Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) - For nearly 50 years, one nonprofit has served as the only organization in Nevada solely focused on providing hope, help and healing for survivors of sexual violence, exploitation and trauma.
On Wednesday, that nonprofit, formerly known as The Rape Crisis Center, unveils a new name for the organization – Signs of HOPE - Healing, Options, Prevention and Education.
Until now, the organization has had two names since it was founded by Florence McClure and Sandra Petta in 1974 as Community Action Against Rape. This latest change comes after years of consideration and discussion, including recent focus groups with clients, staff, community partners, and local leaders.
According to Daniele Staple, executive director of Signs of HOPE, the main driver of this name change has been feedback from clients/survivors, as well as the growth and development of the organization.
“We want survivors of any form of sexual violence to see in the name, services, staff and volunteers a path forward and a reflection of where and how they can engage in services and find healing,” said Staple. “’Rape’ is not word that all survivors would use to describe their experiences and can be triggering. And, while we will continue to emphasize crisis services, our organization offers and delivers much more, especially in the areas of counseling, prevention and education, and in our expansion of programs related to human trafficking.”
In Southern Nevada, demand for services, especially counseling, has dramatically increased over the last five years.
For those who wish to contact Signs of HOPE, the crisis hotline and text support line remain the same as before. The website address and social media channels will change on September 1:
24/7 crisis hotline: 702-366-1640S
MS text support, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily: 725-900-2640
Website, including online chat feature: sohlv.org.
Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram): @signsofhopelv
Note: visitors to the previous website, rcclv.org, will be redirected automatically to the new site.