to increase economic, geographic, structural and language accessibility. Individually, we are committed to developing and maintaining ourselves as advocates who prioritize awareness of and respect for individual and cultural differences. To this end, we integrate education about cultural diversity in our coalition process and sexual assault center in-service programs. STANDARD ___ The Center operates with a philosophy of respect for self-determination. The Center’s goal is to empower survivors by ensuring the availability of resources, accurate information, and emotional support. As advocates we challenge those individuals or institutions that knowingly or unknowingly subvert the healing or rights of survivors of sexual assault. The survivor knows what is best for her life. The advocate's role is to provide information and articulate options to assist the survivors in accessing her own or developing new skills such as problem solving. The survivor can identify and articulate her own goals. The power component between the advocate and survivor should be equalized. The advocate assists the survivor in becoming aware of her own power by highlighting the power the survivor has in all areas of her life, thus providing an antidote to the powerless feelings engendered by the violence. The advocate shares her values and goals only when it is specifically meaningful to a survivor's recovery and in a way that does not hinder the survivor from holding and expressing different values and goals. In our effort to offer ethical, caring support, we must also acknowledge the power differential inherent in the advocacy/counseling relationship. STANDARD ___ The Center functions as a safe space for sexual assault survivors. The Center’s goal is to provide safe space for victim/survivors. We recognize that all people, particularly those who have been victims of sexual abuse, assault, or harassment, are entitled to be free from fear of assault or intimidation when receiving services from sexual assault centers. People who have sexually abused, assaulted, or harassed should not provide sexual assault services. STANDARD ___ The Center maintains appropriate center personnel/client relationships. Within our relationship as advocates and counselors to survivors or significant others it is ethically inappropriate to initiate or participate in sexual intimacy of any kind. We recognize that an advocate or counselor, due to the nature of their role, has perceived influence within the counseling relationship. It is possible for clients to idealize or have sexual feelings for their counselor. It is always the responsibility of the advocate/counselor to maintain appropriate boundaries and not engage in sexually intimate behaviors with current or former clients. Advocate/counselors may also find themselves attracted to a client; in this case they should seek immediate supervision in regard to offering services to the client. Advocate/counselors are encouraged to is continue the counseling relationship and refer the client to another professional. To interact sexually with client survivors or significant others is exploitive and criminal under Louisiana law. In addition, it is inappropriate to blur the boundaries of friendship, family, and advocacy. This standard holds true for former clients as well. Although the therapeutic relationship may be over, the dynamics mentioned would remain the same. STANDARD ___ The Center provides/or makes accessible information regarding staff education and training experience. Each center has the responsibility to determine priorities in services. It is important that sexual assault centers appropriately identify and work within their staff's individual skill levels. Misrepresenting services by embellishing skills or not accurately accessing resources that respond appropriately to survivor needs within your community is unethical. STANDARD ___ The Center provides an opportunity for survivors to contribute. Survivors are the voice of our social change efforts. They are the experts on their needs and healing. Centers encourage survivors to come together and offer each other support. Because of this we also support survivors working in the anti-sexual assault movement. For many survivors, working in this field is a natural progression beyond healing. It is important that healing has gone well beyond the crisis stage to a place where a survivor's feelings are at equilibrium with their understanding of what has happened. The time required for this is individual and extremely difficult to establish. But within a supportive and critically examined environment, an individual should have the opportunity to explore their potential to effect social change. A legitimate, but sometimes minimized issue, concerns the needs of staff (survivors) who have memories triggered in their work in the anti-sexual assault movement. It is not unusual for circumstances or events to trigger memories of traumatic or unpleasant experiences, regardless of our chosen occupation. Staff deserves support in dealing with these issues. This may come in many forms, from personal discussion, to supporting a staff member accessing community resources, to supporting a leave of absence. STANDARD ___ The Center provides non-judgmental services. As advocates for sexual assault survivors, we accept the client's statement of events as it is told, withholding opinion or judgment, whether or not a suspected offender has been identified, arrested, convicted or acquitted. We provide services to every client without attributing blame, no matter what the client's conduct was at the time of the victimization or at another stage of the client's life. STANDARD ___ The Center does not discriminate in employment or service provision policy. STANDARD ___ The Center operates with a philosophy reflecting sensitivity to people of all cultures. STANDARD ___ The Center operates with a philosophy of interagency cooperation. STANDARD ___ The Center operates with appropriate confidentiality policies. Confidentiality refers to the duty of the service provider not to disclose information learned directly or indirectly from the client to anyone. Centers have a written confidentiality policy that at a minimum includes: . Confidentiality of specific identifying information (i.e. name, address, phone etc.) . Confidentiality of non-specific identifying information (i.e. workplace, social activities etc.) . Information is not shared outside a center without a signed release from the individual affected. . Confidentiality of a survivor's participation in any part of the services . Information sharing among staff and volunteers . Exceptions to confidentiality, including that center staff and volunteers are mandatory reporters and disclosure of use of cellular or cordless telephones . Communication and confidentiality between staff, board members or other programs within an umbrella agency . Confidentiality guidelines to address subpoenas for agency records or staff testimony pursuant to current Louisiana law and procedure. Centers encourage policies that actively inhibit the release of confidential records without the written consent of a client. . Maintenance of confidential records, including maintenance of records in locked cabinets . Grievance/accountability process for violations of confidentiality that define the parameters under which staff and volunteers will share information, with a recommendation that this not occur in a public location. STANDARD ___ The Center adheres to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. STANDARD ___ The Center makes services available to any victim regardless of ability to pay. STANDARD ___ The Center makes services available to any victim regardless of whether or not the crime has been reported to law enforcement. STANDARD ___ The Center maintains an appropriate policy for mandatory child abuse/dependent adult abuse reporting. Staff and volunteers of sexual assault crisis centers are considered mandatory reporters of child abuse and dependent adult abuse. Centers provide or require participation in mandatory reporter training for staff and volunteers. Sexual assault crisis centers policies include reporting to law enforcement, Office of Community Services, Office of Adult Protective Services and the Bureau of Adult Protective Services. STANDARD ___ The Center maintains an appropriate grievance policy. Every sexual assault center has posted or available to clients a grievance procedure and/or a Bill of Rights containing a grievance procedure. STANDARD ____ The Center maintains procedures to meet the needs of potentially at risk populations including; non-English speaking, elderly, children, disabled and hearing impaired. STANDARD ____ The Center maintains ethical standards of service. Centers are cognizant of our responsibilities as advocates for sexual assault survivors. Setting forth and enacting ethical standards is an important part of our philosophical perspective and our high regard for the strength and courage of survivors of sexual assault. 24-HOUR CRISIS INTERVENTION STANDARDS OF SERVICE STANDARD ___ The Center provides a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week crisis telephone line to assist the caller/client in identifying what is needed, provide personal support and information about the effects of victimization, and provide basic information about medical and legal processes. STANDARD ___ Callers reach a live advocate or receive a call back from an advocate within 10 minutes of calling. STANDARD ___ Service providers have completed 40 hours of sexual assault training plus a minimum of 4 hours of training/supervision annually and are supervised by or in consultation with someone who has completed the 40 hours of initial sexual assault training and has one year of relevant experience. IN-PERSON ON-SITE CRISIS INTERVENTION STANDARDS OF SERVICE STANDARD ___ During Center hours of operation, a trained advocate provides an immediately available in-person response to an individual presenting a crisis related to sexual assault. STANDARD ___ The Center strives to alleviate acute distress of sexual assault, to begin to stabilize the individual, and to assist her/him in determining the next steps. STANDARD ___ Service providers have completed 40 hours of sexual assault training plus a minimum of 6 hours of training/supervision annually and are supervised by or in consultation with someone who has completed the 40 hours of initial sexual assault training and has one year of relevant experience. INFORMATION AND REFERRAL STANDARDS OF SERVICE STANDARD ___ The Center responds to direct requests for information or assistance related to sexual assault in an effort to provide the person with specialized sexual assault-related information and resources. STANDARD ___ The Center provides information by telephone or in person to assist caller/client in evaluating what is needed and the Center provides information orally or in writing about available services/resources. STANDARD ___ The Center provides services to any caller, but typically: Non-offending parents of child victims, significant others who require assistance in order to address their own reactions to the victimization and to effectively support the victim, those whose work brings them into contact with people who have been victimized; health care, mental health, education, law enforcement, legal and social service personnel. STANDARD ___ Service providers have completed 40 hours of sexual assault training plus a minimum of 4 hours of training/supervision annually and are supervised by or in consultation with someone who has completed the 40 hours of initial sexual assault training and has one year of relevant experience. IN-SERVICE TRAINING TO ALLIED AGENCIES STANDARDS OF SERVICE STANDARD ___ The Center provides education about sexual assault issues to allied agencies. STANDARD ___ The goal is to instill sensitivity to the special needs of sexual assault victims and to educate professionals about the special challenges related to a sexual assault case. STANDARD ___ The trainings may be conducted in-person, by providing technical assistance, or by distribution of materials in an effort to foster cooperation. In-person training is the preferred method. STANDARD ___ This service may be provided by paid staff or volunteers. Volunteers must have at least 2 years of experience and be supervised by or in consultation with someone who has a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a human services related field and one year of experience in sexual assault services, or a combination of five years of relevant education, training and experience. The supervisor observes the provider's training on a periodic basis. STANDARD ___ The trainings may include law enforcement, prosecutors, judiciary, school faculty and staff, social services (public and private), mental health service providers, medical facilities/practitioners, emergency service providers and clergy. MEDICAL ADVOCACY STANDARDS OF SERVICE STANDARD ___ The Center assists clients in making informed decisions about medical care and the preparations needed, including possible forensic exams, information about medical care/concerns, including assistance with needed follow-up, support with medical exams and appointments and information about Crime Victims Reparations. STANDARD ___ The Center acts on behalf of and in support of victims of sexual assault to ensure their interests are represented and their rights upheld. STANDARD ___ The Center makes an initial assessment and gathers and evaluates information during client contact, primarily from referral sources such as medical staff and law enforcement, and not by directly interviewing the client. STANDARD ___ The Center assists the victim in regaining personal power and control as s/he receives medical care, and promotes the responsiveness of individual service providers. STANDARD ___ Service providers have completed 40 hours of sexual assault training plus a minimum of 4 hours of training/supervision annually and are supervised by or in consultation with someone who has completed the 40 hours of initial sexual assault training and has one year of relevant experience. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ADVOCACY STANDARDS OF SERVICE STANDARD ___ The Center assists the victim in gaining knowledge of the criminal justice system and gaining access to all avenues of participation in the legal system, and promotes the responsiveness of individual legal system participants. STANDARD ___ The Center acts on behalf of and in support of victims of sexual assault to ensure their interests are represented and their rights upheld. STANDARD ____ The Center makes every effort to collaborate with Victim Assistance Programs and other victim liaisons. The Center provides assistance in making informed decisions about police reporting and the preparations needed, including the possibility of Crime Victims Reparations benefits, information about the criminal justice system, including assistance with needed follow-up, support with interviews, trial and sentencing, assistance in preparing for court; informing the victim of her/his rights in legal settings, active monitoring of cases through the legal system, assistance with protective/no-contact orders and information about civil remedies. STANDARD ___ Service providers have completed 40 hours of sexual assault training plus a minimum of 4 hours of training/supervision annually and are supervised by or in consultation with someone who has completed the 40 hours of initial sexual assault training and has one year of relevant experience. SUPPORT GROUPS STANDARDS OF SERVICE STANDARD ___ The Center facilitates regularly scheduled meeting of victims of sexual assault in a supportive environment. Groups may include primary or secondary victims of sexual assault. STANDARD ___ The group composition is open with a primary focus on sexual assault issues designed to promote emotional stability and the understanding of the impact of sexual assault. STANDARD ___ The Center has record keeping protocols for groups. STANDARD ___ The facilitator has completed the 40 hours of initial sexual assault training, plus a minimum of 8 hours of ongoing training and/or supervision annually and has one of the following: A master's degree, an enrolled in an accredited university program and performing duties as part of their internship, or two years of relevant experience. The supervisor is a master's level therapist with training in sexual assault. COMMUNITY EDUCATION STANDARDS OF SERVICE STANDARD ___ The Center informs the community and increases awareness and expertise about sexual assault issues, including risk reduction and prevention techniques through in-person training, outreach, community events, safety training, distribution of materials and public speaking/presentations. STANDARD ___ The Center increases the willingness and ability of the community to prevent and respond to sexual assault by providing information to the general public, students at schools and colleges, civic groups, church groups and high risk and underserved populations. STANDARD ___ The Center regularly conducts self-evaluations, and, when feasible audience evaluations. STANDARD ___ All volunteers and paid staff have completed 40 hours of sexual assault training plus a minimum of 4 hours of training/supervision annually. They are supervised by or in consultation with someone who has a minimum of a bachelor's degree in human services or related field and one year of experience in sexual assault services, or a combination of five years of relevant education, training and experience. The supervisor observes the provider's training on a periodic basis. INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING STANDARDS OF SERVICE STANDARD ___ The Center provides a supportive relationship within a theoretical framework that involves a specified helper assisting an individual presenting a sexual assault issue and using techniques to address the effect of sexual assault. STANDARD ___ Counseling sessions are individual, couple or family sessions, based on current principles generally accepted as being appropriate for sexual assault. Consults include in-person visits in the office and consultation to other disciplines/systems or referral to appropriate clinical resource when deemed necessary. STANDARD ___ Sessions are designed to identify, understand and ameliorate the effects of sexual assault; to promote healing and to initiate the integration of the sexual assault experience. STANDARD ___ Practitioners have a bachelor's degree in social service, psychology or health care related field and have completed the 40 hours of initial sexual assault training, plus a minimum of 12 hours of ongoing training and/or supervision annually. STANDARD ___ The practitioner of this service is knowledgeable about the principles of sound counseling practices with victims of sexual assault, including working with the continuum of sexual assault services and understands victimization and demonstrates practices sensitive to sexual assault issues. Counselors have regular supervision, consultation and/or review of cases. SPECIALIZED SUPPORT GROUPS STANDARDS OF SERVICE STANDARD ___ The Center facilitates regularly scheduled meetings of victims of sexual assault with a supportive environment, with group meeting tailored to meet the needs of a specific population of victims and to promote emotional stability and the understanding of the impact of sexual assault. STANDARD ___ Adults, survivors of childhood incest, male victims, children, teenage incest survivors, Lesbians, MPD/DID, other groups with specific demographics or types of victimization participate in open-ended, group meetings with a primary focus on sexual assault issues. STANDARD ___ The facilitator is paid staff or a master's level volunteer and has complete 40 hours of sexual assault training plus one year of experience and a minimum of 4 hours of training/supervision annually. The Supervisor is a master's level therapist with training in sexual assault. INDIVIDUAL THERAPY STANDARDS OF SERVICE STANDARD ___ The Center provides a professional relationship within a theoretical framework that involves a specified helper gathering, systematizing and evaluating information and using techniques to address the effects of sexual assault, to identify, understand and ameliorate the effects of sexual assault, to promote healing and to integrate the sexual assault experience. STANDARD ___ Therapy provided for individual, couple or family therapy, is based on current clinical therapeutic principles generally accepted as being appropriate for sexual assault. Therapy may be in-person visits in the office, expert testimony (?) or consultation with other disciplines and systems. STANDARD ___ Practitioners are master's level and have completed 40 hours of initial sexual assault training, plus a minimum of 12 hours of ongoing training and/or supervision annually. Practitioners are registered or certified professional in the state of Louisiana and have a minimum of a master's degree in one or more of the following areas: mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work or related field. Exceptions may be approved by the Board of LaFASA. Therapists have regular supervision, consultation and/or review of cases with a Louisiana Licensed/certified therapist. THERAPY GROUPS STANDARDS OF SERVICE STANDARD ___ The Center facilitates regularly scheduled meeting of victims of sexual assault in a supportive environment. STANDARD ___ The Center conducts closed group meetings with a primary focus on sexual assault issues in order to identify, understand and ameliorate the effects of sexual assault, to promote healing and to integrate the sexual assault experience, in a group setting. STANDARD ___ Facilitators have a master's level and have completed 40 hours of initial sexual assault training, plus a minimum of 12 hours of ongoing training and/or supervision annually. Facilitators are registered or certified professionals in the state of Louisiana and have a minimum of a master's degree in one or more of the following areas: mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work or related field. Exceptions may be approved by the Board of LaFASA. Therapists have regular supervision, consultation and/or review of cases with a Louisiana licensed/certified therapist. STANDARDS FOR TRAINING AND IN-SERVICE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTERS These training standards apply to regularly scheduled trainings. Trainings may be altered for staff and volunteers who come to the center between trainings; 40 hours are still required for each direct service trainee. The provider is familiar with the dynamics of sexual assault and relevant community resources, as well as having an understanding of how medical, legal and social services respond to victims of sexual assault. STANDARD ____ All staff and volunteers complete a 40-hour training course prior to providing direct service contact with sexual assault center clients. Volunteer training includes presentation and/or practice on each of the topics on the following pages. STANDARD ____ Training methods may include lecture, panel presentations, role plays, reading, group discussion and observation. Training includes a minimum of 2 hours of role plays. A portion of the role plays are done in conjunction with crisis intervention training. Role plays will be observed and trainers will give feedback to participants. STANDARD ____ Training includes no more than 3 hours of independent study (with the exception of make-up sessions). STANDARD ____ The center uses a written training agenda outlining training content, schedule, indicating time allowed for each content area, and trainers/guest speakers. STANDARD ____ Staff and volunteer trainers have completed 40 hours of sexual assault training and have on- the-job training. Guest speakers from community agencies may be sought as trainers. These trainers may include emergency room staff, police officers, detectives, prosecutors, judges, social service personnel and others. Guest speakers are not considered primary trainers and need not have 40 hours of sexual assault training. STANDARD ____ Training participants receive a training manual that covers all major content areas. STANDARD ____ Training participants who intend to become volunteers are assessed by trainers and/or supervisors during and after training. Volunteer assessment is written. STANDARD ____ Records are properly maintained to verify volunteer and staff training requirements have been met. STANDARD ____ Volunteers who provide direct services to children and adults submit to fingerprint screening and background checks. The Center may request the volunteer to bear this cost. Topic Areas Minimum Hours History and Politics 1 History of anti-rape movement Cultural analysis of sexual assault myths, power imbalance, sexism, racism, oppression Medical Issues 3 Medical advocacy with sexual assault victims Emergency Room procedures Physical exam Anonymous HIV testing Sexually transmitted diseases Pregnancy testing Choices about pregnancy Legal Issues 3 Criminal justice advocacy with sexual assault victims Louisiana sex crime statutes Confidentiality issues Criminal justice process-roles of law enforcement, prosecutors, etc. Mandatory reporting Counseling (must include role plays) 4 Crisis intervention counseling techniques/empathic listening skills Rape Trauma Syndrome Suicide assessment and intervention Working with significant others Special Populations 1 Anti-oppression training-- race, sex, age, class Sexual orientation Hate Crimes Disabilities Making services available to special Populations Victim Populations 4 Child sexual abuse Adult survivors of incest Rape (adult/male/marital/child) Ritual abuse Abuse by clergy, counselors, other professionals Volunteer Information 3 Roles and expectations of volunteers Stress and self-care Required forms and documentation Making referrals Ethics Sexual Harassment 1 20 additional hours are required. Additional hours may be obtained from topic areas related to the needs of the particular community. TOTAL HOURS (MINIMUM) 40 ACCOUNTABILITY As members of the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (sexual assault crisis centers, individual members, associate members and coalition staff), it is our expectation that members will follow the standards we collectively set forth, participate in information sharing, peer support and networking, and respond proactively to the coalition process. Program Monitoring A. LaFASA staff will monitor each sexual assault crisis center at least once every three years. B. Programs not meeting minimum standards at the time of the site visit will receive written recommendations regarding non-compliance and will be placed on probationary status as active members of the coalition. C. Probationary programs that do not come into compliance within three months will be changed to associate members until they can show that they are in compliance with the minimum standards. D. Programs not in compliance with the minimum program standards may become ineligible for certain types of funding.