Sexual abuse is something that no one likes to think about.

Yet, according to the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault, a woman is raped every two minutes in the United States.

The same statistics say that nearly 70 percent of all reported sexual assaults are against a child under the age of 17.

“There were six sexual abuse cases in Cayuga County reported in The Citizen in January alone,” said Sexual Assault Victims

Advocate Resource (SAVAR) Director Linda Murphy during the annual SAVAR fundraising dinner held at the Springside Inn, Wednesday evening. “This is a very real problem.”

The dinner, “More Than Java With the Gents,” helps to raise funds for the various services SAVAR provides.

SAVAR provides training, education, advocacy, accompaniments, a 24-hour hot line and therapy for primary and secondary sexual assault victims.

“Our program helps to make victims aware of the process,” Murphy said. “We will help them through all aspects of the process. Even if it is something like taking them into a courtroom to see what it is like before they have to actually be there.”

Therapy is a big part of how SAVAR helps sexual assault victims and their families.

“Without therapy these victims often grow up with this anger and hurt inside of them,” Murphy said. Many of them, but not all, will grow into troubled adults without proper therapy.“

According to SAVAR, in 2007, the program helped 440 primary and secondary sexual assault victims and responded to 173 hotline calls in Cayuga County.

“Yet, these are only the cases that are reported,” Murphy said. “Many sexual assaults go unreported. Often times a child does not tell until they are older and feel safe enough to do so.”

Murphy added that many of the adults that experience a sexual assault often don't report it due to fear of the legal process.

A common misconception is that sexual abuse only happens to women and girls, and yet, according to statistics, one in six boys are sexually abused by 18.

This year, the dinner was also a chance for the Cayuga Counseling Services to kick off its capitol fundraising campaign, titled Cayuga County Child Advocacy Center Initiative, to purchase a building that will house both the Children's Advocacy and SAVAR programs.

“Our goal is to raise $350,000,” said Child Advocacy coordinator, Rhonda Stanford-Zahn. “The two programs are integrated and will be housed together.”

According to Stanford-Zahn, Cayuga Counseling Service officials have located a building that they may be interested in purchasing but have not made an official decision.

She added the building will hold spaces for all aspects of the Child Advocacy and SAVAR programs, including a space for Auburn Police Department child abuse investigators.

As part of the annual dinner, a person that is thoroughly involved in the advocacy process, whether publically or behind the scenes, is awarded the SAVAR Gold Award.

This year, the honor went to Carrie Kresler, a victims advocate for the Cayuga County District Attorney's Office for her years of service to victims of sexual assault and violence.

Many of the services that SAVAR and the Children's Advocacy programs provide are run by trained volunteers. Murphy and Stanford-Zahn said volunteers are always welcome.

“It is a very difficult job,” Murphy said.

“But it is also the best work that anyone can do,” Stanford-Zahn added.

To volunteer as an advocate or donate to the Cayuga County Child Advocacy Center Initiative: Contact Rhonda Stanford-Zahn 253-9795 x134 - Rzahn6@excite.com

Cayuga Counseling Services, 17 East Genesee Street, Auburn

To report a sexual assault, abuse or neglect: 253-9795; 24-hour hotline: 1-800-342-3720.